27/06/2025
Case Study
Small Care Home Group
CQC Assessment Framework: What Care Providers Need to Know in 2025
If you’re a care provider, you’ve probably heard the whispers (or full-on panic) about the new CQC assessment framework. It’s official: the way services are inspected and rated has changed. Again.
But don’t worry — we’ve read the guidance so you don’t have to (well, not all of it). Here’s a simple breakdown of what’s new, what it means for you, and how we at Kata Care can help you get to grips with it.
🧠 What is the New CQC Assessment Framework?
In short: CQC has streamlined how they inspect and rate all care services — from care homes to community services to hospitals — under one unified assessment approach.
Instead of different inspection methods for different sectors, they’re now using the same system across the board, based on:
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A consistent set of quality statements
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Six categories of evidence
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A more dynamic, ongoing assessment process (yep, inspections can happen anytime, and in more ways than before)
🔄 What’s Actually Changed?
🧾 1. KLOEs Are Out, Quality Statements Are In
Remember those Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOEs) we all loved? They’ve been replaced by a simpler, clearer set of “we statements”. These outline what good care looks like — from “We support people to live healthier lives” to “We treat people as equals.”
They’re grouped under the usual five key questions:
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Safe
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Effective
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Caring
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Responsive
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Well-led
📑 2. Six Evidence Categories
CQC won’t just be relying on what they see during an inspection. They’ll gather and score evidence from six categories:
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People’s experiences
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Staff and leadership feedback
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Observations
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Processes
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Outcomes
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Partner feedback
And this can happen at any time — online, off-site, through surveys, reviews, phone calls… you name it.
⭐ 3. You’ll Get a Score
Instead of just a final rating, you’ll now receive scoring across areas, which feeds into your overall rating. That means more transparency — and a clearer sense of what’s working and what’s not.
😬 What Does This Mean for You?
It means that “inspection-ready” isn’t a one-off event anymore. It’s a way of working.
You’ll need to:
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Be ready for continuous assessment
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Gather good quality, consistent evidence
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Involve your team, the people you support, and even your local commissioners
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Keep your governance and leadership on point
💡 So How Can Kata Help?
We live and breathe CQC frameworks (so you don’t have to). Here’s how we’re helping providers adapt to the changes:
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✅ Mock inspections based on the new framework
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✅ Policy and documentation reviews
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✅ Staff training and leadership coaching
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✅ Advice on collecting meaningful evidence
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✅ Full support for providers aiming for Good or Outstanding
We know what the CQC are looking for — and we’ll help you get there without the headache.
🛠️ Practical Tips to Prepare for the New CQC Assessment Framework
Getting ahead of the changes doesn’t need to be complicated, but it does take intention. Here’s our advice for preparing your team and your service:
✅ 1. Start with a Gap Analysis
Review your current policies, procedures, and evidence-gathering tools against the new Quality Statements. Identify what’s already working — and what needs updating.
✅ 2. Train Your Team
Hold a team briefing or training session to explain the new framework in simple terms. Focus on the 5 key questions and how their day-to-day actions link back to the quality statements. The more your staff understand, the better they’ll perform under scrutiny.
✅ 3. Capture People’s Voices
CQC are placing huge emphasis on people’s experiences, so be proactive. Collect regular feedback from people using your service and their families, and show how you’re acting on it.
✅ 4. Create an Evidence Folder (Digital or Paper)
Organise your key evidence by category: outcomes, processes, observations, staff feedback, etc. This helps you demonstrate compliance quickly and clearly, especially during off-site assessments.
✅ 5. Don’t Leave It Too Late
If you wait until you get the call, you’ve already lost valuable time. Start preparing now and make quality assurance a regular part of your leadership routines.
✅ 6. Get External Support
An outside perspective can make all the difference. A mock inspection aligned to the new framework will give you honest insight, help you prioritise actions, and reduce stress before the real thing.
🔗 Quick Links & Support
🗣️ Final Thoughts
The new CQC assessment framework might seem overwhelming at first, but it’s also an opportunity to reset, rethink, and strengthen your service.
And if you’d rather not face it alone, give us a shout. We’re here to make sense of the regs, ease the pressure, and help you shine in every domain.
📞 Contact us to get started — or to have a no-pressure chat about where you’re at.