In 2023, CQC introduced the Single Assessment Framework - a significant change to how it regulates and inspects health and social care services. If you qualified or registered your agency before 2023, the framework you learned about is no longer the current one. If you are registering now, this is the framework your service will be assessed against from day one.
Here is what changed, what it means in practice, and how to make sure your policies reflect the current framework.
What Was the Old System?
Before the Single Assessment Framework, CQC used Key Lines of Enquiry - known as KLOEs. These were the specific questions inspectors used to assess services under the five key questions: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, and Well-Led.
KLOEs were detailed. They gave services a clear roadmap of exactly what CQC was looking for and allowed providers to structure their evidence accordingly.
What Is the Single Assessment Framework?
The Single Assessment Framework replaces KLOEs with Quality Statements. Instead of a checklist of questions, Quality Statements describe what good care looks like - they are outcome-focused rather than process-focused.
The five key questions remain the same:
- Safe
- Effective
- Caring
- Responsive
- Well-Led
Under each key question there are Quality Statements. For example, under Safe, Quality Statement S1.1 is: "We work with people to understand what being safe means to them and work with our partners to develop the best way to achieve this." Under Well-Led, W1.2 is: "Leaders have the integrity, skills and abilities to lead effectively, and they understand and keep to relevant law and regulations."
How Does CQC Gather Evidence Under the New Framework?
The Single Assessment Framework uses multiple evidence categories. CQC no longer relies solely on inspection visits - they now gather evidence continuously through:
- Direct observations during inspection visits
- Feedback from people using the service and their families
- Feedback from staff and leaders
- Feedback from partners - other agencies, professionals, commissioners
- Processes - policies, procedures, governance systems
- Outcomes - what actually happens for people using the service
This means your policies are just one type of evidence. CQC is increasingly interested in outcomes - can you demonstrate that your service actually makes a positive difference to the people you support?
What Does This Mean for Your Policies?
Your policies still matter enormously - but they need to reflect the Quality Statements framework. A policy that was written against the old KLOE system may not address the current Quality Statements adequately.
For each of your key policies, you should be able to identify which Quality Statements it addresses. For example:
- Safeguarding Adults Policy addresses S1.2, W1.5
- Medication Administration Policy addresses S1.7, E1.2
- Care Planning Policy addresses R1.1, E1.1
- Lone Working Policy addresses S1.5, S1.4
- Complaints Policy addresses R1.4, W1.3
CareDocPro generates policies that are aligned to the CQC Single Assessment Framework - each policy includes a mapping to the relevant Quality Statements so you can demonstrate compliance clearly during inspection.