CQC assesses services against five key questions: are they safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. Under the single assessment framework, each key question is broken down into quality statements, and inspectors look at evidence gathered over time rather than on a single day.
Evidence is built every day
The services that do well are not the ones that prepare best in the week before an assessment. They are the ones whose everyday records already show good care. Every visit note, incident report, supervision and training record is evidence.
Safe
- Risk assessments reviewed on time
- Incidents and safeguarding concerns recorded, investigated and learned from
- Medication records showing doses given and missed, with reasons
- Safe recruitment: DBS, right to work and references
Effective
- Up-to-date, person-centred care plans
- Training records and refresher dates
- Consent and mental capacity recorded where relevant
Caring and responsive
Feedback from people and families, care plans that reflect preferences, and records showing care changed when needs changed.
Well-led
Audits, supervision, policies staff have read and acknowledged, and an honest self-assessment with an action plan.
Gather feedback all year round
CQC places weight on what people using the service and their families say. Build feedback into normal work: short questions at reviews, a simple survey twice a year and a record of compliments as well as complaints. Show what changed because of feedback.
Prepare your team
Inspectors may speak to care workers. Make sure staff know your safeguarding procedure, how to raise concerns and where to find policies. Supervision is a good time to talk this through without making it feel like a test.
Keep an honest action plan
No service is perfect. An action plan that names your weaknesses, what you are doing about them and by when shows a well-led service far better than a claim that everything is fine.
Frequently asked questions
How many quality statements are there?
CQC publishes the full list on its website. Check it regularly, as guidance is updated.
Should we do our own self-assessment?
Yes. A regular internal audit against the five key questions shows inspectors you know your service and are improving it.
CEVERO Care has a CQC compliance overview across the five key questions, a self-assessment and a policy library with staff acknowledgements.