Essentially, the CQC is the primary regulatory body overseeing health and care services specifically within England. Nearly all providers of health and care services, ranging from care homes and hospitals to dentists and educational institutions that cater to children, are required to register with the CQC. Subsequently, the commission regulates, conducts inspections, assigns ratings, and, if needed, intervenes to enhance or shut down services that fail to meet established standards, regulations, and legal requirements.
Given the diversity of services and recipients within social care, robust regulation is imperative. Consequently, social care is subject to extensive regulation, with distinct regulatory bodies for each nation in the UK. These regulators play a pivotal role in establishing and upholding standards in health and social care, formulating regulations and rating criteria that safeguard the well-being of care service users. By setting fundamental quality benchmarks and delineating what constitutes exemplary care, they ensure the safety of service users and promote continuous improvement in the sector’s quality standards.
When the CQC identifies a service falling short of the mandated standards, they have the authority to take action, known as ‘Enforcement’. This entails a variety of measures, applied proportionately, including:
- Issuing a warning notice mandating improvements within a specified timeframe.
- Limiting the scope of care services offered by the provider.
- Halting admissions into the care service.
- Imposing fixed penalty notices.
- Temporarily suspending or revoking the service’s registration.
- Initiating legal proceedings.
