The CQC is the independent regulator of health and social care in England. It exists to make sure that health and social care services provide safe, effective, compassionate and high-quality care. It also encourages care services to make improvements.
All care homes in the UK must be registered with the CQC, and a home can be fined if it is not properly registered. This means that either the organisation or the individual/partnership that runs the home(s) must be registered. You can find out more about care home registration from the Government’s website
The CQC ensures that residents of care homes are kept safe from harm, abuse and neglect. This is vital because care home residents are vulnerable and often cannot speak up for themselves. Safeguarding ensures that if you live in a care home, you are free to live in safety while enjoying compassionate and effective care.
Levels of care must never fall below CQC’s fundamental standards which stipulate that:
Care should be person centred and tailored to your needs and preferences.
You have the right to be treated with dignity and respect while receiving care.
You (or anyone acting legally on your behalf) must consent to care or treatment.
Your care and treatment must be safe, and you must not be put at risk.
You must be safeguarded from improper treatment or abuse, including neglect or unnecessary restraint.
You must have enough to eat and drink to keep you in good health.
The premises and equipment must be clean, suitable and properly maintained.
You must be able to complain about your care or treatment, if necessary, via the care provider’s complaints procedure.
Your care provider must ensure these standards are met.
The staff responsible for your care must be qualified, competent, experienced, fit and proper for the job.
Your care provider must be open and transparent about your care, especially if something goes wrong.
The CQC rating must be displayed where you can see it and uploaded to the home’s website.
The CQC carries out regular inspections within care homes and publishes its reports. The inspections are based on five key questions concerning the care provider’s standards and conduct:
1. Are they safe, protecting you from abuse and possible harm?
2. Is the service effective? Does your care, treatment and support achieve good outcome and help you to maintain the best possible quality of life?
3. Are they caring, treating you with kindness, compassion, dignity and respect?
4. Are their services organised so that they respond to, and meet, your needs? Is the service organised so that it can cater for your requirements?
5. Are they well led, with leadership, management and governance that provides high-quality care?
Based on its findings, the CQC also encourages care services to make improvements.
If you are already a resident, are considering moving into a care home or are responsible for someone who is a resident, being able to see at a glance how well a particular home is operating or be reassured about its quality of care is a real advantage. The CQC provides that transparency, making it easy for you to find out everything you need to know.
Find out more about the CQC.
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