CQC sector-specific frameworks are back: what registered managers need now

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is embarking on a significant overhaul of its assessment frameworks that will impact various sectors within health and social care. Specifically, if you have experience in training or managing services prior to 2023, the forthcoming changes are likely to resonate with you, as they echo elements of previous regulatory practices.

The CQC is phasing out the Single Assessment Framework, a comprehensive system used to evaluate services across the board, and will introduce four distinct frameworks. Each of these new frameworks is tailored to the specific needs and contexts of the sectors they will regulate. This means that adult social care will have its dedicated framework, as will mental health care, primary care and community services, along with one for hospitals.

For registered managers, this transition signifies more than just a mere update; it represents a fundamental shift in the criteria and methodologies by which services will be assessed. This change is likely to be the most substantial since the introduction of the Single Assessment Framework back in 2023. As such, it is imperative for managers and stakeholders within the sector to thoroughly familiarize themselves with these new frameworks. Doing so will allow you not only to anticipate how your service will be evaluated under these emerging guidelines, but it will also enable you to proactively adjust your practices in alignment with the CQC’s expectations. Waiting for the final version of the new frameworks to arrive in your inbox could leave you at a disadvantage, underscoring the importance of understanding these changes in depth and preparing accordingly.

Why this is happening

The Single Assessment Framework tried to apply one generic model across hospitals, GP practices, mental health services and care homes. In practice, a framework built to flex across such different settings struggled to capture what actually matters in any one of them. Feedback from providers consistently pointed to the same problems: ambiguous scoring, quality statements that overlapped or felt disconnected from day-to-day practice, and judgements that did not always reflect the reality on the ground.

CQC ran its Better Regulation, Better Care consultation in response to this feedback, and the proposal to split the single framework into sector-specific versions received strong support. CQC has confirmed it is moving forward with a sector-based approach to regulation, replacing the single framework with separate frameworks tailored to each sector it regulates. The Single Assessment Framework, developed to provide a uniform regulatory model across various healthcare settings—including hospitals, GP practices, mental health services, and care homes—encountered significant challenges in implementation. While the intention was to create a versatile framework adaptable to diverse environments, it ultimately failed to effectively address the unique needs and priorities of each individual setting.

Feedback from healthcare providers was remarkably consistent, highlighting a number of critical issues. Many expressed concerns regarding the framework's ambiguous scoring systems, which often left providers uncertain about performance evaluation. Additionally, the quality statements within the framework were criticized for either overlapping with one another or lacking relevance to the everyday realities experienced in care delivery. As a result, many judgments rendered under this framework did not accurately reflect the true conditions or intricacies present in care environments, leading to frustration among providers.

In response to these insights, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) initiated the Better Regulation, Better Care consultation. This effort sought to engage stakeholders and gather input on regulatory practices. One of the most notable proposals arising from this consultation was the suggestion to dismantle the single framework in favor of developing distinct, sector-specific frameworks. This proposition garnered robust support from various stakeholders who recognized the need for tailored approaches that could more effectively capture the complexities and unique challenges of each sector.

In light of this feedback and support, the CQC has confirmed its decision to proceed with a sector-based strategy for regulation. This shift involves replacing the overarching single framework with multiple, specialized frameworks designed to cater specifically to the requirements of each sector it regulates. This tailored approach aims to enhance the relevance and effectiveness of regulatory practices, ultimately leading to improved care quality and outcomes across the board.

What's actually changing in the CQC sector-specific assessment framework?

The draft adult social care framework outlines four significant enhancements aimed at improving the evaluation and assessment process within the sector:

1. Introduction of Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOEs): The previous quality statements will be replaced by Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOEs), which are essentially structured questions designed to articulate the specific aspects that the Care Quality Commission (CQC) will examine during assessments. This shift is intended to create a more refined and focused approach based on the insights gained since the implementation of the Single Assessment Framework. For professionals who have previously worked in the sector, the format of KLOEs will feel familiar, albeit with enhancements to reflect updated understanding and practices.

2. Elimination of Numerical Scoring: A significant change highlighted in the draft is the removal of numerical scoring from the assessment methodologies. Feedback from stakeholders has consistently supported this move, favoring a more direct judgment based on the key questions rather than an abstract scoring system. The rationale behind this decision addresses criticisms of the former framework, where the scoring system intended to enhance transparency often resulted in ratings that did not align with the perceptions held by providers and inspectors regarding the quality of services offered.

3. Reintroduction of Rating Characteristics: The new framework brings back rating characteristics, which provide clear descriptions of what constitutes outstanding, good, requires improvement, and inadequate care at each assessment level. These characteristics have been developed through direct input from service users, ensuring that they reflect a true understanding of what quality care means to individuals. For managers and providers, this clarity serves as a valuable reference point, allowing them to better understand the expectations of inspectors rather than inferring criteria from the sometimes ambiguous language of quality statement wording.

4. Prioritization of Lived Experience: Throughout the draft framework, there is a pronounced emphasis on incorporating lived experience into the assessment process. This is achieved through the inclusion of "I statements" that stem from the Making It Real framework, which has been co-produced with Think Local Act Personal and individuals who have experienced care. By weaving these personal perspectives into the core of the assessment, the framework ensures that the views and experiences of those using the services remain central to every evaluative judgment, thereby enriching the quality and relevance of the assessments.

These updates reflect a commitment to creating a more transparent, user-centred, and effective assessment process in adult social care, ultimately aiming to enhance service quality and outcomes for individuals receiving care.

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What's staying the same

It is essential to clarify the implications of the term "framework overhaul," as it may create the impression that a complete rethinking of processes and standards is underway. However, it is important to recognize that this is not the case. The five core questions that guide assessments—namely, whether a service is safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led—remain unchanged and continue to be the cornerstone of evaluation.

Furthermore, the fundamental standards that underpin these assessments have not altered. For organizations that have established robust governance structures, maintained clear evidence trails, and fostered a culture of continuous improvement, the transition may not be as daunting as it seems. Instead of starting from scratch, these organizations will be refining and adapting the manner in which they present their practices and evidence. This adaptation focuses on enhancing clarity and alignment with the updated framework, rather than dismantling existing systems that are already effective. In summary, for those already compliant with the standards, this overhaul signifies a shift in format rather than a complete restructuring of foundational practices.

Timeline: what to expect and when

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has undertaken a significant initiative to develop four draft sector-specific frameworks aimed at improving the quality of care across various settings. These frameworks are designed for distinct areas: adult social care, mental health care, primary care and community services, and hospitals. The consultation period for these draft frameworks concluded on 12 June 2026, during which stakeholders had the opportunity to provide valuable feedback.

CQC has committed to a thorough evaluation of all the feedback received to enhance each framework further. This refinement process is a crucial step before moving into the piloting and testing phases. According to sector reporting, the piloting is expected to occur throughout the summer of 2026, with full implementation of the new frameworks anticipated toward the end of that year.

It's important to note that until the new frameworks are officially implemented, the current Single Assessment Framework will remain in effect. There is no immediate need for organizations to discontinue their current practices under the existing model. Instead, this transitional period presents a valuable opportunity to begin aligning your existing evidence and practices with the draft Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOEs) and rating characteristics. By doing so, you will be better prepared to integrate the new framework into your operations seamlessly, allowing for a smoother transition rather than starting anew from a blank slate once the new framework is finalized and put into practice.

What registered managers should do now

Read the draft adult social care framework. It is publicly available on the CQC website. Even an hour spent against your current Quality Statement evidence will tell you where the gaps and overlaps are likely to sit.

Audit how your evidence would map to KLOE-style questions. Quality statements often sat at a fairly abstract level. KLOEs are written as more direct, investigative questions. Test your current policies, audits, and care planning evidence against that more direct framing rather than the quality statement wording you've built processes around.

Pay particular attention to governance and well-led evidence. Sector commentary on the draft has consistently flagged a stronger expectation around visible oversight, learning loops, and how leadership decisions translate into outcomes on the floor, not just in policy documents. If your well-led evidence currently leans on having a policy rather than demonstrating its impact, this is the area to strengthen first.

Don't discard your Single Assessment Framework evidence. Most of what underpins a quality statement also underpins the equivalent KLOE. This is a restructuring of how evidence is organised and judged, not a wholesale change in what good care looks like.

Keep watching for the pilot announcements. Services selected for early piloting will get the clearest practical signal of how assessors are actually applying the new structure. Sign up to CQC's email bulletins so you're not relying on second-hand reporting for pilot updates.

The bottom line

This is a restoration as much as it is a reform. The core architecture, five key questions, fundamental standards, a focus on outcomes for people using services, is unchanged. What's shifting is the scaffolding underneath: clearer, more specific questions, a return to plain-English rating characteristics, and the removal of a scoring system that few in the sector found genuinely transparent. Registered managers who treat the next few months as a mapping exercise, rather than waiting for the final version to arrive, will be in a far stronger position when piloting begins.

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Frequently asked questions

Is the Single Assessment Framework being scrapped immediately? No. The current framework stays in force until the new sector-specific frameworks are implemented. Sector reporting points to piloting over summer 2026 and full rollout toward the end of the year, but CQC has not set a fixed go-live date.

Will the five key questions change? No. Safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led remain the foundation of every CQC assessment under the new sector-specific frameworks, exactly as they were under the Single Assessment Framework.

What replaces the 34 quality statements? A set of Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOEs) specific to adult social care, framed as structured questions describing what CQC will look for during an assessment, rather than declarations of intent.

Is numerical scoring being removed? Yes. Feedback to CQC's consultation strongly supported removing scoring, with rating judgements instead made directly at key question level, supported by the new rating characteristics.

Do I need to change anything in my service right now? Not your underlying practice. The fundamental standards and the five key questions are unchanged. What's worth doing now is mapping your existing evidence against the draft KLOEs and rating characteristics so you are ready when the new framework takes effect.

Where can I read the official draft framework? The draft adult social care assessment framework is published on the CQC website as part of its consultation on sector-specific assessment frameworks.

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Verified sources

• Care Quality Commission, "Give your views on draft sector-specific assessment frameworks," cqc.org.uk, page last updated 25 March 2026

• Care Quality Commission, "Our March update," cqc.org.uk, published 24 March 2026