Security Alert / Staff Reminder: Site Visitor identification – Bogus CQC Inspector
Following a report that a Leicester GP has had contact from a bogus CQC inspector, could you pass the following on to colleagues across the trust.
Please be aware that we had an incident this afternoon where a practice in the Midlands was contacted by a person purporting to be a CQC inspector, using an email address ending ‘@cqc.uk’, requesting personal information relating to employees. They used a name closely resembling that of an ex CQC employee.
We are speaking with the provider concerned today to get some more information about what happened and the police and local commissioners will be informed. Our Security team have also been notified.
Meanwhile, if a provider is contacted by someone and they are not sure if they work for CQC or not, they can always request the name and role of the person and call our contact centre, who can advise whether the contact is genuine or not.
This warning is based along an email received however it seems a good time to reiterate that all site visitors must be formally identified by the reception staff and asked to sign in before being issued with a visitor pass.
Any unexpected visitors must be confirmed and collected from reception by the person that they are there to meet.
Any visitor who cannot be positively identified must not be issued a visitor pass and they must be turned away and asked to speak with their Trust contact.
If you encounter a person in a secure area that you do not recognise, challenge them to find out if they are lost or are possibly a member of staff, all staff will carry ID. Also report the incident to your manager and report it via datix, if you require an immediate response, then please contact the police.
If I can please recap that it is the responsibility of all staff to close, lock and protect your workplace. You know the workplace better than anyone so protect it.
With this in mind have look around at your site and think to yourself how easy is it to gain entry?
- Challenge unknown individuals on site;
- Have belongings and bags out of sight – preferably in a locker;
- Where are keys kept, are they in a safe place (not easily seen or reachable);
- Can the doors be locked and bolts used to stop entry to secure areas;
- Report any suspicious behaviour; and
- Lock offices when not in use.
I cannot stress enough the importance of this and it is everyone's responsibility to ensure that windows, doors, buildings, vehicles are secure and locked as this prevents a breach of security.
Many thanks for your support on this.
If you have any questions relating to security or the information guidelines above then please contact myself on 07833 295383 or by email at craig.burton@nhs.net (secure email address)