Risk Mitigation

8.1    CQC subject certain providers to a focused market oversight regime. These providers will be those who, because of size, geographic location or other considerations mean that individual local authorities would find it difficult to replace, and therefore require national scrutiny.

8.2    CQC will only contact the council when the whole of one of these businesses is at risk or failing, not when just when individual services might be. Therefore, the council operates its own local market oversight approach.

8.3    The council will maintain market intelligence and monitoring functions to ensure a proactive approach to supporting the market and anticipating wherever possible any risks which might lead to service interruption or provider failure.

8.4     The activity will be proportionate and have regard to the information CQC may already have requested from providers.

8.5     Intelligence will be analysed in terms of risk to service users and to the local authority. Where appropriate, the council will carry out these activities on a regional basis and with relevant neighbouring authorities.

8.6      Activity in relation to market oversight will be underpinned by sound business continuity, contingency and emergency planning by both providers and council. All providers will be required to submit a BCP at the point of contract award and these plans are subject to annual review as part of contract monitoring.
 
8.7    Where there is a planned strategy, good practice will require that the processes of this policy continue to be followed, but it should be recognised that the duties on the council are only for those people it currently supports, although best practice will be followed and the council recognises its safeguarding duties for vulnerable people. 

8.8    Regulated care providers registered in Gloucestershire are responsible for informing  the Council in the event of a planned or unplanned closure. In the event of a planned closure then the provider must give Gloucestershire a minimum of 6-months notice before the planned closure date.

8.9    All regulated care providers are required to maintain business continuity plans that should be regularly reviewed.