Adult social care draft v9
CQC's draft adult social care framework: 24 proposed KLOEs.
The same five key questions, with 24 key lines of enquiry for adult social care. Every question, topic area and rating characteristic below is CQC's draft wording.
Draft, not the current assessment framework
This is CQC's adult social care draft v9, published March 2026. The current quality statements remain in use while CQC pilots and evaluates the proposed frameworks.
Search the adult social care KLOEs
Showing 24 of 24
- SafeKLOE 1Safety cultureIs there a positive and equitable safety culture where risks are proactively managed, concerns are listened to, incidents are thoroughly investigated, and lessons are learned to improve care?
- SafeKLOE 2Managing risks during care and treatmentAre risks to each person monitored and managed so that their care and treatment is safe and supportive?
- SafeKLOE 3Safe systems, pathways and transitionsAre there systems to enable collaborative working across care pathways and services, to ensure that safety and continuity of care are prioritised?
- SafeKLOE 4SafeguardingDoes the service work with partners and people to protect their rights to live in safety and be free from abuse and improper treatment?
- SafeKLOE 5Safe environments and infection prevention and controlAre potential risks within the care environment detected and managed appropriately to enable safe delivery of care for people and staff?
- SafeKLOE 6Safe staffingAre there enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff who receive adequate support, supervision and development to keep people safe and meet their needs?
- SafeKLOE 7Safe medicines and treatmentsAre medicines and treatments safe and delivered in a timely way, in line with people's needs and preferences?
- EffectiveKLOE 1Assessing needsAre people’s needs holistically assessed and reviewed with them to maximise the effectiveness of their care, support and treatment?
- EffectiveKLOE 2Evidence-based care and equitable outcomesIs care, support and treatment delivered in line with legislation, evidence-based standards and good practice, to achieve equitable and good outcomes?
- EffectiveKLOE 3Supporting people to live healthier livesAre people encouraged and supported to manage their own health and wellbeing?
- EffectiveKLOE 4Consent to care and treatmentAre people supported to understand and exercise their right to consent to care, support and treatment?
- CaringKLOE 1Kindness, compassion and dignityAre people treated with kindness, empathy, compassion and respect, and is their privacy and dignity maintained?
- CaringKLOE 2Person-centred careDo people receive personalised care, which ensures they are at the centre of their care, support and treatment choices?
- CaringKLOE 3Independence, choice and controlAre people supported and empowered to maintain their independence, relationships, and choice over their care and plans for the future?
- ResponsiveKLOE 1Care provision, integration and continuityIs care co-ordinated and delivered in a flexible, joined-up way that reflects diverse needs and promotes choice and continuity?
- ResponsiveKLOE 2Listening to and responding to feedbackAre people supported to give feedback and raise concerns, and are they confident that action will be taken as a result?
- ResponsiveKLOE 3Timely and equitable accessDoes the service ensure that everyone can access equitable and timely care, support and treatment?
- ResponsiveKLOE 4Equity in experiencesDoes the service tailor people's care, support and treatment effectively, to ensure equity in experiences?
- Well-ledKLOE 1Strategic directionIs there a clear vision and strategy to support the current and future needs of people and promote a positive culture?
- Well-ledKLOE 2Workforce equity and cultureIs there an inclusive and compassionate culture that values diversity, supports staff wellbeing and speaking up, and tackles workforce inequalities?
- Well-ledKLOE 3Capable and compassionate leadersDo leaders at all levels have the capability and experience to lead effectively and deliver high-quality care, with accountability, integrity and empathy?
- Well-ledKLOE 4Governance and managementAre there clear roles, responsibilities and systems of accountability to support good governance and manage risks, performance and issues?
- Well-ledKLOE 5Partnerships and communitiesIs the service working effectively and collaboratively with people who use the service and partners to support care provision and service development?
- Well-ledKLOE 6Improvement, innovation and learningDoes the service enable and embed continuous improvement, innovation and learning, using evidence and lived experience?
Trying to understand what changed? The HLTH editorial crosswalk compares every current quality statement with its closest adult social care KLOEs, and the readiness check helps you find evidence gaps.
See our sources and update method.
Source: CQC, Adult social care assessment framework, draft v9, 19 March 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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