Safe
People are protected from avoidable harm.
When something goes wrong, do you record it, investigate it, and share the learning - with a duty-of-candour process?
CQC look for a learning culture and Regulation 20 (duty of candour) in practice.
Do you have a current safeguarding policy, a named safeguarding lead, and staff trained to raise concerns?
Safeguarding is a fundamental standard (Regulation 13).
Can you evidence everyone is fit and proper - DBS, references, qualifications and full employment history?
Regulation 19 and Schedule 3 require recorded checks for each person.
Are medicines prescribed, supplied, stored and recorded safely and in line with current guidance? (if applicable)
Medicines optimisation is assessed under Safe.
Do you hold a current infection prevention & control policy and audits showing it is followed?
IPC is a core quality statement and Regulation 12.
Do you have current risk assessments for your premises and activities (fire, COSHH, lone working, etc.)?
A safe environment must be risk-assessed and reviewed.
Effective
Care achieves good outcomes and is based on evidence.
Is care delivered in line with current evidence and national guidance (for example NICE)?
Delivering evidence-based care and treatment.
Do you obtain and record valid consent, applying the Mental Capacity Act where needed?
Consent to care and treatment (Regulation 11).
Do you audit the quality of your care and act on what you find?
Monitoring and improving outcomes.
Do you share information with GPs and other services to support joined-up care?
How staff, teams and services work together.
Caring
People are treated with kindness, dignity and respect.
Do your policies and practice protect people’s dignity, privacy and compassion at every contact?
Kindness, compassion and dignity.
Do you meet individual communication and accessibility needs (Accessible Information Standard)?
Treating people as individuals; equity of experience.
Do people have genuine choice and control over their care?
Independence, choice and control.
Do staff respond promptly to people’s immediate physical and emotional needs?
Responding to people’s immediate needs.
Responsive
Services are organised around people’s needs.
Is care planned around the person, with clear, accessible information about your service?
Person-centred care; providing information.
Do you have a complaints policy and do you use feedback to improve?
Listening to and involving people.
Can people access your service fairly, including those who may face barriers?
Equity in access and outcomes.
Do you plan for changes in people’s needs and for service continuity?
Planning for the future; business continuity.
Well-led
Leadership, governance and culture support good care.
Do you have a current Statement of Purpose that matches the services you actually provide, with CQC notified of changes?
A legal requirement (Reg 12, Schedule 1 of the Registration Regulations).
Do you have a governance framework - policies, audits, a risk register - you could show an inspector today?
Governance, management and sustainability (Regulation 17).
Are your policies in date and aligned to current law and CQC guidance?
Out-of-date policies are a common, avoidable finding.
Do staff have a clear, safe way to raise concerns (freedom to speak up / whistleblowing)?
Freedom to speak up.
Are your Registered Manager and Nominated Individual roles clearly defined and filled?
Capable leadership and correct registration.