Navigating the CQC regulations: Building confidence in what you will need to evidence

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is undergoing a major reset after its 2024 introduction of the Single Assessment Framework (SAF) for inspecting health and adult social care providers in England drew widespread criticism for being overly complex, inconsistently applied, and contributing to assessment backlogs.

In October 2025, following independent reviews and sector feedback, CQC launched a public consultation called 'Better regulation, better care' proposing substantial changes: reintroducing detailed rating characteristics for each rating level, creating sector-specific frameworks (including one for adult social care), simplifying content, and emphasizing inspector judgement over rigid scoring. The consultation closed in December 2025; CQC plans to finalize and publish the revised frameworks in summer 2026, with implementation starting by the end of the year.

Operationally, CQC has accelerated inspections to address delays, completing over 5,000 assessments since April 2025 and targeting 9,000 by September 2026—already running ahead in late 2025. From January 2026, adult social care assessments prioritize services with very old or no ratings. From 9 February 2026, incomplete registration applications are rejected outright.

This matters sharply for adult social care providers—care homes, home care agencies, and supported living services—because they must continue demonstrating compliance with the Fundamental Standards and Regulations under the current SAF while anticipating a more defined but potentially stricter regime later in 2026. Failures carry real consequences: enforcement, operational restrictions, or deregistration, all impacting vulnerable adults who depend on consistent, high-quality care amid ongoing workforce and funding pressures.