In my first few months as Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care, I have had the chance to get out and about around the country visiting care settings, meeting people and speaking with partners. A key theme running through these meetings has been the work we are doing together to redesign our assessment framework.
We received more than 1,600 responses to our consultation, which closed in December 2025. Almost half of these came from members of staff delivering care directly to people using services. In addition to the public consultation, we held in-person events where I met a wide range of providers, stakeholders, CQC colleagues and people who use services.
These sessions were focused on developing a shared understanding of what ‘Good’ looks like, reducing duplications and making sure that the language used in the draft frameworks is clear and relevant for adult social care.
We still have more work to do and will be making sure we test any changes to ensure the methodology works for adult social care. I am confident the end result will be a simpler framework with a real focus on safe and compassionate care. I encourage you to sign up to receive our newsletters, if you do not already, to ensure you hear about further opportunities to get involved.
Moving in the right direction
One of the most frequently asked questions during these sessions was about when people would see and feel a difference in their experience with CQC. My main priority as Chief Inspector is to increase the number and frequency of inspections of adult social care services.
I am pleased to report that we have already done as many inspections in the first three quarters of the 2025/26 year as we did in the whole of the last one. In November 2025, we carried out 50% more inspections than in November 2024. We are moving in the right direction but we know we need to do more.
To support the increase in activity, I have clarified how we will prioritise our work. We will, of course, continue to respond to extreme risk where urgent action is needed. Alongside that, however, we will have a renewed focus on other very high-risk services, un-rated services and those with services that we have not re-rated in a long time.
We will approach these priorities at the same time – ensuring we tackle immediate risks while reducing backlogs and keeping ratings current. I have heard from lots of providers about the importance of re-inspecting services that have not been inspected for a long time or are awaiting their first inspection.
Continuous development
I know how important it is to have an up-to-date rating. Risk can manifest in more than one way. There is the risk of a previously ‘Outstanding’ service deteriorating in a long gap between inspections. And there is the risk of a service previously rated as ‘Requires improvement’ not being recognised for significant improvements that it has made.
We were delighted to re-rate Glentworth House Care Home in Hove, Sussex, as Outstanding following an inspection in the autumn. The inspection was to check on progress made since the service was rated as Requires improvement and inspectors found that the service had improved significantly. We found exceptional leadership driving a culture of continuous development where people were genuinely at the heart of everything the service did.
The staff knew people incredibly well and treated them as individuals, respecting their unique preferences and aspirations. Relatives told us they were confident their family members were living fulfilling lives. One relative said the service meant the world to them because they knew their family member was safe and cared for.
As we continue to refine our frameworks and define together what we mean by Good care, I look forward to more opportunities to meet you and see the great work you are doing to support people using social care.
Chris Badger is Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care at CQC. Email: [email protected] X: @CQCProf