News & Views

COVID-19 Inquiry Report Highlights Need for Resilient, Evidence-Based OversightThe publication of the latest COVID-19 Inquiry report provides a detailed and often challenging reflection on how the health and social care system responded to the pandemic. Among its key themes are the impact of delayed decision-making, variability in oversight, and the consequences of limited visibility of risk within services during a period of unprecedented pressure. For the care sector, the report reinforces a central lesson: effective oversight cannot be paused during periods of crisis; indeed, it becomes more critical. Inspection During the PandemicWhile much regulatory activity was reduced or adapted during COVID-19, Care Inspections UK (CIUK) continued to undertake inspections throughout the pandemic. This was not without significant challenge. However, CIUK maintained its position that independent, evidence-based inspection remained essential to: • Identify and manage emerging risks • Support providers under extreme operational pressure • Maintain visibility of quality and safety within services Inspections were conducted under strict cross-infection control protocols, including enhanced PPE, risk-assessed site access, and adapted methodologies to ensure the safety of both inspectors and service personnel. This enabled CIUK to continue delivering robust, independent assurance at a time when it was most needed. Lessons for the FutureThe Inquiry report underscores the importance of: • Timely, accurate intelligence on service performance • Consistent and reliable oversight mechanisms • Preparedness for rapid escalation of risk CIUK’s experience during the pandemic demonstrates that inspection, when conducted using a structured, evidence-based model, can be both safe and effective, even in highly constrained environments. Moving ForwardAs the sector reflects on the findings of the Inquiry, there is a clear imperative to strengthen systems that provide real-time insight into quality and risk. Independent, accredited inspection has a critical role to play in this landscape, ensuring that providers, commissioners and stakeholders have access to credible, defensible evidence, particularly during periods of instability. The lessons of COVID-19 are clear. Oversight must be resilient, adaptable, and grounded in evidence. CIUK’s continued inspection activity throughout the pandemic illustrates that maintaining such oversight is not only possible, but essential.

In March 2026, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) formally published ISO 25557:2026 – Ageing societies: Care quality for older persons at home and in care facilities. This represents a significant milestone in the development of internationally agreed, evidence-based standards for the delivery and assurance of care services. This project was led by Kevin Groombridge, CEO of Care Inspections UK and involved experts from the UK and worldwide. A New Global Benchmark for Care QualityISO 25557:2026 establishes, for the first time, a comprehensive international framework defining what “good” looks like in the provision of care for older people. The standard applies across both residential settings and care delivered in people’s own homes, reflecting the increasingly diverse models of care seen globally. The standard is structured around key domains, including: • Person-centred care and outcomes • Safety, safeguarding, and risk management • Workforce competence and leadership • Governance, accountability, and continuous improvement • Integration with health and community services Crucially, ISO 25557 moves beyond high-level principles. It provides clear, measurable expectations for objective assessment, benchmarking, and continuous improvement. From National to International LeadershipThe publication of ISO 25557:2026 builds on earlier work in the UK, including BS 8606:2019, but extends significantly beyond it in both scope and applicability. While BS 8606 focused on adult residential care, ISO 25557 provides a broader, internationally relevant framework specifically addressing the needs of ageing populations. Why This Matters NowThe publication comes at a critical time. Ageing populations, workforce pressures, and increasing complexity of care needs are placing unprecedented demands on care systems worldwide. At the same time, many regulatory frameworks have struggled with: • Inconsistency in assessment approaches • Over-reliance on subjective judgement • Limited comparability across services and jurisdictions ISO 25557 directly addresses these challenges by providing a consistent, evidence-based reference point for care quality. Implications for Providers, Commissioners, and InvestorsFor care providers, the standard offers a structured pathway to: • Demonstrate quality through objective evidence • Benchmark performance against international best practice • Strengthen governance and risk management For commissioners, lenders, and investors, ISO 25557 provides: • A reliable framework for due diligence • Greater assurance over service quality and sustainability • A common language for evaluating care provision CIUK PerspectiveAt Care Inspections UK, the publication of ISO 25557:2026 represents a pivotal advancement in the evolution of care quality assurance. Our inspection methodology has long been grounded in: • Evidence-based assessment • Objective measurement and triangulation • Alignment with recognised standards and best practice The introduction of ISO 25557:2026 provides an internationally recognised benchmark that reinforces this approach and supports the continued shift away from subjective, judgement-led inspection models. Looking AheadThe publication of ISO 25557:2026 is not an endpoint; it is a foundation. As adoption grows, it has the potential to: • Drive greater consistency in care quality globally • Enable meaningful comparison across services and systems • Support provider-led accreditation and continuous improvement, models For organisations committed to delivering high-quality care, ISO 25557:2026 sets a clear expectation: quality must be demonstrable, measurable, and evidence-based.

CQC Reset – Need for Independent, Evidence-Based InspectionThe Care Quality Commission (CQC) has confirmed it will move away from the Single Assessment Framework introduced in July 2022 and return to a more traditional, sector-specific model later this year. The shift follows widespread recognition across the sector that the current approach has added complexity, reduced clarity, and proved difficult to operationalise for both CQC and providers. Alongside this, the familiar structure of Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led will remain, with a streamlined return of Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOEs) and rating characteristics. A System Reset – But Not a Structural Solution While the move back to a more recognisable framework will be welcomed by many providers, it does not address a more fundamental issue: the continued reliance on subjective, judgement-led inspection. Key changes include:• Removal of detailed scoring, reducing transparency • Simplified Quality Statements • Ratings applied at the key question level only • Ongoing reliance on inspector interpretation In practical terms, providers remain exposed to variability in how evidence is interpreted, with limited visibility of how conclusions are reached. The CIUK Perspective: Evidence Over JudgementThis is precisely the gap that Care Inspections UK (CIUK) was established to address. As the UK’s only UKAS-accredited inspection body for care, CIUK operates a fundamentally different model: • Structured, evidence-based inspection, not narrative judgement • Triangulation of data, observation and enquiry • Clear linkage between findings and source evidence • Action plans grounded in demonstrable compliance and improvement Where regulatory inspection can be inconsistent or delayed, CIUK provides providers with a defensible, independent assessment of quality and risk, enabling organisations to understand their true position at any point in time. Shorter Reports, Faster Cycles – But Less Detail?CQC has also indicated that reports will become shorter to improve turnaround times and increase inspection frequency. While this may address delays, it introduces a further risk: reduced depth and context. Without sufficient detail: • Providers may struggle to fully understand findings • The ability to challenge inaccuracies may be weakened • Important nuances in quality and risk may be lost CIUK’s model directly addresses this by providing comprehensive, evidence-linked reporting, ensuring providers have clarity not only on outcomes, but on how those outcomes have been determined. What Providers Should Do NowThe direction of travel is clear: a return to familiar frameworks, but without resolving the underlying limitations of judgement-based inspection. Providers should therefore: • Strengthen internal governance and evidence systems • Ensure readiness for more frequent regulatory assessment • Adopt independent, evidence-based assurance to validate their position CIUK inspections are increasingly being used by providers, commissioners and stakeholders as a credible, independent benchmark, particularly where regulatory reports are outdated or contested. Looking AheadThe revised framework is expected to be implemented in the latter part of 2026. While it represents a reset in approach, it does not remove the inherent subjectivity within the regulatory model. In this context, CIUK’s role becomes more, not less, relevant. By providing independent, accredited, evidence-based inspection, CIUK enables providers to move beyond uncertainty and assumption, towards a clear, defensible understanding of quality, compliance and risk, regardless of how the regulatory framework evolves.

CIUK Launches Flexible Inspection Service to Support Care ProvidersCare Inspections UK (CIUK), the UK’s only accredited inspection body for care, has launched a new pay-as-you-go inspection service designed to help providers strengthen quality, performance, risk management and regulatory outcomes amid increasing financial pressures across the sector. In response to rising National Insurance contributions and workforce costs, the model has been specifically developed to support cost spreading and affordability, enabling providers to access high-quality, independent inspection without the burden of significant upfront fees. The service provides structured, evidence-based inspection, combined with clear reporting and prioritised action planning, allowing providers to take a more controlled and sustainable approach to compliance and continuous improvement. Kevin Groombridge, Chief Executive of Care Inspections UK, said: “Our focus is on improving standards across care through a rigorous, evidence-based approach. This model makes support more accessible by spreading costs over time, enabling providers to strengthen compliance and performance without compromising financial stability. With cost pressures continuing to impact the sector, this approach provides regular inspection, clear action planning and expert guidance at an affordable monthly level. Where providers fully engage with the process and address identified issues, improvement in regulatory outcomes can be expected.” The launch reflects a growing need within the sector for independent, accredited assurance that goes beyond subjective or ad hoc review, providing providers with a clear, defensible view of performance and risk.

Ebbw Vale Care Home is the first in Wales to achieve a Care Inspections UK Certificate.The Rookery, a residential care home in Ebbw Vale, has made history by becoming the first care home in Wales to achieve the prestigious award of a CIUK Certificate by the only UKAS Accredited Care Inspection Body in the UK. [news5-team.jpg]To achieve this certificate, a care home must be assessed as having the highest care, safety and employment standards. This compliance is a significant endorsement of the home’s commitment to providing high-quality care for its residents, including those with dementia. The Rookery is registered with Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) to provide accommodation and personal care for up to 41 people. The certificate was awarded following an independent audit by Care Inspections UK (CIUK). The two-day inspection praised the home’s high standards, ethos of continuous improvement, and person-centred care. It was noted that The Rookery’s management and staff were highly receptive to feedback and acted swiftly to address any minor non-compliance. Rebecca Ray, manager of The Rookery, expressed her pride in the team’s achievement: “We are thrilled to be the first care home in Wales to be awarded a CIUK certificate. This recognition reflects our entire team’s hard work and dedication, who consistently strive to provide the best possible care for our residents. At The Rookery, our focus is always on ensuring our residents’ safety, well-being, and dignity, and this certification is a testament to those efforts.” The inspection highlighted several key strengths, including: • Person-centred care plans: tailored to manage each resident’s individual needs and risks. • Robust health and safety practices: all necessary certificates and maintenance checks were in place. • A meaningful activity programme focused on engaging residents and promoting community involvement. • High training compliance: staff were well-trained and knowledgeable in providing care. • Welcoming atmosphere: the home was noted for its respectful, friendly CIUK praised The Rookery’s commitment to care quality: “The Rookery has set a new benchmark for care homes in Wales. The team’s dedication to personalising care and fostering a welcoming, respectful environment for residents is commendable. It was clear throughout the inspection that both the management and staff are deeply committed to maintaining the dignity and independence of the residents in their care.” Rebecca Ray continues, “This certificate is not the end of our journey but an important milestone. We are continually looking for ways to enhance our residents’ quality of life and ensure that they feel supported and valued. I’m incredibly proud of the team and excited about the future of The Rookery, which includes a major makeover in the next few months!” With a score of more than 85 per cent in all ten areas inspected and no major non-compliances, the Rookery has established itself as an outstanding care home. The certificate affirms the home’s dedication to maintaining the highest safety, care, and resident well-being standards.