The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has confirmed that its proposed new assessment approach is currently being tested through a structured national pilot programme running from June to October 2026, with a full evaluation and review scheduled for November 2026.

The purpose of the pilot is to ensure the new assessment methodology is credible, consistent, transparent, and capable of being applied effectively across the diverse range of health and social care services regulated by the CQC before any wider implementation takes place.

Pilot Programme

The pilot assessments will run alongside the CQC’s existing inspection and assessment processes, rather than replacing them. Participation is entirely voluntary, and providers who choose not to participate will not be disadvantaged or subject to any regulatory consequences.

To ensure robust testing, the pilot includes a broad and representative range of providers across different:

• Service types
• Sizes and ownership structures
• Geographic locations
• Levels of regulatory risk and complexity

Providers participating in the pilot will receive a pilot assessment report in addition to any standard inspection or assessment outcomes. Importantly, findings from the pilot will have no impact on a provider’s regulatory status, ratings, registration, or compliance position.

What the CQC is Testing

The pilot is designed to evaluate how the proposed assessment framework operates in real-world settings and whether it delivers greater clarity, consistency, and confidence for providers, inspectors, and stakeholders.

Key areas being assessed include:

• How effectively evidence is gathered and evaluated
• Whether assessment judgements are applied consistently
• How clearly providers can understand the rationale behind ratings and findings
• The usability of supporting systems, processes, and digital tools
• The overall experience of providers and inspection teams throughout the assessment process

Feedback will be gathered from participating providers, CQC inspection teams, sector representatives, and wider engagement and consultation activities. This intelligence will inform further refinement of the framework before any national rollout is considered.

Why This Matters

The pilot represents an important stage in the development of the CQC’s future regulatory model. The regulator’s stated objective is to create an assessment approach that delivers greater consistency, transparency, and understanding, while remaining practical and proportionate across all regulated sectors.

For providers, the immediate focus should remain on meeting current regulatory expectations under the Single Assessment Framework. However, the pilot provides valuable insight into the direction of travel for future assessments and reinforces the importance of strong governance, effective quality assurance processes, clear evidence of outcomes, and a culture of continuous improvement.

While pilot findings will not directly impact ratings or registration status, the lessons learned are likely to influence how inspections and assessments are conducted in the years ahead.

How We Can Support – Our CQC Training Events

Keeping up to date with regulatory change can be challenging, particularly during periods of significant reform. To help providers understand both current CQC expectations and emerging developments, we deliver a programme of practical CQC training events throughout the year.

Our training sessions explore key topics including inspection preparation, the Single Assessment Framework, evidence collection, governance, quality assurance, and the proposed 2026 assessment changes. Delivered by former CQC inspectors, compliance specialists, and experienced healthcare professionals, these events are designed to provide practical insight that providers can take back into their services.

You can view our upcoming CQC training events and workshops here:

CQC Training: Preparing for Inspection – Major 2026 Framework Changes

https://www.eventbrite.com/o/55481640783

Looking Ahead

The findings from the pilot, together with stakeholder feedback and ongoing development of supporting digital systems, will shape the final version of the framework. Further opportunities for providers and sector representatives to contribute feedback are expected throughout the development process before any permanent implementation decisions are made.

As the CQC continues to test and refine its approach, providers should remain focused on maintaining compliance with current requirements while staying informed about the changes that may shape future inspections and assessments.

You are still able to share your feedback on the draft framework with the CQC until 12 June.