CQC Inspection 9 April 2026 | Updated September 2026

CQC Reached 9,000 Assessments Ahead of Target: What Happens Next for Adult Social Care?

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CQC confirmed in September 2026 that it has completed more than 9,000 assessments ahead of its end of September target. Services not yet inspected should expect assessment activity to continue through the remainder of 2026 and into 2027 as CQC plans its next 18-month programme. A new portfolio holder model is being rolled out nationally, giving providers a named CQC contact. Most inspections will continue under the current Single Assessment Framework until the new adult social care KLOE framework is confirmed.

The Care Quality Commission confirmed in September 2026 that it has completed more than 9,000 assessments ahead of its end of September target — reaching an important milestone in its programme to rebuild regulatory oversight of adult social care. This article explains what the milestone means for services not yet inspected, what the CQC has said about the next phase of inspection activity, and what providers should expect as the regulator enters its next 18-month planning period.

The 9,000 Assessments Milestone: What CQC Confirmed

CQC confirmed in September 2026 that it has completed more than 9,000 assessments ahead of its end of September target. For adult social care specifically, the target was 5,013 assessments out of the 9,000 total. CQC described reaching the milestone as 'an encouraging step' while acknowledging that 'there is still more work to do' and that improving consistency and timeliness remains a key priority.

What does this mean in practical terms? The CQC has already demonstrated its capability:

The 9,000 milestone confirms the acceleration was real. The question now is what CQC's next 18-month planning period looks like — and what it means for services that have not yet been inspected.

November 2025 saw 50% more inspections compared to November 2024
More than 9,000 assessments completed by September 2026 — ahead of target
CQC is now modelling assessment activity and demand over the next 18 months
A new portfolio holder model is being rolled out across adult social care services nationally
Adult social care completed 3,689 assessments in the 2025/26 financial year — a significant increase on the 3,253 completed in all of 2024

The New Portfolio Holder Model

Alongside reaching the 9,000 milestone, CQC has confirmed it is introducing portfolio holders across adult social care services. This approach was tested with approximately 1,500 adult social care services across 495 providers since September 2025, before being rolled out nationally.

Portfolio holders oversee the information CQC receives about the services in their portfolio and act as a consistent point of contact for providers. Feedback from the pilot found improvements in relationships between CQC and providers and more timely responses.

For providers, the portfolio holder model means a named CQC contact rather than anonymous regulatory engagement. This changes the dynamic of CQC oversight — providers can expect more consistent, ongoing engagement rather than periodic inspection visits as the sole form of regulatory contact. It also means that information CQC receives about a service — from notifications, complaints, partner organisations, or local authorities — will be reviewed by someone with accumulated knowledge of that specific service rather than by a rotating team.

Why Now? The Inspection Backlog Problem

The acceleration wasn't random. It addresses a critical issue: outdated inspection ratings .

Many adult social care services are operating with inspection ratings that are 5, 6, or even 8 years old. Some ratings are based on Single Assessment Framework (SAF) inspections from 2024 or earlier. Others date back to the previous assessment framework. This creates a governance and compliance problem:

The CQC's acceleration programme directly addresses this. By completing 9,000 assessments, the regulator is ensuring that most adult social care services have a current rating by 2027.

Ratings don't reflect current practice: A service rated in 2019 may have transformed entirely since then
Leadership has changed: New managers, new systems, new staffing — none reflected in outdated ratings
Regulatory uncertainty: Services don't know how they will perform against current CQC standards
Commissioner confidence: Local authorities and NHS commissioners need current, reliable information to place people safely
Market competition: Outdated ratings disadvantage well-performing services and give false confidence to poorly-performing ones

The Inspection Window: A Dual Regulatory Challenge

Adult social care services face a unique challenge over the next 18 months: you will be inspected under the current Single Assessment Framework (SAF), but the CQC is simultaneously piloting a completely new adult social care-specific framework .

Here's the timeline:

Regulatory Timeline — Updated September 2026

The practical implication: most inspections currently underway and planned for the remainder of 2026 will use the current Single Assessment Framework . The new KLOE framework is expected to be confirmed and piloted before national rollout in 2027.

April 2026: Draft adult social care framework (24 KLOEs) released for consultation
12 June 2026: Consultation closed — 1,703 responses received
September 2026: 9,000 assessments target met ahead of schedule
September 2026: Portfolio holder model rollout begins nationally
Q4 2026 onwards: CQC modelling next 18 months of assessment activity — final volumes not yet confirmed
End 2026/2027: Expected gradual transition to new adult social care KLOE framework

Which Services Are Being Inspected First?

The CQC has prioritised services based on several factors:

If you haven't been inspected in the last 3 years, you are likely to receive one within the next 12 months.

Age of last inspection: Services with ratings older than 3–4 years are being prioritised
Service type: Care homes (residential) are being inspected ahead of domiciliary care
Previous ratings: Services rated as "Requires Improvement" or "Inadequate" receive more frequent inspection cycles
Geographic spread: All regions are being covered, though densely-populated areas may see more activity
Specific concerns: Services with safeguarding issues or staff turnover flagged to commissioners are prioritised

Guided Inspection Preparation

For services needing comprehensive, ready-made documentation:

CQC Inspection Prep Pack — £99

8 inspection-ready documents produced in minutes

What CQC Inspectors Will Be Looking For

Under the current SAF framework, inspectors assess services against broad Quality Statements. However, feedback from early SAF use has made inspectors more rigorous about evidence. They will expect:

The common thread: inspectors want to see that the service understands itself and can evidence that understanding .

Specific, written evidence: Not just verbal assurance that you "do" safeguarding — documented safeguarding policies, incident records, training completion logs
Practitioner knowledge: Staff should be able to articulate the service's approach during interviews
Real-time systems: Digital records, care planning tools, and quality monitoring dashboards that show current information (not last year's audit)
Service user and family feedback: Recent surveys, complaints data, and how the service responds to feedback
Leadership clarity: Management should articulate vision, values, and how they translate into day-to-day practice
Continuous improvement: Evidence of reflection, learning from incidents, and demonstrable changes based on experience

Preparing for Inspection: This Year's Critical Actions

With inspection probability increasing monthly, services should treat inspection readiness as an urgent priority. Key preparation steps:

Immediate Actions (This Month)

Conduct a mock inspection against current SAF framework to identify gaps
Audit your Statement of Purpose — ensure it is current and specific to your service
Review staffing records, training completion, and safeguarding documentation
Check that care records and care plans are up-to-date and evidence-based

Medium-Term Preparation (Before Inspection)

Develop a quality assurance schedule — audit key areas monthly
Brief leadership on CQC expectations and the new 2026 framework
Strengthen quality documentation — policies, procedures, and systems
Engage staff and service users in understanding the service's values and approach

Strategic Positioning (For 2026 Framework Transition)

Familiarise yourself with the draft 24 KLOEs — many overlap with current good practice
Begin documenting evidence against the 24 KLOEs now, even before they're official
Align your Statement of Purpose with the five key questions (Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, Well-led)

The Bottom Line: Urgency Is Justified

The 9,000 assessment milestone confirms that CQC's acceleration was real. Services not yet inspected should expect activity to continue through the remainder of 2026 and into 2027. The dual challenge — current SAF framework plus incoming adult social care KLOE framework — means preparation must remain a priority.

Services that prepare now have three advantages:

The inspection isn't a question of if — it's when. Being ready means you can face that inspection with confidence.

They can confidently undergo inspection under current SAF standards
Good practice aligned with the new KLOEs framework provides future-proofing
They demonstrate to CQC that they take regulation seriously and are actively improving

Related CQC Resources

24 KLOEs Explained

Understand what inspectors will be looking for in your evidence.

DSCR and Evidence Requirements

How real-time documentation meets CQC inspection expectations.

Statement of Purpose

Your SoP is the first document inspectors review. Make it count.

This article aligns with PAIDS (Professional AI Documentation Standards) — well-sourced, thoroughly researched, and defensible with verifiable data.

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