PIR questions - ASC specialist college

These are the questions we ask of adult social care specialist college services in the provider information return (PIR).

We show the data type of the responses and list the key lines of enquiry (KLOEs) that relate to each question. These KLOEs are provided for information. They are not questions asked in the PIR.

Questions appear in bold and begin with a digit (for example 1.1 and 2.3a). KLOEs do not appear in bold and begin with a letter (for example W1 and S2.3).

Location information:

The following fields are pre-populated with information supplied on registration:

• Location number
• Location name
• Address of your location
• Postcode
• Provider number (sometimes called ‘organisation number’)
• Provider name
• Organisation type

Respondent information:

Respondents will be asked for the following details about themselves and their location:

• Your name
• Your phone number
• Your email address
• Your website address

1. Successes and barriers to good care

Successes

1.1 Describe what is going well and the impact this is having on people using your service.

Text (500-word limit)

This question is related to KLOEs W1 and W4:

KLOE W1 - Is there a clear vision and credible strategy to deliver high-quality care and support, and promote a positive culture that is person-centred, open, inclusive and empowering, which achieves good outcomes for people?

KLOE W4 - How does the service continuously learn, improve, innovate and ensure sustainability?

Barriers to good care

1.2 Describe the barriers that you are facing that make it difficult to provide good quality care to people using your service

Text (500-word limit)

This question is related to KLOEs W1 and W4:

KLOE W1 - Is there a clear vision and credible strategy to deliver high-quality care and support, and promote a positive culture that is person-centred, open, inclusive and empowering, which achieves good outcomes for people?

KLOE W4 - How does the service continuously learn, improve, innovate and ensure sustainability?

2. People who use your service

People who use your service: Number of people

2.1 How many people are currently receiving support with regulated activities as defined by the Health and Social Care Act from your service?

Number

This question is related to KLOE S2.3 - Are people's records accurate, complete, legible, up-to-date, securely stored and available to relevant staff so that they support people to stay safe?

2.2 How many people have you served notice on to leave your service in the past 12 months solely due to a change in their care needs?

Number

This question is related to KLOE R1 - How do people receive personalised care that is responsive to their needs?

2.3 How many people have you served notice on to leave your service in the past 12 months for any other reason?

Number

This question is related to KLOEs R1 and R2.4

KLOE R1 - How do people receive personalised care that is responsive to their needs?

KLOE R2.4 - How are people who raise concerns or complaints protected from discrimination, harassment or disadvantage?

2.3a What were those other reasons?

Text (500-word limit)

This question is related to KLOEs E1.2 and R2.4:

KLOE E1.2 - What processes are in place to ensure there is no discrimination, including in relation to protected characteristics under the Equality Act, when making care and support decisions?

KLOE R2.4 - How are people who raise concerns or complaints protected from discrimination, harassment or disadvantage?

People who use your service: Care needs and preferences

2.4 How many people with the following dependencies do you currently support?

• Dementia
• People detained under the Mental Health Act
• Mental health needs
• Drug or alcohol misuse
• Eating disorders
• Sensory impairments
• Learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder
• Physical disabilities

Numbers.

This question is related to KLOE E1.1 - Are people’s physical, mental health and social needs holistically assessed, and is their care, treatment and support delivered in line with legislation, standards and evidence-based guidance, including NICE and other expert professional bodies, to achieve effective outcomes?

2.5 How many people who use your service are there in each of the following age categories:

• 0 to 17 years
• 18 to 24 years
• 25 to 64 years
• 65 to 74 years
• 75 to 84 years
• 85 to 94 years
• 95 years and over

Numbers

This question is related to KLOE E1.1 - Are people’s physical, mental health and social needs holistically assessed, and is their care, treatment and support delivered in line with legislation, standards and evidence-based guidance, including NICE and other expert professional bodies, to achieve effective outcomes?

2.6 Do people who use your service have any specific communication needs or preferences?

Options: Yes/ No

This question is related to KLOE C1.3 - Do staff seek accessible ways to communicate with people when their protected and other characteristics under the Equality Act make this necessary to reduce or remove barriers?

2.6a How have you met these needs?

Text (500-word limit)

This question is related to KLOEs C1.3 and R1.5:

KLOE C1.3 - Do staff seek accessible ways to communicate with people when their protected and other characteristics under the Equality Act make this necessary to reduce or remove barriers?

KLOE R1.5 - How does the service identify and meet the information and communication needs of people with a disability or sensory loss? How does it record, highlight and share this information with others when required, and gain people’s consent to do so?

2.7 How many people who use your service are non-verbal?

Number

This question is related to KLOE C1.3 - Do staff seek accessible ways to communicate with people when their protected and other characteristics under the Equality Act make this necessary to reduce or remove barriers?

2.8 How many of the people who use your service are assessed to be at risk of malnutrition or dehydration?

Number

This question is related to KLOE E3.4 - How are risks to people with complex needs identified and managed in relation to their eating and drinking?

People who use your service: Restrictions and restraints

2.9 How many people have restraints or restrictions in their care plans?

Number

This question is related to KLOEs E7.6 and E7.7:

KLOE E7.6 - How does the service promote supportive practice that avoids the need for physical restraint? Where physical restraint may be necessary, how does the service ensure that it is used in a safe, proportionate, and monitored way as part of a wider person-centred support plan?

KLOE E7.7 - Do staff recognise when people aged 16 and over, who lack mental capacity, are being deprived of their liberty, and do they seek authorisation to do so when they consider it necessary and proportionate?

2.10 How many incidents of restraint have you recorded in the past 12 months?

Number

This question is related to KLOEs S2.7 and E7.6:

KLOE S2.7 - How do staff seek to understand, prevent and manage behaviour that the service finds challenging? How are individuals supported when their behaviour challenges? How well does this align with best practice?

KLOE E7.6 - How does the service promote supportive practice that avoids the need for physical restraint? Where physical restraint may be necessary, how does the service ensure that it is used in a safe, proportionate, and monitored way as part of a wider person-centred support plan?

2.11 Are there any restrictions or special arrangements on friends or relatives visiting people?

Options: Yes/ No

This question is related to KLOE C3.6 - Are people’s relatives and friends made to feel welcome and able to visit without being unnecessarily restricted?

2.11a What are these?

Text (500-word limit)

This question is related to KLOE C3.6 - Are people’s relatives and friends made to feel welcome and able to visit without being unnecessarily restricted?

People who use your service: Equality, Diversity and Human Rights

2.12 How do you make sure you meet the Accessible Information Standard?

Text (500-word limit)

This question is related to KLOEs C1.3 and R1.5:

KLOE C1.3 - Do staff seek accessible ways to communicate with people when their protected and other characteristics under the Equality Act make this necessary to reduce or remove barriers?

KLOE R1.5 - How does the service identify and meet the information and communication needs of people with a disability or sensory loss? How does it record, highlight and share this information with others when required, and gain people’s consent to do so?

2.13 Please state whether you have carried out any specific work in the past 12 months to ensure or improve care quality for people in relation to the following protected equality characteristics:

• Age
• Disability
• Gender
• Gender reassignment
• Race
• Religion or belief
• Sexual orientation
• None of the above

Checkboxes: Select all that apply or None of the above

This question is related to KLOE R1.2 - How does the service make sure that a person's care plan fully reflects their physical, mental, emotional and social needs including on the grounds of protected characteristics under the Equality Act? These should include their personal history, individual preferences, interests and aspirations, and should be understood by staff so people have as much choice and control as possible.

2.14 What specific work have you undertaken in the past 12 months to ensure your service meets the needs of people using your service with protected equality characteristics and what impact has this had?

Protected equality characteristics are Age, Disability, Gender, Gender Reassignment, Race, Religion or Belief and Sexual Orientation.

Text (500-word limit)

This question is related to KLOEs S1.3 and R1.2:

KLOE S1.3 - What processes are in place to ensure there is no discrimination, including in relation to protected characteristics under the Equality Act, when making care and support decisions?

KLOE R1.2 - How does the service make sure that a person's care plan fully reflects their physical, mental, emotional and social needs including on the grounds of protected characteristics under the Equality Act? These should include their personal history, individual preferences, interests and aspirations, and should be understood by staff so people have as much choice and control as possible.

2.15 What specific work have you undertaken in the past 12 months to ensure equality and inclusion for your workforce and what impact has this had?

Text (500-word limit)

This question is related to KLOE W1.9 - How does the organisation promote equality and inclusion within its workforce?

2.16 How do you ensure your staffing is sufficient in numbers and quality to meet all the needs of those you care for?

Take into consideration all the protected equality characteristics and preferences of those that you care for.

Text (500-word limit)

This question is related to S3.1, E2.1 and C3.4:

KLOE S3.1 - What arrangements are there, including within the rotas, for making sure that staff have the right mix of skills, competencies, qualifications, experience and knowledge, to meet people’s individual needs?

KLOE E2.1 - Do people have their assessed needs, preferences and choices met by staff with the right qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience?

KLOE C3.4 - How does the service take people's preferences and needs and their protected and other characteristics under the Equality Act into account when scheduling staff?

2.17 What practical examples can you give as to how you and your workforce implement and apply human rights principles (fairness, respect, equality, dignity and autonomy) to your service and the impact this has had?

Text (500-word limit)

This question is related to KLOEs E2, R1.2 and W1.6:

KLOE E2 - How does the service make sure that staff have the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and support?

KLOE R1.2 - How does the service make sure that a person's care plan fully reflects their physical, mental, emotional and social needs including on the grounds of protected characteristics under the Equality Act? These should include their personal history, individual preferences, interests and aspirations, and should be understood by staff so people have as much choice and control as possible.

KLOE W1.6 - Does the service have, and keep under review, a clear vision and a set of values that includes a person-centred culture, involvement, compassion, dignity, independence, respect, equality, wellbeing and safety? How do leaders make sure these are effectively embedded into practice? Do all staff understand and promote them?

3. Services you provide

Video monitoring cameras

3.1 Have you used video monitoring cameras at your location in the past 12 months?

Options: Yes / No

This question is related to KLOE E1.3 - How is technology and equipment used to enhance the delivery of effective care and support, and to promote people’s independence?

3.1a How have you used them?

Text (500-word limit)

This question is related to E1.3 and R1.6:

KLOE E1.3 - How is technology and equipment used to enhance the delivery of effective care and support, and to promote people’s independence?

KLOE R1.6 - How is technology used to support people to receive timely care and support? Is the technology (including telephone systems, call systems and online/digital services) easy to use?

4. Staff

Staff: Staff numbers

4.1 How many people are directly employed and deliver regulated activities at your service as part of their daily duties?

Number

This question is related to KLOE S3 - How does the service make sure that there are sufficient numbers of suitable staff to support people to stay safe and meet their needs?

4.2 How many staff have left your service in the past 12 months?

Number

This question is related to KLOE S3.1 - What arrangements are there, including within the rotas, for making sure that staff have the right mix of skills, competencies, qualifications, experience and knowledge, to meet people’s individual needs?

4.3 How many staff vacancies do you have?

Number

This question is related to KLOE S3 - How does the service make sure that there are sufficient numbers of suitable staff to support people to stay safe and meet their needs?

4.4 How many full-time equivalent posts do you employ?

Number

This question is related to KLOE S3 - How does the service make sure that there are sufficient numbers of suitable staff to support people to stay safe and meet their needs?

4.5 How many hours of care have agency staff provided in the past 28 days?

Number

This question is related to KLOE S3 - How does the service make sure that there are sufficient numbers of suitable staff to support people to stay safe and meet their needs?

Staff: Training and qualifications

4.6 How many of your current staff have completed the Care Certificate?

Number

This question is related to KLOE E2.3 - Do staff and volunteers have effective and regular mentorship, support, induction, supervision, appraisal and training?

4.7 How many of your current staff have achieved a relevant Level 2 (or above) qualification?

For example, this could be an NVQ or Diploma in Health and Social Care.

Number

This question is related to KLOE E2.3 - Do staff and volunteers have effective and regular mentorship, support, induction, supervision, appraisal and training?

4.8 How many of your care staff have a named person that provides them with regular one to one supervision?

Number

This question is related to KLOE E2.3 - Do staff and volunteers have effective and regular mentorship, support, induction, supervision, appraisal and training?

5. Commissioners

Organisations that commission care from you

Tell us which organisations commission care from you and how many people they commission care for:

This question is related to KLOE W5.1 - How does the service work in partnership with key organisations, including the local authority, safeguarding teams and clinical commissioning groups and multidisciplinary teams, to support care provision, service development and joined-up care? Does it do so in an open, honest and transparent way?

5.1 Select the number of commissioners

Number (0 to 10)

This question is related to KLOE W5.1 - How does the service work in partnership with key organisations, including the local authority, safeguarding teams and clinical commissioning groups and multidisciplinary teams, to support care provision, service development and joined-up care? Does it do so in an open, honest and transparent way?

Commissioning organisation

Text

Number of people

Number

5.1a Please give the name and number of people for all other organisations that are currently commissioning care from you, if any, in the box below

Text (500-word limit)

This question is related to KLOE W5.1 - How does the service work in partnership with key organisations, including the local authority, safeguarding teams and clinical commissioning groups and multidisciplinary teams, to support care provision, service development and joined-up care? Does it do so in an open, honest and transparent way?

6. Quality assurance and risk management

Quality assurance and risk management: Infection prevention and control

6.1 How do you minimise the risk of infection at your service?

Text (500-word limit)

This question is related to KLOE S5 - How well are people protected by the prevention and control of infection?

Quality assurance and risk management: Duty of candour

6.2 How many notifiable safety incidents have you had in the past 12 months that have triggered the harm thresholds of the duty of candour regulation?

Number

This question is related to KLOE W2.4 - Are all relevant legal requirements understood and met, including CQC registration requirements, safety and public health related obligations, and the submission of notifications and other required information? Do managers understand recommendations made by CQC, keep up-to-date with all relevant changes, and communicate them effectively to staff?

Quality assurance and risk management: Medicines and controlled drugs

6.3 Do you administer medicines?

Options: Yes / No

This question is related to KLOE S4.2 - How does the service make sure that people receive their medicines (both prescribed and non-prescribed) as intended (including controlled drugs and ‘as required’ medicines), and that this is recorded appropriately?

6.3a Have you administered controlled drugs in the past 12 months?

Options: Yes / No

This question is related to KLOE S4.1 - Is the service’s role in relation to medicines clearly defined and described in relevant policies, procedures and training? Is current and relevant professional guidance about the management of medicines followed?

6.3b Have you administered medicines covertly in the past 12 months?

Options: Yes / No

This question is related to KLOE S4.4 - Are there clear procedures for giving medicines covertly, in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005?

6.3c How many people have been given medicine as a form of restraint or to control behaviour in the past 12 months?

Number

This question is related to KLOE S2.7 - How do staff seek to understand, prevent and manage behaviour that the service finds challenging? How are individuals supported when their behaviour challenges? How well does this align with best practice?

6.3d How many of the people who take prescribed medicine have not had a medication review with a GP or other suitable healthcare professional in the past 12 months?

Number

This question is related to KLOE S4.1 - Is the service’s role in relation to medicines clearly defined and described in relevant policies, procedures and training? Is current and relevant professional guidance about the management of medicines followed?

6.3e Have you used enteral tube feeding to administer medicines in the past 12 months?

Options: Yes / No

This question is related to KLOE S4.6 - How do staff assess the level of support a person needs to take their medicines safely, particularly where there are difficulties in communicating, when medicines are being administered covertly, and when undertaking risk enablement assessments designed to promote self-administration?

6.3f How many medicine related errors have there been in the past 12 months?

Number

This question is related to KLOEs S4.2 and S6.3:

KLOE S4.2 - How does the service make sure that people receive their medicines (both prescribed and non-prescribed) as intended (including controlled drugs and ‘as required’ medicines), and that this is recorded appropriately?

KLOE S6.3 - How are lessons learned and themes identified, and is action taken as a result of reviews and investigations when things go wrong?

6.3g How many of these involved controlled drugs?

Number

This question is related to KLOEs S4.2 and S6.3:

KLOE S4.2 - How does the service make sure that people receive their medicines (both prescribed and non-prescribed) as intended (including controlled drugs and ‘as required’ medicines), and that this is recorded appropriately?

KLOE S6.3 - How are lessons learned and themes identified, and is action taken as a result of reviews and investigations when things go wrong?

Quality assurance and risk management: Complaints

6.4 In the past 12 months, how many complaints were made about your service that were managed under your complaint’s procedure?

Number

This question is related to KLOE R2.3 - How effectively are complaints handled, including ensuring openness and transparency, confidentiality, regular updates for the complainant, a timely response and explanation of the outcome, and a formal record?

6.4a What are the main complaints you have received in the past 12 months and what have you changed as a result to improve your service?

Text (500-word limit)

This question is related to KLOE R2.5 - To what extent are concerns and complaints used as an opportunity to learn and drive continuous improvement?

Quality assurance and risk management: Records

6.5  Do you currently use a digital social care record system (DSCR) at your location?

Options: Yes / No

This question is related to KLOEs S2.4, E4, E4.1 and W5.2:

KLOE S2.4 - Are formal and informal methods used to share information with appropriate parties on risks to people’s care, treatment and support?

KLOE E4 - How well do staff, teams and services within and across organisations work together to deliver effective care, support and treatment?

KLOE E4.1 - How do staff work together to ensure that people receive consistent, timely, coordinated, person-centred care and support when they are referred to, use, leave, or move between, different services?

KLOE W5.2 - Does the service share appropriate information and assessments with other relevant agencies for the benefit of people who use the service?

7. Anything else

Information not included elsewhere

7.1 Tell us here, anything else that you wish to share about your service and that is not included in your other answers.

Text (500-word limit)