Updates for all providers
 We've published an update on how we're improving how we work so we can return to delivering good regulation.
In this update we have summarised what we’re currently working on to:
- deliver more assessments
- improve the experience of regulation
- strengthen our leadership
- make changes to our assessment approach.
 The safer management of controlled drugs 2024 report highlights our oversight activity under the Controlled Drugs (Supervision of Management and Use) Regulations 2013.
It includes what we found from our inspection and engagement activity under the Health and Social Care Act as well participating in local controlled drug intelligence networks led by NHS England.
Carers UK has launched the State of Caring 2025 survey and would greatly appreciate help encouraging unpaid carers to participate.
This annual survey is the UK’s most comprehensive study of unpaid carers’ experiences. It provides vital evidence used by Carers UK, the Government, local authorities, health and social care services, charities, and carers groups. With new Government proposals underway, it’s crucial carers share their views.
Last year’s responses supported campaigns to increase Carer’s Allowance limits, influence employment rights legislation, improve NHS support, and raise awareness of caring across national and local media.
Please share this survey with carers and encourage them to complete it. It takes 20-30 minutes and closes on 10 August. Results will be published later this year.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is conducting a review of the effectiveness of Care Quality Commission (CQC) Regulation 9A: Visiting and Accompanying in care homes, hospitals, and hospices (Regulation 9A), one year after it came into force.
A Call for Evidence was open from 28 May to 9 July (for more information, please read).
An easy read version of the Call for Evidence is now available for people to share their views on the effectiveness and impact of Regulation 9A since it came into force on 6 April 2024. This version is designed to be more accessible and is open to anyone who prefers this format.
The easy read survey will be open for 6 weeks, closing at 11:59 pm on 26 August. DHSC welcomes views from patients, care home residents, providers and professionals, family members, friends, carers, and advocates.
NHS England have published updates to the Accessible Information Standard (AIS), providing clear guidance on making healthcare communication and information accessible to people with disabilities, impairments or sensory loss.
The refreshed standard introduces a sixth step - reviewing needs - to ensure ongoing improvement in how organisations meet the information and communication needs of disabled people. It also introduces a new Self-Assessment Framework, developed with feedback from pilot sites to help organisations monitor compliance and develop targeted improvement plans.
NHSE Implementation guidance, the self-assessment framework template, staff resources including communication tip sheets, and alternative accessible versions (Easy Read, BSL, Audio, Braille) are available from NHS England.
As part of CQC regulation, we consider how well services meet the AIS under the responsive key question.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has been investigating an outbreak of Burkholderia stabilis (B. stabilis), a bacteria found naturally in the environment. The risk of acquiring this from the general environment is low.
UKHSA testing has identified contamination in a number of different alcohol-free, non-sterile skin cleansing wipe products available to consumers.
Some people are more at risk of serious illness following exposure to Burkholderia—including those with intravenous lines, compromised immune systems, and cystic fibrosis.
A patient safety alert has been issued to clinicians to follow safe practice. Those with intravenous lines or caring for someone who does should follow instructions from clinical teams and avoid non-sterile wipes on broken skin or intravenous lines.
The University of Salford is doing a study about Learning Disability Nurses and their registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
There are fewer Registered Nurse Learning Disabilities (RNLDs) on the NMC register now because many have stopped renewing their registration.
Deborah Sturdy, Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care in England, wants to understand why this is happening.
The study has two parts:
Please take part to help understand these challenges.
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Updates for healthcare providers
If you are a Medical Director/Chief Medical Officer, please circulate the below to Consultant Psychiatrists.
The Care Quality Commission is recruiting nationally for SOADs. If you're a consultant psychiatrist with at least three years experience in a substantive post, you are now eligible to apply for the role under our updated criteria.
This is a unique opportunity to safeguard patient rights, broaden your experience, and visit other hospitals across the country.
If you have any queries at all about the role, please contact temprecruitment@cqc.org.uk.
Updates for adult social care providers
Think Local Act Personal (TLAP) has published a new report calling for greater focus on the wellbeing of people living with dementia—through connection, community, and personalised care.
Based on conversations with people with lived experience, carers, academics, and care professionals, the report offers a hopeful vision for the future and outlines nine practical actions for change.
If you work in dementia support or community inclusion, TLAP welcomes your help in sharing this important work. You can support by:
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Sharing the report with colleagues or networks
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Highlighting it at relevant meetings or forums
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Engaging with TLAP’s LinkedIn post and Bluesky post
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Passing it to your communications team for wider sharing
Let’s amplify the message that personalisation and community matter in dementia care.
 Good quality and timely data from adult social care (ASC) providers is essential to improve services for users and to support national and local systems and decisions.
Since 31st July 2022, the submission of ASC data became a mandatory requirement under Section 277A of the Health & Social Care Act 2012.
All ASC CQC regulated providers are required as a minimum to update their data via Capacity Tracker within a designated 7-day reporting window each month. The window runs from 8 -14th each month, or the next working day if 14th falls on a weekend or public holiday.
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Newly registered adult social care providers have 100 days to register, and start data submissions in Capacity Tracker, assisted by our Support Centre Team.
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Established adult social care providers are regularly contacted with reminders to update within the reporting period, to mitigate the risk of financial penalties. Providers are encouraged to check their data and update every 48/72hrs to ensure near real time data is available.
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Manage or own multiple locations? A data submission is needed for each location each month.
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Recently come out of dormancy? A return is required, even without service users.
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Going through de-registration process with CQC? Until your location status has been updated, you are required to submit a NIL return.
The Capacity Tracker Support Centre Team are here to help Monday to Friday, 8am – 5pm by telephoning 0191 6913729 or emailing necsu.capacitytracker@nhs.net
Skills for Care’s annual ‘The size and structure of the adult social care sector and workforce in England’ report was published on Tuesday 29 July 2025. It offers a comprehensive view of workforce trends, helping shape national policy and local planning. This important publication is powered by data from over 21,000 providers and 728,000 staff records submitted through the Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS) service.
The ASC-WDS is more than just a data collection service. It’s a useful resource for care providers and the wider sector. Maintaining an ASC-WDS account enables providers to access funding opportunities, track staff training and qualifications, and utilise benchmarking tools. Providers can also share their data with the CQC prior to an inspection, allowing them to access key information to inform their monitoring of a service.
The ‘Get help and tips’ section on the ASC-WDS service offers clear guidance on things like account setup, what is shared with the CQC and what the requirements are for the local authority return.
By contributing your own data, you’re not only improving your service. You’re strengthening the insights produced using data from the ASC-WDS.
Are you a Registered Nurse or frontline team member working in Adult Social Care and passionate about shaping the future of the sector? If so, joining your Regional Social Care Nursing Advisory Council (SCNAC) could be one of the most rewarding and influential steps in your career.
As someone who understands the unique challenges and strengths of nursing in social care, your voice is needed—now more than ever—to help guide strategy, inform policy, and champion the incredible work happening across our sector every day.
We strongly encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences, particularly those from groups historically underrepresented in leadership roles within social care.
We are committed to ensuring our council reflects the rich diversity of the communities we serve. Your unique perspective matters, and your voice is essential to shaping an inclusive and equitable future for social care.
Find out more here or email Sonia at admin.scnac@theoutstandingsociety.co.uk.
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