Technology
Utilising data and technology to ensure safe care and treatment
Paul Johnson, CEO and co-founder of risk, quality, and compliance software supplier Radar Healthcare, discusses the regulations covering service providers and managers, the implications of non-compliance, and how technology can support care providers in meeting and exceeding regulatory standards
The regulation of health and social care services is fundamental to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of individuals who rely on these services. The CQC serves as the independent regulator of health and social care in England, ensuring that providers meet essential standards of quality and safety.
The Health and Social Care Act 2008
(Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, regulation 12 – focusing on safe care and treatment – holds particular importance due to its direct impact on residents’ wellbeing.1
When providers fail to comply,
consequences can be severe, ranging from fines to reputational damage, and – most importantly – potential harm to those under their care. In today’s digital landscape, care
providers have the opportunity to move beyond basic compliance and leverage data- driven insights and technology to enhance care quality, mitigate risks, and ultimately improve outcomes for the people that they support.
The role of the CQC in ensuring safe and high-quality care
Ensuring compliance with the relevant regulations is essential. Among these, reg 12 holds particular significance. When breached, the consequences can be severe, leading to financial penalties and, more importantly, potential harm to those receiving care.
From January to November 2024, the CQC initiated 14 prosecutions, with nine cases directly linked to reg 12 breaches. The fines associated with these cases totalled
Ensuring compliance with the relevant regulations is essential
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£936,000, emphasising the critical need for providers to maintain compliance and prioritise safe care.2
Understanding reg 12: safe care and treatment
Regulation 12 is designed to prevent individuals from receiving unsafe care and treatment. It mandates providers to: n Assess and mitigate risks to health and safety.
n Ensure staff possess the necessary qualifications, competence, and skills.
n Maintain safe premises and equipment. n Manage and administer medicines appropriately.
n Implement infection control measures. n Ensure effective care planning, particularly in shared-care environments.
The CQC Guidance states:1 “The intention of this regulation is to
prevent people from receiving unsafe care and treatment and prevent avoidable harm or risk of harm. Providers must assess the risks
to people’s health and safety during any care or treatment and make sure that staff have the qualifications, competence, skills and experience to keep people safe. “Providers must make sure that the
premises and any equipment used is safe and where applicable, available in sufficient quantities. Medicines must be supplied in sufficient quantities, managed safely and administered appropriately to make sure people are safe. Providers must prevent and control the
spread of infection. Where the responsibility for care and treatment is shared, care planning must be timely to maintain people’s health, safety and welfare.” While the CQC acknowledges that inherent risks exist in care settings, providers must demonstrate they have taken all reasonable steps to manage these risks and ensure patient safety.
What can providers do to demonstrate compliance? To comply with reg 12, providers must ensure the safety of individuals receiving
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com April 2025
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