The CQC's New Approach to Assessment
The Care Quality Commission's Single Assessment Framework represents the most significant change to how health and social care providers are inspected in over a decade. Moving away from scheduled, large-scale inspections, the CQC now uses a continuous evidence-gathering model.
What's Changed?
Quality Statements
The traditional Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOEs) have been replaced by quality statements organised under the five key questions: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, and Well-led. Each quality statement describes what good care looks like.
Evidence Categories
The CQC now gathers evidence from six categories:
- People's experience — feedback from service users and families
- Feedback from staff and leaders — including whistleblowing
- Observation — what inspectors see during visits
- Processes — governance, policies, and procedures
- Outcomes — measurable results and quality indicators
- Feedback from partners — commissioners, local authorities, other agencies
Scoring System
Each quality statement is scored on a four-point scale: 1 (Inadequate), 2 (Requires Improvement), 3 (Good), 4 (Outstanding). These scores are aggregated to produce an overall rating.
How to Prepare
Proactive providers are already:
- Mapping their evidence against each quality statement
- Strengthening governance frameworks to demonstrate well-led services
- Improving patient and staff feedback mechanisms
- Conducting internal quality audits aligned to the new framework
- Training staff on the new expectations
How CPGB Ltd Can Help
Our consultants have extensive experience supporting health and social care providers through CQC processes. We offer:
- CQC readiness assessments and mock inspections
- Governance and quality improvement support
- Board-level strategic advice
- Post-inspection action planning
Contact us to discuss how we can help you prepare for the new assessment framework.