Rebuilding oversight: CQC announces key changes to adult social care regulation

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published a major regulatory update announcing reforms designed to strengthen oversight of adult social care services and improve how providers interact with the regulator.

The update centres on three key areas:

1. Rebuilding the CQC’s regulatory approach.
2. Improving the registration process for care providers.
3. Revising how adult social care assessments are prioritised.

These changes form part of the CQC’s broader programme to enhance inspection capacity, increase transparency, and deliver a more responsive and consistent regulatory system. Below, we outline the key developments and what they mean for providers.

Rebuilding Regulation

In its February 2026 update, the CQC confirmed that restoring inspection capacity and improving regulatory delivery remains a central priority. Inspection activity is increasing as part of this recovery programme, with the CQC reporting that over 50% more inspections took place in November 2025 compared with November 2024. Since April 2025, more than 5,000 assessments have also been completed, keeping the regulator on track to meet its target of 9,000 assessments by September 2026.

Alongside increasing inspection numbers, the CQC is implementing broader reforms to improve how regulation functions. These include enhanced digital systems, organisational changes informed by lessons learned, and strengthened sector expertise through dedicated inspection leadership. Feedback from the regulator’s consultation, which received 1,703 responses, is also shaping further refinements to the assessment framework.

What this means for providers?

Providers should expect more frequent and consistent regulatory engagement as inspection capacity continues to rebuild. The CQC aims to ensure that ratings reflect current performance, giving both providers and service users greater clarity and confidence.

Improvements to the Registration Process for Care Providers

The CQC has also announced changes intended to streamline the registration process for providers in adult social care and supported living services. The regulator identified that incomplete applications were the primary cause of delays. To address this, a revised process has been introduced to increase efficiency and reduce the backlog of applications.

From 9 February 2026, the CQC will:

• Review supporting documentation earlier in the application process.
• Return incomplete applications at the point of receipt rather than progressing them through further assessment.
• Provide clearer, sector‑specific guidance on documentation requirements and submission standards.

These changes are designed to reduce the number of applications that need to be returned and to shorten decision times where documentation is complete and accurate.

What this means for providers?

Providers seeking registration should ensure that applications are comprehensive at the point of submission. Although the process may feel more structured, the updated approach is intended to give faster decisions where the required information is provided upfront. Early preparation and careful review of documents will be increasingly important.

Updated Approach to Prioritising Adult Social Care Assessments

The CQC has refreshed its method for prioritising assessments, shifting towards a more risk‑based and intelligence‑led model. Historically, inspections were scheduled more evenly across providers. The updated framework focuses regulatory attention where risks are greatest while maintaining oversight across the sector.

Under this revised model, priority will be given to:

• Services where safeguarding risks or concerns have been identified.
• Providers flagged through intelligence as higher risk but not yet assessed.
• Services registered for over a year that have never been inspected.
• Providers with older ratings that may no longer accurately reflect performance.

At the same time, the CQC aims to ensure that lower‑risk services continue to receive appropriate oversight to maintain sector‑wide assurance.

What this means for providers?

Providers demonstrating strong governance, effective risk management, and positive performance indicators may experience fewer inspections compared with services assessed as higher risk. However, the CQC retains the flexibility to respond quickly to emerging concerns. Maintaining accurate records, strong internal systems, and evidence of ongoing improvement will remain essential to demonstrating low regulatory risk.

A More Targeted Regulatory Model?

Overall, the February 2026 update reflects the CQC’s move towards a more structured, data‑driven, and risk‑responsive regulatory model. If the reforms are implemented as intended, they should support clearer expectations, improved regulatory engagement, and a more consistent experience for both providers and service users.