Categories
Organisations we regulate
We publish these links to help service providers understand how to achieve good or outstanding care. The links to nationally agreed quality standards are particularly important. We have included the key regulation(s) to which the guidance applies, although some may also be relevant in other areas. The links are correct at the time of publishing and we will review them regularly. Please help us to keep this list up-to-date by reporting any broken links you find using the link on the right of this page.
Abortion/termination of pregnancy
Buildings/premises and equipment
Caldicott
Related guidance | Applies to (reg no) |
---|---|
For all services | |
Information governance toolkit | HSCA 10, 12 |
Caldicott review: information governance in the health and care system | HSCA 10, 12 |
Caldicott principles - revised principles 2013 | HSCA 10, 12 |
Care Act and Care Certificate
Related guidance | Applies to (reg no) |
---|---|
For all services | |
Care Act 2014 (Social Care Institute for Excellence) | HSCA: all |
Care certificate (Health Education England) | HSCA 18, 19 |
Care and support statutory guidance, issued under the Care Act 2014 (Department of Health, March 2016) | HSCA: all |
Care Act 2014 part 1: factsheets (Department of Health, June 2014) | HSCA: all |
For adult social care services | |
Care certificate (Skills for Care) | HSCA 18, 19 |
Care, treatment and support
Challenging behaviour
Complaints
Conduct, ethics and performance
Confidentiality
Related guidance | Applies to (reg no) |
---|---|
For all services | |
A guide to confidentiality in health and social care (Health and Social Care Information Centre, 2013) | HSCA 17 |
For acute healthcare services | |
Confidentiality: NHS Code of Practice (Department of Health, 2003) | HSCA 17 |
For mental health services | |
Confidentiality: NHS Code of Practice (Department of Health, 2003) | HSCA 17 |
Consent
Related guidance | Applies to (reg no) |
---|---|
For all services | |
Consent guidance: patients and doctors making decisions together (General Medical Council) | HSCA 11 |
Gillick competence or Fraser guidelines | HSCA 11, 20 |
For acute healthcare services | |
Using surveillance: information for service providers | HSCA 11 |
Seeking consent: working with children (Department of Health, 2001) | HSCA 11 |
Reference guide to consent for examination or treatment – second edition (Department of Health, August 2009) | HSCA 11 |
For mental health services | |
Using surveillance: information for service providers | HSCA 11 |
Seeking consent: working with children (Department of Health, 2001) | HSCA 11 |
Reference guide to consent for examination or treatment – second edition (Department of Health, August 2009) | HSCA 11 |
Continence
Continuing professional development
Related guidance | Applies to (reg no) |
---|---|
For all services | |
Professional development (Royal College of Nursing) | HSCA 18 |
Standards for continuing professional development (Health and Care Professions Council) | HSCA 17, 18, 19 |
For primary medical services | |
Continuing professional development for dental professionals (General Dental Council) | HSCA 18 |
Continuing professional development (General Medical Council) | HSCA 18 |
COSHH
Related guidance | Applies to (reg no) |
---|---|
For all services | |
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) (Health and Safety Executive) | HSCA 15, 17 |
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002: Approved Code of Practice and guidance (Health and Safety Executive) | HSCA 15, 17 |
Data protection
Related guidance | Applies to (reg no) |
---|---|
For all services | |
Information sharing: Guidance for practitioners and managers – departmental advice for professionals on when and how to share information about children, young people and families (HM Government) | HSCA 10, 12, 13 |
Information governance and Caldicott principles (Department of Health) | HSCA 12, 17 |
ICO In the picture: A data protection Code of Practice for surveillance cameras and personal information (Information Commissioner's Office) | HSCA 11, 15, 17 |
Data Protection Act 2018: guidance | HSCA 10, 12, 16, 17 |
ICO guidance on data protection (Information Commissioner's Office) | HSCA 10, 12, 16, 17 |
Deprivation of liberty
Related guidance | Applies to (reg no) |
---|---|
For acute healthcare services | |
Mental Capacity Act 2005 Deprivation of liberty safeguards: Code of Practice to supplement the main Mental Capacity Act 2005 Code of Practice | HSCA 13, 17 |
Note on deprivation of liberty safeguards (DoLS) judgements of the supreme court (Department of Health, April 2014) | HSCA 11, 12, 13 |
For primary medical services | |
Mental Capacity Act 2005 Deprivation of liberty safeguards: Code of Practice to supplement the main Mental Capacity Act 2005 Code of Practice | HSCA 13, 17 |
Note on deprivation of liberty safeguards (DoLS) judgements of the supreme court (Department of Health, April 2014) | HSCA 11, 12, 13 |
Dignity and respect
Related guidance | Applies to (reg no) |
---|---|
For all services | |
Eliminating mixed sex accommodation - PL/CNO/2009/02 (Chief Nursing Officer’s Letter, 17 May 2009) | HSCA 10, 15 |
Eliminating Mixed sex accommodation – Declaration Exercise - Letter to Chief Executives (Department of Health, 10 February 2011) | HSCA 10, 15 |
Eliminating mixed sex accommodation - PL/CNO/2010/3 (letter from Chief Nursing Officer and Deputy Chief Executive, November 2010) | HSCA 10, 15 |
Dignity in Care – SCIE guide 15 (Social Care Institute for Excellence, June 2010 (updated May 2013)) | HSCA 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16 |
For acute healthcare services | |
Dignity in Care resources (Social Care Institute for Excellence) | HSCA 10 |
For adult social care services | |
Common core principles for dignity guide (Skills for Care) | HSCA 10 |
Dignity in Care Network resources | HSCA 10 |
For primary medical services | |
Dignity in Care resources (Social Care Institute for Excellence) | HSCA 10 |
Disclosure and Barring (DBS)
Related guidance | Applies to (reg no) |
---|---|
For all services | |
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks guidance (Care Quality Commission) | HSCA 5, 18, 19 |
Disclosure and Barring identity checking guidelines | HSCA 5, 18, 19 |
Disclosure and Barring | HSCA 5, 18, 19 |
Duty of candour
Related guidance | Applies to (reg no) |
---|---|
For acute healthcare services | |
NHS Standard Contract 2014/15: Updated Technical Guidance (Appendix 5: Contractual requirements relating to Duty of Candour) | HSCA 20 |
For mental health services | |
NHS Standard Contract 2014/15: Updated Technical Guidance (Appendix 5: Contractual requirements relating to Duty of Candour) | HSCA 20 |
For primary medical services | |
When things go wrong - The professional duty of candour (General medical Council) | HSCA 20 |
End of life care
Related guidance | Applies to (reg no) |
---|---|
For all services | |
One chance to get it right: improving people's experience of care in the last days and hours of life (Leadership Alliance for the Care of Dying People) | HSCA 9, 10, 11 |
Priorities for care of the dying person: Duties and responsibilities of health and care staff – with prompts for practice (Leadership Alliance for the Care of Dying People) | HSCA 9, 10, 11 |
Quality standard for end of life care for adults (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) | HSCA 9, 10, 11 |
Dying well at home: the case for integrated working – SCIE guide 48 – PDF – (Social Care Institute for Excellence, May 2013) | HSCA 9, 10, 11 |
Dying well at home: the case for integrated working – SCIE guide 48 (Social Care Institute for Excellence, May 2013) | HSCA 9, 10, 11 |
End of life care guidance (General Medical Council) | HSCA 9, 10, 11 |
For adult social care services | |
End of life care resources (Social Care Institute for Excellence) | HSCA 9, 10, 11 |
Equality and human rights
Related guidance | Applies to (reg no) |
---|---|
For all services | |
Services, public functions and associations: Statutory Code of Practice (Equality and Human Rights Commission) | HSCA 5, 9, 10, 13, 15, 17, 18, 19 |
EHRC employment statutory Code of Practice - sections on reasonable adjustments and pre-employment health checks (Equality and Human Rights Commission) | HSCA 5, 17, 18, 19 |
Guidance for service providers about their duties under the Equality Act 2010 (Equality and Human Rights Commission) | HSCA 5, 9, 10, 13, 15, 17, 18, 19 |
Equality Act 2010 guidance | HSCA 5, 9, 10, 13, 15, 17, 18, 19 |
Guidance about age discrimination (Equality and Human Rights Commission) | HSCA 5, 17, 18, 19 |
Employment statutory Code of Practice (Equality and Human Rights Commission) | HSCA 5, 17, 18, 19 |
For acute healthcare services | |
A refreshed equality delivery system for the NHS (NHS England, 2013) | HSCA 17 |
For primary medical services | |
A refreshed equality delivery system for the NHS (NHS England, 2013) | HSCA 17 |
Fees
Related guidance | Applies to (reg no) |
---|---|
For all services | |
Guidance on unfair contract terms (Office of Fair Trading) | HSCA 19 |
For adult social care services | |
Guidance on unfair terms in care homes contracts (Office of Fair Trading) | HSCA 19 |
Fire safety
Related guidance | Applies to (reg no) |
---|---|
For all services | |
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (London Fire Brigade) | HSCA 15 |
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005: a short guide to making your premises safe from fire (HM Government) | HSCA 15 |
For adult social care services | |
Fire safety risk assessment: Residential care premises | HSCA 15 |
Food safety/hygiene
General resource
Related guidance | Applies to (reg no) |
---|---|
For all services | |
Health and Care Professions Council | HSCA 5, 18 |
NHS Constitution for England 2013 | HSCA 10, 11, 15, 16, 17 |
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) | HSCA 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 17 |
The handbook to the NHS constitution - quality of care and environment pledge, pp 30/31 (Department of Health, 2012) | HSCA 10, 11, 15, 16, 17 |
For adult social care services | |
NICE Collaborating Centre for Social Care (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) | HSCA: all |
SCIE publications (Social Care Institute for Excellence) | HSCA: all |
SCIE at-a-glance summaries (Social Care Institute for Excellence) | HSCA: all |
SCIE guides (Social Care Institute for Excellence) | HSCA: all |
Social Care TV (requires registration) | HSCA: all |
Health and safety
Infection control/cleanliness
Medicines
Mental capacity
Related guidance | Applies to (reg no) |
---|---|
For all services | |
Mental Capacity Act 2005 Code of Practice | HSCA 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 20 |
Mental Capacity Act resources (Social Care Institute for Excellence) | HSCA 9, 10, 11, 17 |
Mental health
Moving and handling
Related guidance | Applies to (reg no) |
---|---|
For all services | |
How the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER / PUWER) apply to health and social care | HSCA 12, 15, 17 |
Moving and handling in health and social care (Health and Safety Executive) | HSCA 12, 15, 17 |
Hoisting (Health and Safety Executive) | HSCA 12, 15, 17 |
Nutrition and hydration
Personalised care
Quality monitoring/governance
Records
Related guidance | Applies to (reg no) |
---|---|
For all services | |
Positive and Proactive Care: reducing the need for restrictive interventions (Department of Health) | HSCA 13 |
For acute healthcare services | |
Standards for the structure and content of patient records (Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and HSCIC, 2013) | HSCA 17 |
For primary medical services | |
Standards for the structure and content of patient records (Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and HSCIC, 2013) | HSCA 17 |
Restrictive practice/restraint
Related guidance | Applies to (reg no) |
---|---|
For all services | |
Managing risk, minimising restraint - SCIE at a glance summary 16 (Social Care Institute for Excellence, October 2009) | HSCA 9, 10, 11, 12, 18 |
For adult social care services | |
Managing risk, minimising restraint - SCIE at a glance summary 16 (Social Care Institute for Excellence, October 2009) | HSCA 9, 10, 11, 12, 18 |
Managing risk, minimising restraint - SCIE at a glance summary 16 -PDF (Social Care Institute for Excellence, October 2009) | HSCA 9, 10, 11, 12, 18 |
Restrictive practices (Skills for Care) | HSCA 13 |
Risk assessment
Related guidance | Applies to (reg no) |
---|---|
For all services | |
Managing risk from hot water and surfaces in health and social care (Health and Safety Executive) | HSCA 12 |
Health and Safety Executive, Sensible risk assessment in care settings | HSCA 12, 13, 15 |
Risk assessment (Health and Safety Executive) | HSCA 12, 13, 15 |
For acute healthcare services | |
Bed rail risk management - Sector information minute SIM 07/2012/06 (Health and Safety Executive) | HSCA 12, 13, 15 |
Safe use of bedrails device bulletin (Medicines and Healthcare Products Regualtory Agency) | HSCA 12, 13, 15 |
For adult social care services | |
Bed rail risk management - Sector information minute SIM 07/2012/06 (Health and Safety Executive) | HSCA 12, 13, 15 |
Safe use of bedrails device bulletin (Medicines and Healthcare Products Regualtory Agency) | HSCA 12, 13, 15 |
Safeguarding
Safety
Related guidance | Applies to (reg no) |
---|---|
For all services | |
Cryptic clue or familiar sign | HSCA 12 |
Safety alerts published by NHS England | HSCA 12 |
Safety warnings, alerts and recalls published by the MHRA | HSCA 12 |
For acute healthcare services | |
Health care professionals Alerts Notices Directions 2006 (Department of Health) | HSCA 17, 19, 20 |
For mental health services | |
Health care professionals Alerts Notices Directions 2006 (Department of Health) | HSCA 17, 19, 20 |
Slips, trips and falls
Related guidance | Applies to (reg no) |
---|---|
For all services | |
Slips and trips in health and social care (Health and Safety Executive) | HSCA 12 |
Falls from windows or balconies in health and social care (Health and Safety Executive) | HSCA 12 |
For acute healthcare services | |
Falls: assessment and prevention of falls in older people (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) | HSCA 12 |
For adult social care services | |
Falls: assessment and prevention of falls in older people (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) | HSCA 12 |
Staff support and training
Staffing and recruitment
Waste management
Related guidance | Applies to (reg no) |
---|---|
For all services | |
Safe management of healthcare waste - version 2.0, 2nd edition (Department of Health,2012 ) | HSCA 12 |
Water systems (including legionella)
Whistleblowing
Related guidance | Applies to (reg no) |
---|---|
For all services | |
Whistleblowing: Guidance for providers who are registered with the Care Quality Commission (Care Quality Commission, November 2013) | HSCA 12, 13 |
Raising a concern with CQC: A quick guide for health and care staff about whistleblowing (Care Quality Commission) | HSCA 12, 13 |
Raising concerns at work: whistleblowing guidance for workers and employers in health and social care | HSCA 12, 13 |
For adult social care services | |
Whistleblowing guides (Social Care Institute for Excellence) | HSCA 12, 13 |