A spotlight on specialist care home settings Following a review of recent Inadequate-rated CQC assessment reports published for care homes specialising in dementia care, several clear and recurring themes have emerged. While the details differed from service to service, the wider patterns were consistent: weak oversight, poor governance, ineffective risk management and a failure to…
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A good CQC mock inspection should do more than confirm you have policies in place. It should test whether your service can evidence safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led care in the way the CQC now assesses services, and whether your leaders have a clear line of sight from records to day-to-day practice. Done properly,…
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In January 2026, the Care Quality Commission published 181 care home inspection reports. The outcomes were as follows: Outstanding: 7 Good: 87 Requires Improvement: 72 Inadequate: 15 At the headline level, the distribution is familiar. Most services sit within the middle ground, with a relatively small proportion at either end of the ratings spectrum. What…
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Fabio Cecchi, Commercial Director at Fulcrum Care, outlines how providers can give themselves the best possible chance of successfully challenging a CQC report. A CQC inspection report can have lasting implications for a service. Beyond public ratings, reports shape regulatory history, influence commissioning confidence and inform future inspection and enforcement activity. From working with providers…
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Surbiton, UK – March 2025 Surbiton Care Home has received a ‘Good’ rating in its latest Care Quality Commission (CQC) assessment, marking a significant improvement and reflecting the dedication of staff, leadership, and external support from Fulcrum Care in achieving excellence in care provision. The assessment, conducted between 8 January and 21 January 2025, reviewed…
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The Care Quality Commission (CQC) plays a crucial role in regulating health and social care services across England, ensuring that care homes deliver high standards of care. In recent years, the CQC has intensified its enforcement actions against care homes that fail to meet these standards. This blog explores the implications of these enforcement actions…
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The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the UK’s foremost regulatory body ensuring that care homes maintain high standards of care. Through rigorous inspections and subsequent ratings, the CQC holds care homes accountable, providing transparency and trust for residents, families, and the public. However, the time it takes for the CQC to reassess care homes, particularly…
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The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and social care in England, tasked with ensuring that care homes, hospitals, and other care providers meet essential standards of quality and safety. However, recent developments have cast a shadow over the CQC’s effectiveness, raising serious concerns about its ability to fulfil its mandate.…
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Introducing our new interview series, Pivotal People, to share care sector insights that are shaping the future of the industry.
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A poor inspection rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) can have a huge impact on the profitability of your care home. In an article by the Royal College of General Practitioners, research showed that being rated inadequate and placed in special measures can lead to difficulty with recruitment, lack of referrals, and even increased…
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