Care glossary · Ratings and regulation
Five key questions (Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, Well-led): what it means
The five areas CQC rates every service on, which together make up the overall rating.
Safe: are people protected from abuse and avoidable harm? Effective: does care achieve good outcomes? Caring: are people treated with compassion and dignity? Responsive: are services organised around people's needs? Well-led: is the service well managed? Safe and Well-led often reveal the most.
Useful pages on this site
Linked terms
- CQC rating: The overall judgement CQC gives a care service after inspection: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate.
- Single assessment framework: CQC's current way of assessing services, using "quality statements" and scores under each key question.
Questions about five key questions (safe, effective, caring, responsive, well-led)
Free download
Visiting care homes? Take this 40-point checklist
Covers CQC checks, staff, daily routine, rooms, fees and contracts, with columns for three homes.
More in Ratings and regulation
Care Quality Commission (CQC) · CQC rating · Outstanding (CQC rating) · Good (CQC rating) · Requires improvement (CQC rating) · Inadequate (CQC rating) · Single assessment framework · CQC inspection report · CQC enforcement (warning notices and special measures) · Registered manager · Regulated activity · Specialism (CQC registration)
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