CQC and Ofsted news and insights, page 6
CQC and Ofsted compliance, explained
Advice, news and video on regulatory change and best practice for health and social care providers.
Articles, page 6
- News
NICE Publishes First Quality Standard for Rare Diseases
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published its first-ever quality standard focused specifically on rare diseases. The new framework sets out clear expectations for improving the diagnosis, management and treatment of rare conditions across England and Wales. This milestone standard is also the first NICE quality standard developed in partnership with
- Advice
What Is a Regulation 44 Visit?
A Regulation 44 visit is a core requirement for children’s homes in England. It involves independent oversight visits to assess how the home is operating, whether children are safe, and whether the leadership and governance arrangements are effective. Regulation 44 is not a “formality”. These visits play a significant role in ongoing quality assurance and
- Advice
Statutory Pay Increases for April 2026
Further to our update last week on the changes to Statutory Sick Pay, the Government has also confirmed increases to the standard rates of statutory family-related pay, due to take effect from 6 April 2026. These changes will affect all employers and should now be factored into your budgeting for the 2026/27 financial year. Below,
- 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
- Advice
How Long Does Ofsted Registration Take?
Ofsted registration can feel slow, complex, and unpredictable – especially for new providers entering children’s social care. Whether you are registering a children’s home, supported accommodation, fostering service, or specialist provision, the registration process is a major project that requires planning, strong evidence, and a well-prepared leadership team. At HLTH Compliance, we support providers through
- Advice
How to Train Your Team for a CQC Inspection
Training your team for a CQC inspection is not about teaching people “what to say”. It is about ensuring staff understand what safe practice looks like, how your service operates, and how to evidence compliance confidently. CQC inspections are often won or lost on consistency. If different staff members give different answers to the same
- Advice
Employment Rights Act: The February 2026 Changes
The Employment Rights Bill has now received Royal Assent and became the Employment Rights Act 2025 on 18 December 2025. The Act introduces a series of amendments and additions to existing employment legislation, including the Employment Rights Act 1996. Importantly for employers, most of the changes will come into force during 2026 and 2027, meaning
- Advice
Interim Registered Manager Support – When You Need It
Losing a Registered Manager – or operating without one – is one of the highest-risk situations a regulated provider can face. Whether due to resignation, sickness, suspension, recruitment challenges, or rapid growth, the absence of a strong Registered Manager can quickly impact safety, governance, staff confidence, and regulator trust. At HLTH Compliance, we provide Interim
- 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
How to Prepare for a CQC Inspection
Preparing for a CQC inspection is not about last-minute panic – it is about building a service that is consistently safe, well-led, and well-evidenced. In the current regulatory climate, inspections are increasingly evidence-led, and providers need to demonstrate strong governance alongside frontline delivery. At HLTH Compliance, we support providers to prepare for inspection through a
- Advice
Single-Sex Facilities, Gender Identity, and the Workplace
What Recent Tribunal Decisions Mean for Health and Social Care Employers Recent employment tribunal decisions have brought renewed focus on how employers manage access to single-sex facilities where legal protections relating to sex and gender reassignment intersect. For health and social care providers, these issues are particularly acute. Large, diverse workforces, shared changing facilities, strict
- Advice
CQC Policies and Procedures – What You Need
CQC policies and procedures are not just documents for registration or inspection – they are the operational foundation of your service. Whether you are opening a new care business or strengthening an established service, CQC expects providers to evidence clear systems, safe practice, and robust governance. Well-written policies demonstrate that your organisation understands risk, can
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