CQC has received strong support for major changes to how it assesses, inspects, and rates health and care services. It now plans to re‑introduce sector‑specific frameworks, bring back rating characteristics, remove scoring, and strengthen professional judgement, while continuing to refine the approach through further consultation and piloting. 

1,703 responses received from providers, professionals, stakeholders, people using services, and the public with very high support for proposed changes:

• 95% agreed with changes to the assessment framework
• 80% agreed with changes to inspection and rating methodology

Read about this and more in our weekly newsletter for 1 April 2026