CQC Outlines Updated Assessment Approach for Local Authorities
Following government approval, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published details of its updated approach to assessing how local authorities in England meet their duties under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014.
The revised framework is designed to support local authorities in understanding how their performance in delivering adult social care will continue to be evaluated. The update reflects learning gathered during the CQC’s baselining programme, alongside feedback from partners and stakeholders across the sector.
The CQC has confirmed it will continue to assess local authorities against nine quality statements, grouped across four key themes. These statements are now supported by clearer “rating characteristics”, outlining what effective care, support, leadership and governance should look like at each judgement level within the framework.
A notable development in the updated approach is a stronger emphasis on the experiences and needs of unpaid carers. The CQC has stated that issues affecting unpaid carers will now carry greater weight in assessment activity, judgements and reporting.
The regulator is introducing a more flexible and responsive model of assessment. This will include both comprehensive and focused assessments, depending on local circumstances. In addition, the CQC will use its independent voice to highlight trends, emerging issues, examples of good practice, and the lived experiences of people receiving care.
As part of this shift, the CQC will introduce regular Local Authority Assurance Meetings. These are intended to provide deeper insight into how councils are delivering their adult social care responsibilities and the impact on outcomes for individuals and unpaid carers.
The updated approach also includes a number of operational improvements. The information return issued at the start of a comprehensive assessment has been revised, while enhancements have been made to case tracking processes. The CQC is also introducing case sampling, following a successful pilot during the baselining phase.
Further developments are underway in collaboration with sector partners. These include improvements to communication during and after site visits, strengthened quality assurance and factual accuracy checks, and updates to reporting templates. The CQC has indicated that additional details on these enhancements will be published in due course.
The regulator has confirmed that it will begin issuing the first notifications and information returns to local authorities later this spring, marking the start of the next phase of its assurance programme.
The updated approach signals the CQC’s continued focus on transparency, consistency and the inclusion of stakeholder feedback, with particular attention to improving outcomes for people receiving care and those who support them.
