CQC Commits to Shared Anti-Racism Principles to Tackle Workplace Racism in Health and Social Care
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has joined 8 other national health and social care regulators in signing up to the NHS Race and Health Observatory’s shared principles for advancing workforce race equity in health and social care.
These shared principles represent a collective commitment by regulators to tackle the longstanding racism and race inequalities experienced by many people working across the health and social care sector. They build on the Observatory’s Seven Principles of Anti-Racism and on discussions between regulators about how we can act in a more consistent, transparent and effective way.
Racism is a significant cause of inequality in health and social care. It affects people’s wellbeing, opportunities and experiences at work, and can undermine the quality and safety of care. As a regulator, we recognise our responsibility not only to hold others to account, but also to lead by example.
The NHS Race and Health Observatory (RHO) has published Advancing Workforce Race Equity in Health and Social Care: Shared principles across regulators.
This builds on discussions at a roundtable event led by CQC, the General Medical Council (GMC) and Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), and chaired by the RHO. The event explored how regulators can take more co-ordinated action to address racism.
Signatories also include the Health and Care Professions Council, Social Work England, General Optical Council, General Pharmaceutical Council, General Chiropractic Council and the General Osteopathic Council.
Alongside the principles, NHS Race and Health Observatory has also published other resources including:
• a report of a regulators’ roundtable in 2025, that we organised with other bodies
• good practice case studies about workforce race equity in regulation, which includes a CQC case study as part of its Workforce programme.
Principles for lasting change
The 9 shared principles set out a framework for collective accountability across the regulatory sector. They include:
• naming and addressing racism, including where it is systemic or structural
• valuing lived experience and ensuring it informs our work and decisions
• showing leadership and accountability for advancing race equity
• working collaboratively with partners
• using data and insight to better understand and address inequalities
• empowering leaders, providers and the workforce to create inclusive environments and drive continuous improvement
• using our regulatory powers to set clear expectations and embed race equity in standards, policy and decision-making
• influencing progress through our collective voice to shape national policy and wider system change
• being transparent about progress and where further change is needed, holding ourselves and others to account
This commitment is part of our ongoing work to promote equality, fairness and respect across health and social care. It is not a one-off statement, but a foundation for continued action and improvement.
Professor Bola Owolabi CBE (MRCGP, MFPH Hon, FRSPH), Chief Inspector of Primary Care and Community Services, Care Quality Commission, said:
• Racism is one of the most significant factors that has a negative impact on people’s health and wellbeing, and tackling it is central to our mission to ensure safe, fair and effective care for everyone.
• Signing up to these principles reflects our commitment not just to holding others to account, but to leading by example within our own organisation.
• Fair care cannot exist where racism goes unchallenged, and through these shared principles we are taking deliberate steps to drive real and lasting change across health and social care.
We will continue to reflect on how these principles are embedded in our work and how, alongside others, we can contribute to a health and social care system where everyone is treated with dignity, fairness and respect.
