Understanding the CQC Single Assessment Framework: What Providers Need to Know

Overview

The Care Quality Commission’s Single Assessment Framework represents a significant development in how health and social care services are assessed, monitored, and regulated. For providers, managers, and leaders, understanding the framework is essential not only for demonstrating compliance but also for embedding quality, improving outcomes, and creating services that consistently meet the needs of the people they support.

📅 Date & Time: 18th August, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Live Online via Teams
📢 Early Bird Price: £54 (VAT included) – Register 2+ weeks before
🎟️ Standard Price: £74 (VAT included) – Group Discount available for groups of 5+

This practical and informative seminar provides a comprehensive introduction to the CQC Single Assessment Framework and its implications for adult social care providers. Participants will explore the structure of the framework, understand how evidence is gathered and assessed, and develop confidence in demonstrating good practice against the Quality Statements and evidence categories. The course focuses on translating regulatory expectations into practical actions that support service improvement, effective governance, and positive outcomes for people using services.

Course Content

This course explores the purpose, structure, and principles of the CQC Single Assessment Framework and examines how it has changed the way services are assessed. Participants will develop a clear understanding of the framework’s Quality Statements, evidence categories, and assessment processes, gaining insight into how the CQC evaluates whether services are safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led.

The seminar examines the different sources of evidence used by the CQC and how providers can demonstrate compliance through day-to-day practice, governance systems, quality assurance activities, workforce development, safeguarding arrangements, and feedback from people using services. Participants will explore how evidence is gathered from multiple sources and how individual pieces of evidence contribute to overall assessment outcomes.

The course also considers the practical implications of the framework for leaders, managers, and providers. Participants will explore how the framework should influence service monitoring, quality assurance processes, audits, policies, workforce development, supervision, and continuous improvement activities. The session examines common challenges experienced by providers and explores practical strategies for strengthening evidence, improving organisational readiness, and responding effectively to regulatory scrutiny.

Throughout the seminar, participants will engage with practical examples, assessment scenarios, and reflective discussions that support a deeper understanding of how the framework operates in practice. The course encourages participants to move beyond inspection preparation and instead use the framework as a tool for embedding quality, strengthening governance, and driving sustainable improvement across their service.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the purpose, structure, and principles of the CQC Single Assessment Framework.
• Explain the role of Quality Statements and evidence categories within the assessment process.
• Identify the different sources of evidence used by the CQC when assessing services.
• Evaluate their own service’s readiness against the requirements of the framework.
• Strengthen governance, quality assurance, and evidence collection processes.
• Understand how feedback, outcomes, leadership, and organisational culture contribute to assessment outcomes.
• Develop practical strategies for evidencing good practice and continuous improvement.
• Increase confidence in preparing for and responding to CQC assessments.

Intended Audience

This course is designed for professionals working within CQC-regulated services who have responsibilities for quality, compliance, governance, leadership, or service improvement. It will be particularly relevant for Registered Managers, Nominated Individuals, Directors, Service Managers, Deputy Managers, Quality Assurance Leads, Compliance Officers, Clinical Leads, Operations Managers, Senior Practitioners, and other professionals responsible for preparing services for assessment or supporting organisational quality improvement. The course is suitable for both experienced leaders seeking to strengthen their understanding of the framework and those newer to regulatory responsibilities.

Course Facilitator

Tembi Hlalakuhle is a Registered General Nurse and founder and director of Compassionate4U Limited, a quality and compliance consultancy specialising in adult social care. With more than 25 years of experience across regulated care services, Tembi has extensive expertise in governance, quality assurance, compliance, safeguarding, workforce development, and service improvement.

Throughout her career, Tembi has supported providers across a range of adult social care settings to strengthen regulatory compliance, prepare for inspection, improve quality systems, and achieve positive outcomes for people using services. Her work includes supporting organisations with CQC readiness, quality monitoring, governance frameworks, policy development, workforce development, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Tembi is passionate about helping providers move beyond compliance and develop services that consistently deliver safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led care. Her training combines practical experience, regulatory knowledge, and real-world examples, enabling participants to develop confidence in understanding regulatory expectations and applying them within their own services.

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