News from HLTH Compliance, page 3
CQC and Ofsted compliance, explained
Advice, news and video on regulatory change and best practice for health and social care providers.
News articles, page 3
- News
Statutory Sick Pay 2026 Update: Key Changes Employers Should Know
From 6 April 2026, changes under the Employment Rights Act 2025 will significantly expand entitlement to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). Here’s a breakdown of the key updates employers should be aware of: Weekly Rate – From 6 April 2026, SSP increases to £123.25 per week. How SSP Is Calculated – Affected employees receive the lesser
- News
Improvements to the CQC Registration Process: What Providers Need to Know
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has announced important changes to its registration process that will directly affect new and prospective care providers across England. These changes are designed to reduce delays, improve consistency, and address the growing backlog of applications—but they also place greater responsibility on providers to submit complete and accurate applications from day
- Advice
UK Visa Update – English Language Requirements Increased – What Health and Social Care Providers Need to Know
The UK Government has tightened immigration rules by raising the English language requirements for several major work visa routes, effective from Thursday 8th January 2026. Applicants under the Skilled Worker, Scale-up Worker, and High Potential Individual visa routes must now meet a higher standard of English, increasing from B1 to B2 across speaking, listening, reading
- News
PSA Annual Review of the GMC: What It Means for Doctors, Clinics, and Healthcare Organisations
The Professional Standards Authority (PSA) has published its annual performance review of the General Medical Council (GMC), assessing how effectively it has regulated the medical profession during 2024/25 against the Standards of Good Regulation. These reviews are a key component of the UK’s professional regulatory framework. They provide assurance that regulators are protecting patients, maintaining
- News
CQC’s 2025 Progress Statement – HLTH Compliance Response
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published its 2025 Progress Statement, setting out the steps taken over the last year to rebuild the organisation and strengthen the regulation of health and adult social care services. The statement outlines tangible operational improvements, structural changes, and a clear direction of travel into 2026 and beyond. From a
- News
Government U-Turn on Day-One Unfair Dismissal Rights – What Providers Need to Know
The government has reversed its original plan to introduce day-one unfair dismissal rights for all employees. Instead, the qualifying period will move to six months’ service, following strong opposition from employer groups and further challenge in the House of Lords. What is still going ahead Day-one rights to statutory sick pay and paternity leave
- News
CQC announces next phase of regulatory improvement
CQC has set out a programme of change for the period through to 2028, with a focus on improving regulation across health and adult social care. The announcement highlights progress already made and confirms further updates planned over the next three years. CQC states that early improvements are already visible in registration processes. Work
- News
CQC Chief Executive Sir Julian Hartley Steps Down
Sir Julian Hartley has stepped down as Chief Executive of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) with immediate effect. Dr Arun Chopra, Chief Inspector of Mental Health, is expected to take on the role of Interim Chief Executive while recruitment for a permanent successor begins. Sir Julian’s decision follows ongoing discussions regarding care at Leeds Teaching
- Advice
New Laws Require CQC Registration for High-Risk Aesthetic Procedures
The UK Government has announced tough new plans to regulate the fast-growing, but largely unregulated, aesthetics and cosmetic procedures sector. These long-awaited measures are designed to protect the public from unsafe treatments, rogue operators, and botched procedures — and mark a turning point for the industry. At HLTH Compliance, we specialise in helping aesthetic and
- Advice
CQC’s Assessment Framework Is Changing – Here’s How
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has announced a number of planned changes to its Single Assessment Framework, following feedback that its current approach is too complex and not flexible enough to work effectively across the diverse range of services it regulates. Over the past two months, the regulator has begun engaging with its own staff,
- Advice
CQC Plans 9,000+ Inspections by 2026 — Are You Ready?
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has confirmed it will carry out over 9,000 inspections across health and social care providers between now and September 2026 — a clear signal that scrutiny is increasing, and standards are under the microscope. This announcement forms part of the CQC’s broader transformation to its Single Assessment Framework. Designed to
- Advice
Changes to CQC Registration Process for Domiciliary Care Providers – What You Need to Know
As of 1st July 2025, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has introduced a revised registration process for new domiciliary care providers. These changes apply to any organisation looking to carry out the regulated activity of personal care in people’s homes and are aimed at ensuring services are safer and better prepared before delivering care. The
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