CQC is accelerating. The regulator completed over 50% more inspections in November 2025 than the same month a year earlier, and has set a public target of 9,000 assessments by September 2026. If you haven't been inspected under the new framework yet, your window is closing. This guide walks you through the five practical steps to prepare. Why this matters In the space of six months, CQC inspection patterns have shifted dramatically. Services that expected 18-24 months before inspection are...

When I walk into a care home and ask to see the nutrition and hydration audit, I usually see one of three things. The first is a form that's been ticked green across the board, every month, for the past two years. Perfect scores. No issues. The staff member hands it over with the apologetic confidence of someone who knows what I'm thinking. The second is nothing at all. It's on the risk register as "todo." It's meant to happen quarterly. It hasn't happened since March. The third (and this is...

CQC's well-led assessment framework has evolved in 2026 with tougher expectations. It covers six domains and 24 key lines of enquiry (KLOEs). Inspectors are no longer looking for perfect systems or committees. They're looking for evidence that leaders understand their service, respond to risk, and are visibly changing things based on what they find. This breakdown explains each KLOE and what evidence actually passes inspection under the new framework. Why this matters CQC is reshaping how it...