The Care Quality Commission checks whether hospitals, care homes and care services are meeting government standards. Visit our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Working with local groups

We work with groups to make sure that the views and opinions of people are heard. Each group caters to specific areas of care and ensures better practice around the country.

Jump to: eQuality Voices | Service User Reference Panel (SURP) | SpeakOut network

eQuality Voices

We always factor equality and human rights into everything we do.

eQuality Voices is a group that shapes and influences the detail of our equality, diversity and human rights priorities. In particular, the group identifies the important matters and needs relating to equality that affect people who use care services.

The group is supported by the Involvement and equality, diversity and human rights team at CQC.

Service User Reference Panel (SURP)

One of our duties is to protect the interests of people whose rights are restricted under the Mental Health Act (MHA).

SURP is made up of people who are, or have been, detained under the Act. Each member is encouraged to share their views on our work and advise us about how we can involve more members of the public.

The panel gives us helpful information on conducting visits and helps to steer different projects in the right direction.

Some of the members of SURP also take part in Acting Together visits. These visits are conducted together with an MHA commissioner to monitor activities on mental health wards.