CQC Framework Updates: What We Learned from the Latest Webinars
Throughout late November and early December, the CQC hosted a series of online webinars across sectors — Adult Social Care, Primary Care, Community Services, Mental Health and Hospitals. Across all sessions, one message came through clearly: the CQC is preparing for significant changes in 2026, and providers should expect a very real shift back toward clarity, consistency, and more frequent inspection activity.
Here’s our overview of the key themes and what they mean for providers.
- More Frequent, Risk-Driven Inspections
The CQC is moving towards more frequent inspections, with a strong emphasis on risk prioritisation. Services that are:
- rated Inadequate
- holding aged or out-of-date inspections
- or not yet inspected will be inspected first.
The CQC is aiming for a planned programme of inspections, but openly acknowledged that resource allocation is still being worked through.
For providers, this means that services with older ratings or recent challenges should begin preparing now — a very real opportunity for support, guidance and pre-inspection health checks.
- Return of Rating Characteristics & Sector-Specific Frameworks
One of the most consistent messages across all webinars was a return to clear, descriptive rating characteristics, supported by something very similar to the old KLOEs.
Key points:
- Rating characteristics will be clearer and more tailored to each service type — e.g. the differences between nursing homes, domiciliary care, supported living, primary care, hospitals and mental health.
- The CQC is re-introducing sector-specific assessment frameworks.
- The previous SAF (Self-Assessment Framework) “didn’t work,” and the CQC is reviewing which elements to retain.
- The CQC will be engaging in consultations on questions like “What does ‘Safe’ look like?” — with providers invited to contribute.
Providers can expect clearer descriptors, less duplication, and a structure that feels far more familiar than the current system.
- Scoring System Under Review
The current scoring model, with its 132 data points, was described as overwhelming and not helpful for inspectors.
Feedback suggested:
- The focus will shift away from numerical scoring.
- Professional judgement and narrative feedback will carry more weight.
- Services valued seeing where they sat within “Requires Improvement”, but the system overall lacked usability.
Expect a simplified, less data-heavy approach, with a greater emphasis on meaningful feedback rather than complex scoring.
- Strengthening Relationships & Increasing Digital Integration
Several key operational changes were highlighted:
- Relationship Managers are likely to return for larger providers or those needing consistent oversight.
- Teams have already been reorganised into regional structures to support this.
- The CQC intends to move “totally digital” system, with the PIR remaining but becoming a more streamlined format.
Some attendees also noted support for the CQC linking insights with Local Authority inspections, and for the integration of academic research, including improved risk-calculation models.
- CQC’s Projected Timeframe for Changes
The CQC has published a high-level timeline outlining when providers can expect the new frameworks and methods to take shape:
- From spring 2026: analysing and responding to consultation feedback to develop new assessment frameworks and approaches.
- Testing and piloting with colleagues and selected providers to ensure the methodology works across all sectors.
- Summer 2026: publication of the final assessment framework(s), alongside guidance to support providers ahead of implementation toward the end of the year.
What This Means for Providers
Overall, the upcoming CQC reform signals a return to:
- clearer expectations
- more structured frameworks
- sector-specific detail
- professional judgement
- and more frequent onsite activity
For many providers, especially those who haven’t been inspected in some time, the shift will require proactive preparation.
As highlighted by Robyn (our Head of Operations) during the ASC webinar, this presents a strong opportunity for providers to assess their current compliance position before inspections step up in the coming months.
How Care 4 Quality Can Support You
With more frequent inspections and clearer rating expectations on the horizon, now is the ideal time to:
- refresh internal audits
- update governance evidence
- complete pre-inspection readiness assessments
- review quality statements
- and identify any gaps before the CQC begins its enhanced inspection cycle
Our team is already supporting services, preparing for the changes ahead and can tailor support to each sector’s needs.
