CQC Lose Another CEO At Short Notice
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- Published: Monday, 04 November 2024 10:08
- Written by Peter Ingle
- Hits: 1314
To lose one chief executive at short notice may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose two looks like carelessness.
If it seems like only a couple of weeks ago that the CQC were announcing that they had appointed a new CEO.
It is because it is only a couple of weeks ago.
The timeline of events at the stricken regulator is that in June 2024, Ian Trenholm, CEO since 2018, suddenly announced his impending departure giving just four days notice. Kate Terroni, the organisations former deputy chief executive was appointed interim CEO. She was described at the time by a social care consultant as ‘a safe pair of hands.’
In July 2024 she issued an apology to providers, saying that “We didn’t listen properly or take on board these concerns, and that’s why we’re where we are now.” She added that that the organisation was “determined to put things right”.
In mid October 2024 the CQC announced that Sir Julian Hartley, current chief executive of NHS Providers (NHSP), would be the new CEO of the CQC, though his start date was not given. Now after just four months, Kate Terroni’s sudden departure has been revealed.
Indeed it would appear that she has already left her post, if not the organisation, since she was on leave of absence at the time of the announcement, and according to the CQC is stepping down with immediate effect. The CQC quoted her: "At the beginning of September, I informed the Chair of my decision to not apply for the permanent Chief Executive role, as I recognised the need for fresh leadership to take us forward.”
The regulator’s own announcement says that until her departure she will work with Chair Ian Dilks to prepare for Sir Julian’s arrival, though exactly when either her departure, or his arrival will be, is not stated.
James Bullion who was acting in the role of Interim Chief Executive during Kate Terroni’s leave of absence, will now act as interim CEO until January, although it is not certain that Sir Julian’s arrival will follow seamlessly.
James Bullion may not be encouraged to hear Kate Terroni describe her time as interim chief as an "intensely challenging experience" and that she needs to "take some time away to absorb the impact it has had on me".
In the latest staff survey for the CQC, only 27% of its employees felt the “values and behaviours” of the CEO and executive team matched those of the organisation. The CQC is pausing inspections of integrated care systems for six months following the publication of two independent reports that highlight "serious organisational failings" at the regulator.
One review of the CQC flagged concerns over a "lack of consistency" in assessments, a "poorly" explained single assessment framework, a "lack of focus on outcomes" and "limited reference to innovation" in care delivery.
GDPUK readers, familiar with the CQC’s expectations regarding the leadership and organisational robustness of practices, may wonder if that organisation is in any position to judge these qualities.
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