CQC Regulations
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and social care in England. It monitors, inspects, and rates care homes and other services to ensure they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety. Understanding the CQC framework is essential for every care worker.
About the Care Quality Commission
The CQC was established under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and began operating in its current form in 2009. Its purpose is to make sure health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care, and to encourage services to improve.
The CQC registers care providers if they meet fundamental standards, monitors services through inspections and data, takes action to protect people who use services, and publishes its findings to help people choose care.
For care homes in England, the CQC is the primary regulator. Care homes in Scotland are regulated by the Care Inspectorate; in Wales by Care Inspectorate Wales; and in Northern Ireland by the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA). The resources on Care Handbook focus on the English CQC framework.
Key legislation: Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 — these set out the Fundamental Standards that all registered providers must meet.
In This Section
The 5 Key Questions
Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, Well-led — the five questions CQC inspectors use to assess care quality. Understand what each question covers and what inspectors look for.
Fundamental Standards
The 13 regulations that all health and social care providers in England must meet, from person-centred care (Reg 9) to duty of candour (Reg 20).
Inspection Process & Ratings
How CQC inspections work — what to expect during a comprehensive or focused inspection, how ratings are awarded, and what each rating means.