CQC knowledge centre
Plain-English guides to the CQC single assessment framework — written by Complys and checked against CQC's own published guidance, with sources on every page.
You must register with CQC before you can provide a regulated activity.
Registered care providers must notify CQC about certain events — deaths, serious injuries, abuse or allegations of abuse, DoLS outcomes, police involvement and events that stop the service.
The fundamental standards are the standards below which care must never fall — person-centred care, dignity, consent, safe care, safeguarding, good governance, staffing, duty of candour and more.
CQC rates services Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate, across the five key questions and overall.
The duty of candour requires care providers to be open and honest when something goes wrong.
Most care services must have a CQC registered manager.
Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led — what each one means.
The 34 'we statements' beneath the five key questions.
The six categories of evidence CQC gathers — and why policies alone aren't enough.
A practical, step-by-step readiness checklist.
The evidence inspectors expect, broken down by key question.