The QCS Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode,  Neil Hughes-Hutchings, Senior Health and Safety Consultant at AfterAthena Ltd, explores a significant issue of exposure to Second-hand smoke.

In this episode,  Neil Hughes-Hutchings, Senior Health and Safety Consultant at AfterAthena Ltd, discusses the critical topic of fire doors. He explains the importance of fire doors in maintaining structural stability during a fire, their role in compartmentation, and the legislative requirements for their regular inspection and maintenance by competent persons. Hughes-Hutchings also provides a detailed checklist for inspecting fire doors to ensure they are in good condition and functioning correctly to enhance fire safety in buildings.

How to Challenge a CQC Inspection – With Laura Shelton, HCR Law

Guest: Laura Shelton, Partner, HCR Law
Host: Barry Price, Content Operations and Delivery Manager, QCS

In this helpful  and timely episode of The Care Social, Barry talks to Laura Shelton, Partner at HCR Law, about what to do if you’re not happy with your CQC inspection, report or rating.

Laura has supported social care providers for over a decade. She shares practical advice on how to raise concerns, respond to inspection reports, and what options are available, from correcting factual errors to taking formal legal steps.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• When and how to challenge a CQC inspection or outcome
• The factual accuracy process – and why it matters
• What a rating review really involves (and how often they succeed)
• Legal routes like judicial review – when they’re worth considering
• Common mistakes providers make when challenging outcomes
• How to prepare your staff and service for inspections

You’ll also hear tips on dealing with inspectors, managing staff confidence, and how small actions can make a big difference when it comes to inspection outcomes.

Find out more about Laura: https://www.hcrlaw.com/people/laura-shelton/

Learn more about QCS: https://www.qcs.co.uk/ 

Got a topic suggestion or want to share your thoughts? Email us at qcs@qcs.co.uk

In this episode of The Care Social, we’re joined by Access Skills CEO Neil Crawford, and Joelma Fernandes  as they break down the new government-funded Learning and Development Support Scheme (LDSS) and how it can help care providers access affordable, practical training.

Whether you're a social care provider, manager or part of a care team, this episode explains how to cut through the confusion around training, funding and qualifications, and why investing in your staff is one of the best decisions you can make.

Joelma and Neil share with our host Barry Price:

• What the Learning and Development Support Scheme (LDSS) is, how it works and what it replaces
• How much funding care providers can claim and when payments are made
• Why the Level 5 Leadership and Management Diploma is one of the most supported qualifications
• The difference between qualifications and practical training, and why care teams need both
• What the future of care training looks like and how technology is changing learning for the better

This episode is full of practical advice for anyone looking to better support their team through training and development. It is especially useful for smaller services that may be applying for training support for the first time.

🎧 Listen now to find out how LDSS funding could benefit your team and how Access Skills can help you make the most of it.

QCS Customers can benefit from a partnership offer from Access Skills: https://www.accessskills.co.uk/quality-compliance-systems-qcs/

Learn more about Access Skills: https://www.accessskills.co.uk/

Got a topic suggestion or want to share your thoughts? Email us at qcs@qcs.co.uk

In this episode, Neil Hughes-Hutchings, Senior Health and Safety Consultant at AfterAthena Ltd, explores the ins and outs of health surveillance. You’ll learn what it is, when it’s needed, and why it matters – from protecting workers exposed to noise and vibration, to spotting early signs of ill-health. Whether you’re a care provider, manager or frontline worker, this is a practical guide to keeping your team safe and staying compliant. 

In the final part of our podcast with dementia care expert Jackie Pool, we explore the growing role of rehabilitation in dementia care — and how small, targeted approaches can make a big difference.

Drawing on over a decade of research with the University of Exeter and global partners, Jackie explains how cognitive rehabilitation is helping people with dementia maintain independence, rebuild confidence, and stay connected to daily life.

In this episode, Jackie shares with our host Barry Price:

• Why rehabilitation should be part of everyday dementia care
• How simple prompts and repetition can help people find their way and achieve personal goals
• The importance of physical, intellectual and social support in care settings
• Practical ways to involve care teams, families and activity coordinators
• How to recognise meaningful activity — and why it matters
• Free tools and training to help you deliver cognitive rehab in your service

Whether you're a care provider, occupational therapist, family member or frontline worker, this episode offers great examples and practical tips for supporting people with dementia in a more personalised, goal-focused way.

🎧 Listen now to discover how rehabilitation can improve quality of life and confidence for the people you support.

Don’t forget to download the free resources Jackie mentions in the episode — including the My Life, My Goals guide and cognitive rehabilitation e-learning course.

Got a topic suggestion or want to share your thoughts? Email us at qcs@qcs.co.uk

In this powerful episode of The Care Social,  host Barry Price,  sits down with Jackie Pool - renowned dementia care specialist, author, inventor and trainer. With decades of experience and a deep passion for improving dementia care, Jackie shares her inspiring journey, from her early days in psychogeriatrics to creating the now evidence-based PAL assessment tool.

Together, Barry and Jackie explore:

• What truly person-centred dementia care looks like
• How language and tone can support dignity and comfort
• The importance of life histories and collaborative care planning
• The balance between safety and independence in care settings
• Why dining—not feeding—makes all the difference
• How the PAL tool helps teams personalise care, with real impact

This is part one of a two-part special—an honest, often funny conversation, packed with practical tips, experience, and a deep commitment to supporting the person, not just the condition. 

Listen now and discover why good dementia care is everyone’s responsibility.

Got a topic suggestion or want to share your thoughts? Email us at qcs@qcs.co.uk

In this episode, Neil Hughes-Hutchings discusses the importance of preventing slips and trips in health and social care settings, especially for individuals with mobility issues. He provides strategies for prevention, including risk assessments, environmental modifications, exercise and more. By creating a culture of safety and proactive risk management, the sector can reduce the likelihood and impact of falls, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of service users.

In this episode of The Care Social, Barry, our Content Operations and Delivery Manager at QCS, explores how care providers can effectively respond after a regulatory downgrade — a growing concern in light of recent CQC developments.

Whether you've just been through an inspection or want to strengthen your approach, Barry shares calm, clear-headed advice on how to respond, rebuild, and refocus.

Key topics covered:

• Immediate steps after receiving an inspection outcome
• Communicating transparently with staff, stakeholders, and service users
• Rebuilding morale and protecting your team
• Using inspection findings to update training and recruitment plans
• Maintaining continuity of care and restoring trust
• Creating and embedding a culture of continuous improvement
• Tracking progress and preparing for follow-up inspections

🎧 Listen now to get practical tips and reassurance that improvement is always possible — and support is out there when you need it.

Got a topic suggestion or want to share your thoughts? Email us at qcs@qcs.co.uk

Cyber security is no longer a future concern – it’s a challenge facing social care providers right now.

In this episode of The Care Social podcast, we speak to Michelle Corrigan, Programme Director at Digital Care Hub and NHS Cyber Leader of the Year, about the real risks – and opportunities – of going digital in social care.

Michelle explains why data security matters so much in care, how AI is really being used, and what providers can do today to improve their cyber resilience, meet DSPT requirements, and protect the people they support.

In this episode:

• What cyber security means for social care providers
• How to protect personal care data from cyber threats
• Simple steps to improve digital safety and readiness
• What AI can and can’t do in a care setting
• Why completing the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) is so important – and easier than you think

This is a must-listen for registered managers, care home owners, supported living providers, and anyone interested in safer digital care.

🎧 Listen to the episode now

Want to join the conversation?
If you have a topic, you’d like us to cover or want to be a guest on a future episode, email us at qcs@qcs.co.uk