Guides

31 October 2026

How DoLS works in a care home: the managing authority role, urgent and standard authorisations, the six qualifying requirements, and where LPS got to.

24 October 2026

What a CQC warning notice is, why you cannot appeal one, and the statutory protection you earn by complying inside the time specified.

17 October 2026

How care home safeguarding duties really work: Regulation 13, the local authority's section 42 enquiry and the CQC notification are three separate duties.

10 October 2026

What a care home business continuity plan needs to cover, the regulations behind it, and how to keep it usable rather than a document nobody opens.

3 October 2026

What the CQC fit person interview covers, the questions that come up most, and how a manager applying to register should prepare for it.

26 September 2026

How to apply to register a manager with CQC — the fitness test, the Schedule 3 evidence, what delays applications, and what to do while the post is vacant.

19 September 2026

There is no legal staffing ratio for care homes in England. What Regulation 18 actually requires, how to work out your numbers, and how to evidence them.

12 September 2026

What a care home dependency tool is, how it evidences safe staffing under Regulation 18, and how to use one that holds up when CQC asks about your numbers.

5 September 2026Last reviewed: 17 September 2026

How to write daily care notes that meet CQC standards — what to include, the observe-don't-assume rule, and worked good-and-bad examples.

29 August 2026Last reviewed: 17 September 2026

What eMAR means, what CQC actually requires (paper is still compliant), and how to decide whether electronic medication records are worth it for your care home.

22 August 2026Last reviewed: 17 September 2026

Every MAR chart code explained — refused, not taken, destroyed, PRN — plus what CQC checks and how to avoid the gaps that trigger a Regulation 12 breach.

11 July 2026Last reviewed: 17 September 2026

How to improve your CQC rating from Requires Improvement to Good — action planning, evidencing change, timeline expectations, and common recovery mistakes.

4 July 2026

Build a care home cleaning schedule that meets CQC and Hygiene Code standards — frequencies, products, enhanced cleaning protocols, and audit integration.

29 June 2026Last reviewed: 17 September 2026

A care home manager's guide to CQC statutory notifications — which events to report, the legal deadlines, how to submit, and the cost of getting it wrong.

29 June 2026Last reviewed: 10 August 2026

What a CQC registered manager is legally responsible for — the fit-person test, day-to-day duties, statutory notifications, and accountability.

29 June 2026

What a CQC statement of purpose must contain under Schedule 3, the 28-day duty to notify revisions, and how to keep yours accurate and current.

29 June 2026Last reviewed: 10 August 2026

A practical guide to running internal care home audits — what to audit, how often, and how to evidence findings and actions CQC trusts.

29 June 2026Last reviewed: 17 September 2026

What a CQC nominated individual is, how the role differs from the registered manager, who can hold it, and the notification duty when it changes.

27 June 2026

How to choose care home software in the UK — features to prioritise, care home management system options, budget tiers, and migrating from paper to digital.

20 June 2026Last reviewed: 10 August 2026

How to complete the CQC Provider Information Return — what information CQC requests, common mistakes, and how your PIR feeds into assessment decisions.

13 June 2026Last reviewed: 26 October 2026

What happens during a CQC inspection and how to prepare — inspection checklist, staff readiness, documentation, and what to expect on the day.

6 June 2026

How to run an IPC audit in your care home — hand hygiene, PPE, environmental cleanliness, outbreak management, and what CQC expects for quality statement S7.

30 May 2026

Medication audits for care homes — NICE SC1 standards, controlled drugs requirements, MAR chart accuracy checks, and CQC common findings with audit checklists.

23 May 2026

CQC safe staffing requirements for care homes — dependency tools, staffing calculators, evidence requirements, and how to avoid common inspection findings.

16 May 2026Last reviewed: 26 October 2026

Fire risk assessment, COSHH, falls, and all care home risk assessments CQC expects — types, review frequencies, documentation standards, and common mistakes.

9 May 2026Last reviewed: 10 August 2026

Duty of candour for care homes under Regulation 20 — notifiable safety incidents, the disclosure sequence, CQC enforcement, and a compliance checklist.

2 May 2026

How to become a CQC inspector — qualifications, experience requirements, the application process, and what CQC inspection work involves day to day.

25 April 2026Last reviewed: 26 October 2026

Build care home compliance audits into a structured schedule. Frequency recommendations, CQC quality statement alignment, and action tracking per audit type.

18 April 2026Last reviewed: 10 August 2026

What CQC expects from care home complaints procedures under Regulation 16. Recording, responding, escalation routes, and driving improvement.

11 April 2026

What CQC looks for under Well-Led — governance evidence examples for small care homes under the single assessment framework.

4 April 2026Last reviewed: 10 August 2026

All 14 fundamental standards of care under the 2014 Regulations, with CQC enforcement examples and evidence guidance for care homes.

28 March 2026Last reviewed: 26 October 2026

Complete list of care home policies CQC expects, mapped to key questions and quality statements, with review frequency and version control guidance.

21 March 2026Last reviewed: 26 October 2026

How to run a CQC mock inspection in your care home — step-by-step process, sample questions for staff, document checklist, and how to act on findings.

14 March 2026Last reviewed: 26 October 2026

What CQC look for in care homes during inspections — the five key questions, evidence categories, common findings, and a practical checklist to prepare.

7 March 2026Last reviewed: 13 August 2026

How often CQC inspects care homes — inspection frequency, assessment triggers, focused vs full inspections, and how to check your last rating.

28 February 2026Last reviewed: 26 October 2026

All 34 CQC quality statements across the five key questions explained, with practical evidence examples for care home managers preparing for assessment.

21 February 2026Last reviewed: 13 August 2026

CQC's inspection backlog, the 9,000-assessment target for 2025/26, and what the Penny Dash review means for your care home. Practical steps to prepare.

14 February 2026Last reviewed: 17 September 2026

Checklist for evaluating care home compliance software. CQC alignment, key features, what to expect on pricing, red flags, and why integrated beats piecemeal.

7 February 2026

How to build a CQC evidence pack organised by quality statement and evidence category. Filing structure, common mistakes, and what assessors look for.

31 January 2026Last reviewed: 13 August 2026

CQC compliance guide for small care homes under the CQC assessment framework. All 34 quality statements, common failures, and step-by-step preparation.