Understanding the CQC Quality Statements and Assessment Framework in Adult Social Care
Share
The Care Quality Commission’s Quality Statements and Assessment Framework represent a fundamental shift in how adult social care services are inspected and regulated. Rather than focusing on episodic inspections and isolated evidence, the framework assesses how quality is embedded, monitored and improved over time. For providers, this means day-to-day practice, governance systems and lived experience evidence now matter more than ever.
The framework sits alongside existing regulatory expectations explored in CQC inspection guidance and draws heavily on the principles set out in the Quality Assurance mini-series. Understanding how these elements connect is essential for services seeking consistent Good or Outstanding ratings.
What are CQC Quality Statements?
Quality Statements replace the former Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOEs). They describe what good quality looks like across the five key questions: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Each statement focuses on outcomes for people using services, rather than policies or intentions.
For example, instead of asking whether safeguarding policies exist, a Quality Statement explores whether people are protected from abuse, how risks are identified early, and how staff respond consistently and proportionately in practice.
How the Assessment Framework Works
The Assessment Framework sets out how CQC gathers and weighs evidence against each Quality Statement. Evidence is drawn from four sources:
- People’s experiences and outcomes
- Feedback from staff, families and partners
- Processes, systems and governance
- Direct observation of care and support
Evidence is collected continuously through inspections, monitoring activity, data submissions and engagement with stakeholders. This means inspections are no longer isolated events but part of an ongoing regulatory relationship.
What Inspectors Expect to See in Practice
Inspectors are looking for alignment between what services say they do and what actually happens. This includes:
- Care plans that reflect people’s goals, risks and preferences in meaningful detail
- Staff able to explain how they apply training and guidance in real situations
- Managers who understand performance data and can act on it
For example, a service claiming to promote positive risk-taking must be able to show how decisions are recorded, reviewed and balanced against safeguarding duties.
Using Evidence Effectively
Evidence under the framework is not limited to formal documentation. Services are expected to triangulate information from multiple sources. This might include:
- Audits showing patterns and improvement actions
- Feedback from people using services and families
- Supervision notes demonstrating reflective practice
Importantly, evidence should show learning and change over time, not just compliance at a single point.
Governance and Oversight Responsibilities
Well-led Quality Statements place significant emphasis on governance. Registered managers and senior leaders must be able to demonstrate clear oversight of quality, risks and outcomes. This includes regular review cycles, escalation routes and accountability at board or ownership level.
Commissioners increasingly expect providers to align their internal quality frameworks with the CQC Assessment Framework, ensuring consistency between contract monitoring, inspections and improvement planning.
Common Pitfalls for Providers
Services often struggle where quality activity is fragmented or overly policy-driven. Common issues include:
- Audits completed but not acted upon
- Care records that are technically compliant but not person-centred
- Limited involvement of people using services in quality reviews
The framework exposes these gaps quickly, particularly where staff cannot articulate how quality systems influence daily practice.
Preparing for Ongoing Assessment
Effective preparation focuses on embedding quality into routine operations rather than inspection readiness exercises. Providers should ensure quality discussions feature in team meetings, supervision and strategic planning.
When the framework is understood and applied consistently, inspections become confirmatory rather than disruptive, reflecting what already happens across the service.
💼 Rapid Support Products (fast turnaround options)
- ⚡ 48-Hour Tender Triage
- 🆘 Bid Rescue Session – 60 minutes
- ✍️ Score Booster – Tender Answer Rewrite (500–2000 words)
- 🧩 Tender Answer Blueprint
- 📝 Tender Proofreading & Light Editing
- 🔍 Pre-Tender Readiness Audit
- 📁 Tender Document Review
🚀 Need a Bid Writing Quote?
If you’re exploring support for an upcoming tender or framework, request a quick, no-obligation quote. I’ll review your documents and respond with:
- A clear scope of work
- Estimated days required
- A fixed fee quote
- Any risks, considerations or quick wins
📘 Monthly Bid Support Retainers
Want predictable, specialist bid support as Procurement Act 2023 and MAT scoring bed in? My Monthly Bid Support Retainers give NHS and social care providers flexible access to live tender support, opportunity triage, bid library updates and renewal planning — at a discounted day rate.
🔍 Explore Monthly Bid Support Retainers →