2 November 2015
During an inspection looking at part of the service
Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an unannounced inspection of Queens Road Surgery and their branch surgery located in St Peter’s Health Centre on 2 November 2015. This report does not include ratings of safe, caring, effective, responsive and well led because this inspection was carried out based on information which was shared with the Care Quality Commission in relation to the recruitment and training of staff.
There were concerns that clinical and non-clinical staff were being recruited without robust recruitment procedures being followed. For example, formal interview, proof of identity checks, references, qualifications, registration with an appropriate professional body, medical indemnity insurance and the appropriate checks through the Disclosure and Barring Service. There were also concerns that staff had not received safeguarding adults and safeguarding children training.
Our key findings were as follows:
- There was evidence that appropriate recruitment checks had been undertaken prior to employment. For example, proof of identification, references, qualifications, registration, medical indemnity insurance cover with the appropriate professional body and criminal records checks through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). (DBS checks identify whether a person has a criminal record or is on an official list of people barred from working in roles where they may have contact with children or adults who may be vulnerable) However, not all of this evidence was available for all employees during our inspection, evidence was provided shortly after our inspection.
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Staff told us they had been recruited following a formal interview and references were supplied before commencement of employment. Staff also told us that a DBS check had been carried out, they had received an induction programme and were provided with training relevant to their role including mandatory training, such as basic life support and safeguarding.
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Clinical members of staff were trained to deliver care and treatment to patients without placing patients at risk of harm. We saw evidence of qualifications and training during our inspection.
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Staff had attended safeguarding adults and safeguarding children training, however the information was not available during the inspection for all members of staff. Evidence of this was provided shortly after our inspection.
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice