What is the CQC Single Assessment Framework?
The CQC Single Assessment Framework replaced the previous Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOEs) system in November 2023. It uses the same five key questions but assesses providers continuously using quality statements and evidence categories rather than inspections alone.
Full answer
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) Single Assessment Framework (SAF) launched in November 2023 for most providers and represented the biggest change to CQC regulation in a decade.
- Safe
- Effective
- Caring
- Responsive
- Well-led
What's changed is how CQC gathers evidence:
Under the old framework, KLOEs and prompts guided inspections. Under the SAF, CQC uses:
Quality Statements — 34 statements describing what 'good' looks like across the five key questions. Providers are assessed against these.
Evidence categories — Six types of evidence CQC uses: people's experience, feedback from staff and leaders, feedback from partners, observation, processes, and outcomes.
Continuous monitoring — CQC now gathers intelligence between inspections through notifications, data, and concerns. Your rating can change without a full inspection.
Scores and ratings — Each quality statement gets a score (1–4), which feeds into an overall service score and rating (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate).
- Document everything continuously, not just before an inspection
- Staff feedback and experience is weighted heavily
- People's experience (what patients/residents say) is central
- 'Well-led' is now more rigorously assessed, including governance and culture
Common gaps CQC are finding: Incomplete medicines management records, lack of evidence of learning from incidents, and poor staff engagement with the framework.
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