Janice Tillett Expert by Experience
Janice is ideally placed to take part in CQC inspections at GP surgeries and residential care homes. Technology helps her to carry out the inspections, with the added help of a support worker.
I’m both deaf and blind and have some physical disabilities and anxiety. I know for myself that going to a GP or hospital can be quite daunting at times. I can’t lip read which makes communication difficult with medical staff...you can’t understand what they’re saying.
I’ve taken part in CQC inspections at GP surgeries, residential care homes and one hospital trust. Technology helps me cope. My hearing is still mildly impaired even with the use of bone anchored hearing aids. I use assistive technology for IT needs and speech software. I need a support worker when I do an inspection.
I get asked to work as and when CQC inspections come in. Before we start inspectors tell us what to focus on. My role is to talk to the patients or users to give in depth input from their perspective. The inspector may look at other things like food hygiene and the paper work.
They may not get the same impression as us. What we do is help give a fuller picture to the inspector so they can pull together their
report. Some inspectors ask me to do an access audit so I walk around and experience the service as a person with both sensory and physical disabilities. I let them know how accessible the service is. I can share my experience of using electric doors, for example – that’s the sort of thing I would think of that others may not. It’s all about my having that extra bit of knowledge I can use to help add to the inspection.
