CQC's planned new assessment framework for care homes: key lines of enquiry to return and scoring to go

The short answer. CQC plans to replace its single assessment framework with separate frameworks for each sector, including one for adult social care. In its drafts, key lines of enquiry replace the 34 quality statements, and ratings would be judged directly at key-question level, with no scoring. The five key questions and the four ratings stay. These are still proposals. When we checked on 17 October 2026, CQC hadn't published the final framework or a start date, and it asks providers to keep using its current guidance until the new approach is in use. Check CQC's website for the latest.

What CQC has proposed

In March 2026, CQC said it was moving forward with a sector-based approach and published four draft frameworks:

• adult social care;
• mental health care;
• primary care and community services;
• hospitals.

CQC has said the number may change. For example, primary care and community services could become two frameworks.

According to CQC, the drafts add three things:

• Key lines of enquiry, written as structured questions that describe what inspectors will look for. In the drafts, these replace the current quality statements.
• Rating characteristics that describe what outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate care looks like in each sector.
• No scoring. CQC proposes to remove scoring from its methodology and make rating judgements directly at key-question level, supported by the rating characteristics.

What stays the same

• The five key questions: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. CQC says they remain "fundamental to our assessments".
• The four ratings: outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate.
• "I statements." CQC says they're one of the four parts of each new framework, alongside the key questions, key lines of enquiry and rating characteristics.
• The fundamental standards. CQC's proposals don't change them (Regulations 9 to 20A of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014). They're set in law, not in the assessment framework, and everything a home must do under them still applies.

Where things stand (as of 17 October 2026)

When we checked on 17 October 2026, CQC hadn't published the final adult social care framework or confirmed a start date. CQC asks providers to keep using its current published guidance on how it assesses quality and performance until it implements the new approach. So the current framework, quality statements and scoring still apply. We'll update this page when CQC confirms.

CQC's plans can change. For the latest position, check CQC's Improving how we work updates and its assessment guidance.

Why "KLOEs return" is only half true

Managers who worked under the framework CQC used until late 2023 will remember KLOEs (key lines of enquiry). They were numbered, sat under each key question, and came with prompts. CQC replaced them with quality statements when it introduced the single assessment framework.

The new drafts bring back key lines of enquiry by name, framed as structured questions. They're not the old KLOE list.

• CQC's draft adult social care framework (version 9, March 2026) has 24 key lines of enquiry:
  • 7 under safe;
  • 4 under effective;
  • 3 under caring;
  • 4 under responsive;
  • 6 under well-led.

  The numbers may change in the final version.

• Most cover topics that today's quality statements also cover, but some are merged or moved. For example:
  • safe environments and infection prevention and control become one key line of enquiry;
  • person-centred care moves under caring;
  • CQC left environmental sustainability out of the adult social care draft.

For the history of the original KLOEs, see our guide to KLOEs: what they were and why they changed. For the framework in use today, see the current 34 quality statements.

What it could mean on inspection day

These are reasonable expectations from what CQC has published. They aren't CQC guidance.

• Judgement instead of arithmetic. Under CQC's proposals, inspectors would weigh the evidence across a whole key question against the rating characteristics, without scores. CQC says the characteristics are "an indication – not a checklist", so consistent, good-quality evidence matters more than covering every line.
• Questions you can prepare for. Structured questions are easier to rehearse with staff than abstract statements. When the final list is out, use it as your audit headings.
• Sector-specific detail. An adult social care framework should talk about care homes, supported living and home care in their own terms. Expect questions closer to daily practice.

What to do now (practical checklist)

1. Keep working to the current framework. CQC asks providers to keep using its current guidance until it starts using the new approach. Don't stop your quality-statement audits.
2. Organise evidence by key question, not just by statement. Both the current and the proposed frameworks use the five key questions, so this survives the change.
3. Read the draft adult social care framework (linked from CQC's consultation page) and note which questions are new for your service.
4. Brief your team. Explain that CQC plans to remove scores and that the five key questions stay. Nothing changes on inspection until CQC starts using the new framework.
5. Plan a re-audit against the final key lines of enquiry once CQC publishes them and confirms a start date.
6. Check your policies still reference the regulations, which these proposals don't change. Once the new framework is in use, update any references to specific quality statements.

Related guides: CQC fundamental standards explained · How to prepare for a CQC inspection · Records and reports for inspection

Where Kiwi fits

Kiwi is our product, so we're not neutral.

• Kiwi keeps care records by resident and by date, with an audit trail and record history.
• Reports export as PDF or CSV for any date range.
• CQC doesn't approve or endorse any software, Kiwi included.
• Kiwi doesn't map records to CQC's key lines of enquiry or quality statements.

Kiwi: £179.95 per home per month up to 30 beds, £229.95 for 31 beds or more, as of 17 October 2026.

• Every module included. Free set-up.
• Monthly plans: cancel any time, no notice period.
• Annual plans renew for 12 months unless cancelled before renewal.
• 30-day free trial: your card is taken at sign-up and nothing is charged until day 31. Billing then starts automatically unless you cancel.
• Kiwi doesn't charge UK VAT (it's supplied from outside the UK). If your organisation is VAT-registered you may need to account for VAT under the reverse charge; check with your accountant.

Frequently asked

Is CQC getting rid of the single assessment framework?

CQC plans to replace it with separate frameworks for each sector, including adult social care. When we checked on 17 October 2026, the final framework hadn't been published, and CQC asks providers to keep using its current guidance until it implements the new approach.

Are KLOEs coming back?

Key lines of enquiry return by name in CQC's draft frameworks, written as structured questions that replace the quality statements. They aren't the same as the KLOEs CQC used until late 2023.

Is CQC scrapping scores?

CQC plans to remove scoring and make rating judgements directly at key-question level, using rating characteristics for each rating. Until it implements the new approach, the current method, including scoring, still applies.

Do the five key questions change?

No. Safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led remain, as do the four ratings.

When does the new framework start?

CQC planned to publish final frameworks in summer 2026 and start using them at the end of 2026. Its pilots were planned to run from June to October 2026, with evaluation in November. In August it said it would hold more engagement with each sector in the autumn. When we checked on 17 October 2026, CQC hadn't published the final framework or confirmed a start date. Check CQC's website for the latest.

Do I need to change my policies?

The regulations behind them haven't changed, and CQC's proposals don't change them. Keep your current references while the current framework applies. Once CQC starts using the new framework, replace references to specific quality statements and keep linking policies to the regulations and key questions.

Sources (checked 17 October 2026)

• CQC, "Our March update" (24 March 2026)
• CQC, draft adult social care assessment framework, version 9 (19 March 2026)
• CQC, "Give your views on draft sector-specific assessment frameworks" (closed 12 June 2026)
• CQC, "Purpose of CQC's assessment frameworks" (updated 14 April 2026)
• CQC, "Better regulation, better care" (16 October to 11 December 2025)
• CQC, "Our initial response to our public consultation: Better regulation, better care"
• CQC, "Our improvement plans for 2026" (27 November 2025, updated 23 December 2025)
• CQC, "Priorities for delivering more assessments" (26 May 2026)
• CQC, "Piloting, testing and evaluation of new assessment method" (4 June 2026)
• CQC, "Rebuilding our regulatory approach and digital services" (27 August 2026)
• CQC, "The fundamental standards" (updated 3 March 2026)
• Further reading: Mills & Reeve, "CQC consults on a new adult social care assessment framework"