03.27.2025 PCS
Turning a 'Requires Improvement' care home rating to 'Outstanding'
When a care home receives a 'Requires Improvement' rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) or a 'Weak' rating from other regulators like the Care Inspectorate, it typically indicates significant underlying issues the care provider must address.
Outdated approaches
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One common root cause of these problems is the use of an inadequate digital social care record system (care management/care planning software) or other digital solutions that do not align with current regulatory standards; for example, these systems may not comply with the 14 NHS Digital Social Care Record (DSCR) standards or the DCB0129 NHS Safety Standard.
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In particular, many care homes still cling to traditional paper care plans, which can further complicate the management of resident care.
These outdated approaches contribute to a myriad of inefficiencies.
For instance, care staff may struggle to access critical information quickly when stored in cumbersome paper formats or within poorly designed digital care systems. This can result in delays in delivering essential care services or miscommunication among team members regarding a resident's needs and preferences.
Additionally, the potential for human error increases in care environments reliant on paper care plans, leading to inaccurate or incomplete care records. Such inaccuracies can undermine the integrity of care delivered, leaving residents vulnerable and decreasing their overall wellbeing.
Furthermore, failing to adopt compliant digital solutions can lead to serious ramifications for care organisations, including non-compliance with regulatory mandates designed to protect both residents and staff. This non-compliance can create substantial legal and financial liabilities for care providers.
Therefore, it becomes crucial for the care sector to move away from outdated systems and embrace modern software solutions that not only enhance operational efficiency but also ensure a higher standard of care for all individuals entrusted to their services.
How to make your care home 'Outstanding'
Improving a regulatory rating is not a simple task, as it requires a comprehensive approach to enhance care delivery and ensure compliance with the necessary standards.
This is where our team of expert consultants comes in.
We specialise in delivering extensive support to care organisations as they navigate the complexities of the regulatory landscape. Our expertise lies in pinpointing tailored digital solutions that effectively address the unique challenges faced by your care home.
Our services also include ensuring a seamless transition when switching between digital social care record systems and facilitating the secure transfer of data from one system to another, including migrating paper care plans to a digital solution.
We understand the challenges of these processes and work closely with your care organisation to help you implement effective solutions that enhance efficiency, compliance, and overall quality of care.
Our team is dedicated to guiding care organisations through each step, ensuring they can focus on what matters most: providing outstanding care to the individuals they serve.
Our innovative digital solutions aim to elevate your care home to an outstanding level, and we are committed to establishing a long-term partnership with you that focuses on strengthening your regulatory compliance and enhancing the overall quality of care your team delivers.
Our partner's perspective on what defines a 'Good' and 'Outstanding' care home
Person Centred Software has partnered with Delphi Care Solutions to provide comprehensive support to our customers in navigating the complexities of compliance.
Here is Delphi's perspective on what defines a 'Good' care home:
(While the following will contribute to an 'Outstanding' rating, these standards should be expected from a 'Good' care home).
- Implementation of the best digital solutions: An outstanding care home effectively integrates the best digital solutions to streamline operations, enhance communication, and improve the overall quality of care delivered to residents. (Did you know that 95% of care homes using our digital social care record system and our other digital solutions have received ratings of 'Good' or 'Outstanding' from regulatory authorities?)
- Supportive leadership: The care home is managed by an exceptional, confident, skilled registered manager who drives success and growth by promoting the right working environment, maintaining standards and ensuring high-quality care.
- Adequate resources: The care home allocates sufficient resources, including staffing, training, equipment and the best digital solutions, to ensure every team member can perform their duties effectively. Additionally, there is a continuous investment in services and infrastructure aimed at enhancing the quality of care provided to residents.
- Good organisational structure: The care home is characterised by a well-organised structure that facilitates smooth operations. This includes clear roles and responsibilities for staff, effective communication channels, and systematic processes for care delivery.
- Clear and communicative values: The care home's values are clearly defined and widely communicated among all care staff members. This ensures that every team member understands and aligns with the home's mission and philosophy, promoting a unified approach to care.
- Person-centred care delivery: Outstanding care homes prioritise person-centred care, which means tailoring services to meet the individual needs, preferences, and aspirations of each resident. Staff are trained to involve residents in decision-making and to respect their dignity and autonomy.
- Evidence of strong performance: Outstanding care homes can demonstrate strong performance through data and feedback software. They actively identify issues or concerns and implement actionable strategies to resolve them, continuously improving care standards. For example, our Resident Experience Tool is designed to help care homes prioritise the voices of residents. Employing sophisticated survey software like this allows care providers to systematically collect and analyse feedback from residents or their families regarding their experiences of care. This ensures that care homes meet regulatory standards and genuinely respond to the needs and preferences of those they serve, leading to an overall enhancement in care quality and resident satisfaction.
- Staff prep for inspections: Staff are well informed and prepared for inspections, including understanding the regulatory framework and evaluation criteria. This preparation helps ensure that care delivery meets the required standards.
- Quality checks on care documentation: Regular audits and checks of care documentation are conducted to ensure accuracy, compliance, and completeness. This ensures that residents' care plans reflect their current needs and preferences.
- Review employee personnel files: The quality of personnel files is routinely assessed to validate that care staff credentials, training records, and employment history comply with regulatory standards. This represents a commitment to maintaining a skilled and knowledgeable care workforce.
- Conduct mock inspections: The care home regularly conducts mock inspections to prepare for actual inspections. This practice helps familiarise care staff with the inspection process, identify areas for improvement, and cultivate a culture of continuous quality improvement.
In addition to the points above, to make a care home outstanding, you should also understand and follow the key 'We Statements' from the CQC Single Assessment Framework while considering the additional points outlined below.
Delivering outstanding care goes beyond meeting regulatory requirements
“At Delphi Care Solutions, we believe that delivering outstanding care goes beyond meeting regulatory requirements; it’s about embedding innovative, person-led practices that truly enrich the lives of those supported.
Innovative practice means continually evolving and embracing new approaches that reflect the unique needs of each individual and the wider service community. This includes providing meaningful and purposeful activities that promote connection, autonomy, and wellbeing, not just as an add-on but as a core part of the care model.
Crucially, these approaches must be evidence-based and demonstrate how they improve outcomes for people. It’s not enough for practices to feel good; they must deliver real, measurable benefits that enhance quality of life, independence, and emotional wellbeing.
It’s also vital that the model of care is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, it should be thoughtfully designed to suit both the service type and the people it supports. Whether in residential, nursing, or supported living settings, a well-matched care model ensures consistency, relevance, and impact, ultimately leading to better outcomes for individuals and improved satisfaction for families and staff alike.
Having consultancy support in place complements the use of digital tools such as Person Centred Software. It ensures that Registered Managers and their staff teams have the wraparound support systems they need, providing expertise, guidance, and reassurance to lean on as required.
Together, digital innovation and strategic consultancy help build a culture of continuous improvement and confidence across care services.”
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