What Happens at a Care Home CQC Inspection?

When choosing a care home in England, you’ll want to ensure that the residence provides a high standard of care, safety and support. Also, that residents will be treated properly and have the freedom to live as they prefer, wherever possible.

One way to learn about the standards of care within a care home is to study its latest Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection. Knowing how inspections are carried out can help you understand the report. Along with visiting the service personally, it can help you decide whether the home is likely to meet your needs and preferences.

So, what do CQC look for when carrying out an inspection? And how often do CQC inspections take place? In this guide, we'll answer these frequently asked questions and more.

What Is a CQC Inspection?

The Care Quality Commission, or CQC, is the independent regulator of health and social care in England. This includes all care homes (both residential and nursing) and other services such as hospitals, GPs and clinics.

The CQC carries out frequent inspections of registered care homes to check that they are meeting regulations. The inspection aims to answer five key questions:

Is the service Safe?
Is the service Effective?
Is the service Caring?
Is the service Responsive?
Is the service Well-led?

There are two types of CQC inspections. Comprehensive inspections are full-scale assessments of all five CQC areas of inspection. Focused inspections are smaller in scale and designed to examine a specific area, such as safety. These often take place in response to an issue noted during a past visit.

How Often Do CQC Inspect Care Homes?

So, how often are care homes inspected? After registering with the CQC, care homes normally receive their first visit within 6 months. After that, the frequency of CQC inspections for care homes will vary according to their rating and the information that is received.

In general, "good" residences can expect to receive an average of one inspection every two years. However, care homes that are deemed "outstanding" – the highest possible grade – may not be assessed as regularly. Conversely, a rating of "inadequate" or "requires improvement" will be followed up much sooner, to ensure improvements are being made. CQC care home inspections are almost always unannounced. This is the best way to get an accurate picture of life in the care home and the standard of care.

How Are CQC Inspections Carried Out?

When the CQC inspectors arrive, they will meet with the manager to explain what will happen. They will then look for evidence to establish whether the care home is or is not compliant with the regulations. They will use the five standards as a guide. Care home inspectors may use a range of methods to gather evidence, such as:

Observing care, meals and activities
Speaking to staff, including carers and managers
Asking residents about their experiences and general wellbeing
Talking to any family members or loved ones who may be visiting at the time
Inspecting the care home itself – for example, checking that medications are stored correctly and that the building is safe and secure
Reviewing documents such as care plans, staff training records and policies

If the inspectors become aware of anything concerning, they may seek further evidence to help them make a judgement. For example, if a resident feels dissatisfied with the quality of care, the inspector may examine their care records.

How Long Does a CQC Inspection Take?

How long a CQC inspection takes will depend on the size of the care home and the type of inspection taking place. In most cases, the inspection will last no more than one working day.

At the end of the visit, the inspectors will meet with the manager again to provide feedback. They may also ask for additional information pertaining to evidence gathered during the inspection.

Afterwards, the CQC will put together a care home inspection report. This will include an overall rating for the care home, as well as separate ratings for each of the five standards.

What Happens If You Fail a CQC Inspection?

The CQC can take action against any care home that is non-compliant. This can be where a care home receives an inspection rating of “inadequate” or “requires improvement”. Depending upon the severity of the issues found, this may include:

Serving a warning or requirement notice detailing how the care home must improve, and by when
Placing the care home into 'special measures'. This involves closely monitoring the quality of care while working with other organisations (e.g. placing authorities) to help it improve
Issuing a legal caution or penalty notice (fine)
Closing the care home down

In case of a severe breach of regulations – such as failing to protect residents’ rights – the CQC also have the power to prosecute.

When Are CQC Inspection Reports Released?

Typically, reports are published online within 50 days of most CQC inspections. All care homes must clearly display their rating on the premises, and on their website, within 21 days.

Visit the CQC website to check the results of a care home’s most recent inspection. There, you’ll find the date of the inspection, a summary of the main findings and ratings awarded in each area. The full care home report will also be available to download.

Recently registered care homes may not yet have a rating. However, you can sign up to be notified when the first inspection takes place.

Discover KYN Luxury Care Homes

If you are looking for luxury care homes in London and the South East, discover KYN today. We strive to provide unparalleled standards of residential and nursing care in beautiful, uplifting environments.

We get to know each of our residents as individuals, tailoring their care according to their lifestyle, needs and choices. Through delicious Michelin-inspired meals and a wide programme of social and cultural activities, we aim to enrich the lives of everyone who calls KYN home.

Enquire with KYN today to request a call, visit or brochure. Fill in our contact form, call +44 (0) 20 4530 7700 or email enquiries@kyn.co.uk.