What we do
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) makes sure people in England get better health and adult social care. To do this, we do the following:
We put people who use health and adult social care services at the centre of what we do. We are accountable to the Government but we are not linked to any political party.
We license care services
We license health and adult social care services as long as they meet essential standards of quality and safety.
We continuously monitor care providers
We continuously monitor health and adult social care providers to make sure they are meeting essential standards.
We work together
We work together with people who use services, service providers and with other regulators to make sure care improves. Find out:
- How we involve people who use services
- How we engage with providers and commissioners
- How we work in partnership with other organisations
We act quickly to improve poor quality care
Services we regulate
We regulate the following care services:
- Medical and clinical treatment given to people of all ages, including treatment given in hospitals, ambulance services, and mental health services. We will eventually include primary care such as GP and dental practices.
- Care provided in residential homes, in the community, in people’s own homes for adults, and in residential care homes for children. We focus on people who find themselves in vulnerable circumstances, including those with mental health problems, learning disabilities, physical disabilities or long-term health conditions and older people.
- Services for people whose rights are restricted under the Mental Health Act.
- Care provided either by the NHS or independently.
