Quality of Life Tool (Specialist Services)
Scope of this chapter
This chapter explains what the quality of life tool is and how it is used by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) during a service assessment.
Relevant Regulations
Related Chapters and Guidance
- Service Inspections (where the Single Assessment Framework does not yet apply)
- Service Assessment (Single Assessment Framework)
- Infection Prevention and Control Inspections
- CQC: Quality of life tool for inspecting specialist services for people with a learning disability and autistic people
Amendment
In March 2024, this new chapter was added to the Inspections and Assessment section of the contents list.
The Quality of Life Tool is part of the Quality of Life Framework and may be used by the CQC alongside its other assessment processes to understand how well a service is meeting the needs and aspirations of the people it is supporting.
The tool is currently used with specialist services that support people with learning disabilities or who have Autism. However, there is a pilot underway to test its use more broadly in other specialist settings across health and social care.
The tool consists of 4 main questions, each containing supplementary questions and guidance to aid the assessment.
|
Main question (section) |
Supplementary questions |
|---|---|
|
Is there a planned programme for each person that focuses on their quality of life? |
Is the physical environment appealing and does it meet people's sensory and physical needs - and is the culture kind, caring and nurturing? Do staff know the people they are supporting, including their health and wellbeing needs? Are people engaged in meaningful activities and relationships? Are staff supporting people to experience real choice and control? Are staff promoting a safe, consistent, and predictable atmosphere that meets people's individual needs? Are complex needs and behaviours that challenge being supported effectively? Is there a clear commitment to minimising the use of restrictive interventions (including restraint, seclusion and segregation) and are they only used as a last resort? Is there effective practice leadership and support for service staff wellbeing? Is there an effective programme of service staff training and is there evidence of this being embedded into practice? |
|
Are the planned programmes relevant to each person’s needs? |
Has each person's programme (or programmes) been developed to meet their current needs and preferences as well as longer-term aspirations? Do staff monitor and evaluate each person's outcomes meaningfully and review their support plan, adapting it where necessary? Are relevant stakeholders (including the person and their family) involved in the development of the person's support plan in a meaningful way? |
|
Is each person’s support programme being delivered at the rights level of intensity? |
Does each person's programme offer sufficiently intensive learning opportunities to help them acquire skills? Do staff know the protocols for each person and their own role in the delivery of the support plan? |
|
Is there a balance of the programmes and support plans for each individual with coherence across settings and over time? |
Is there a balance across multiple programmes, if relevant? Is the support provided to the person seamless across services and between professionals involved in the person's life? Does each person's plan reflect planning for the future and a progression towards longer-term aspirations, as well as providing continuity over their life journey? |
When completing the tool, the CQC will gather a range of evidence to answer the questions, including:
- Documentation;
- Observations of the culture;
- Observations of the physical environment;
- What people using the service, families and staff say.
To verify what is being said, or what is recorded in a care plan, the CQC may also ask to see evidence such as social media, diaries, photographs of events etc.
The information gathered by completing the tool will be used to support the overall service rating.
Last Updated: February 22, 2024
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