Care England Reacts to Sir Mike Richards’ Review of CQC’s Single Assessment Framework

Care England, the leading voice of adult social care providers, has responded to the findings of Sir Mike Richards’ report on the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) Single Assessment Framework published earlier today. This latest review highlights a series of significant issues in CQC’s recent transformation programme, and follows closely on the heels of Dr. Penny Dash’s report, which exposed similar challenges within the regulator.

Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, commented:

“Sir Mike Richards’ report confirms the deep-rooted challenges we have seen first-hand in recent years. The CQC’s restructuring and its Single Assessment Framework have, quite simply, not worked. These changes have placed unnecessary pressure on the sector, delayed critical inspections, and demoralised both CQC staff and care providers alike. Urgent action is needed to address these failings and rebuild trust.”

The review underscores several key failures, including the overcomplicated nature of the Single Assessment Framework, delays in inspection reporting, and the damaging impact of the new regulatory platform. Care England welcomes the call for a reset of the CQC’s structure and operations, emphasising that the organisation must return to its core mission: ensuring safe, effective, and high-quality care.

Key Concerns Raised by Care England Include:

• The reduction in the number of inspections and significant delays in publishing reports have undermined the CQC’s ability to regulate effectively, creating confusion and uncertainty for providers.
• The disconnection between operational delivery and clinical leadership, highlighted in the review, has contributed to a loss of expertise and accountability in the inspection process.
• With high levels of staff turnover and low morale, it is clear that the CQC’s restructuring has had a detrimental effect on its workforce, further exacerbating delays and inconsistencies in inspections.

Professor Green continued:

“The findings of this review are a wake-up call for the CQC. The fundamental reset proposed by Sir Mike Richards is essential if we are to see real improvements. The lack of clinical oversight, inadequate training for new staff, and the complexity of the assessment framework are all issues that need immediate resolution. These are not just operational challenges – they are impacting the care and safety of vulnerable people across health and social care settings, and care providers are being charged for services that aren’t being delivered.”

Care England supports the recommendations set out in the report, particularly the reinstatement of sector-based inspection teams, the appointment of permanent Chief Inspectors, and a simplification of the assessment framework to better reflect the diversity of the services regulated by the CQC. However, the changes must be implemented swiftly to avoid further damage.

The CQC have also confirmed that they will retain the 5 key questions (safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led) across all sectors, but will amend the 34 quality statements to ensure clarity and remove duplication and stop scoring individual evidence categories.

Professor Green added:

“The sector cannot afford further delays. In Norfolk alone, the Council has had to step in and conduct assurance checks because the CQC is not meeting the necessary re-inspection targets. The Council reports that 35 care homes and nursing providers, currently rated as inadequate or requiring improvement by the CQC, would likely be rated good or outstanding if re-inspected today. How many more providers nationwide face the same situation, simply waiting for the CQC to catch up? The CQC must take these findings seriously and act now. Providers are working in an incredibly challenging environment, and the regulatory framework must support them, not hinder them. We need a system that is fair, transparent, and fit for purpose – one that empowers providers to improve and ensures that those who use our services receive the highest standards of care.”

In closing, Care England calls for a renewed commitment from the CQC to engage with providers and the wider health and social care sector in a meaningful and constructive way.

“The path forward is clear,” Professor Green concluded. “We need a regulator that listens, learns, and leads – working with the sector to rebuild a system that places quality, safety, and trust at its heart.”