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The Care Quality Commission has introduced 34 quality statements that form the backbone of how care services are inspected and assessed. Whether you operate a care home, domiciliary care service, supported living scheme, or any other regulated activity, understanding these quality statements is essential for CQC registration and compliance.
This guide explains what each of the 34 statements means, how they are grouped, and what evidence inspectors look for.
More about Quality Statements
Five key questions — 27 quality statements for social care providers
7
Safe
Learning culture, safe systems, safeguarding, risk management, environments, staffing, and infection control
6
Effective
Needs assessment, evidence-based care, team integration, supporting healthier lives, monitoring outcomes, and consent
4
Caring
Dignity, treating individuals, independence, and responding to immediate needs
4
Responsive
Person-centred planning, care continuity, information provision, and involvement
6
Well-led
Direction, leadership quality, freedom to speak up, diversity, governance, and partnerships
CQC quality statements are specific, measurable standards that define what high-quality, safe, and effective care looks like. They form part of the Single Assessment Framework (SAF), which replaced the previous Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOEs) model. The quality statements operationalise regulatory requirements set out in the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
Each quality statement includes 'I statements' written from the perspective of people using services and 'We statements' that describe what staff and the organisation should do. This person-centred language reflects CQC's commitment to making sure the person using services is at the heart of assessment and improvement.
There are 34 quality statements in total, grouped under five key questions that form the foundation of CQC inspection: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, and Well-led. These five questions align with the regulatory framework and the CQC's core inspection model.
In total, this accounts for 27 quality statements. For NHS trusts, there are an additional 7 statements covering NHS-specific requirements. However, if you are providing social care (care homes, domiciliary care, supported living), the 27 statements are the relevant ones.
Select a key question to explore its statements
Safe: 7 Statements
Learning culture, safe systems, safeguarding, risk management, environments, staffing, and infection control
Learning culture
Staff reflect on incidents and complaints to prevent future harm. Your service learns from safeguarding, incidents, and complaints, and this learning is embedded in practice.
Safe systems, pathways and transitions
There are safe systems in place for admissions, transfers between services, and discharges. Handovers between staff are reliable and protect against errors.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are robust and proportionate. Staff know how to recognise abuse, know the reporting procedures, and understand their duty to report concerns.
Involving people to manage risks
People who use services are involved in identifying and managing risks to themselves. Risk management is person-centred and does not use unnecessary restrictions.
Safe environments
The physical environment is safe, clean, and well-maintained. Equipment is properly managed and serviced. There are systems to control infection and prevent transmission of disease.
Safe and effective staffing
Staffing levels and skills are sufficient to provide safe, effective care. Recruitment checks are thorough, and staff have appropriate supervision, appraisal, and training.
Infection prevention and control
There are systems and processes in place to prevent healthcare-associated infections. Staff follow recognised infection control procedures, and there is access to appropriate personal protective equipment.
Each quality statement is written in two forms: 'I statements' from the perspective of people using services and 'We statements' from the perspective of staff and the organisation. This reflects CQC's person-centred approach and ensures that care is designed with the person at the centre.
I STATEMENT (PERSON’S PERSPECTIVE)
"I am treated with kindness and compassion"
Written from the perspective of the person using the service. Inspectors ask: are people actually experiencing this?
WE STATEMENT (ORGANIZATION’S PERSPECTIVE)
"We treat people with kindness and compassion"
Describes what staff and the organisation should do. Inspectors ask: is the organisation systematically ensuring this happens?
CQC inspectors look for evidence across five categories to assess whether services meet the quality statements. Services need to demonstrate evidence in all five categories to achieve high ratings.
People's Experience
Inspectors speak directly with people who use services, their families, and advocates. They ask about their experience, whether they feel safe, whether their care is effective, and whether staff treat them with respect. This is one of the most important sources of evidence.
Feedback
The service should have systems for gathering feedback from people, families, and staff. This includes surveys, comments, complaints, and compliments. CQC reviews whether feedback is analysed and used to make improvements.
Processes
Inspectors examine the processes and systems the service has in place, including policies, procedures, training records, supervision documentation, and governance arrangements. These documents should demonstrate how quality is managed and ensured.
Outcomes
The service should track outcomes for people it supports. This includes data on incidents, safeguarding concerns, hospital admissions, achievement of personal goals, and any other indicators relevant to the service's particular context.
Observation
Inspectors observe the service in action. They watch staff interacting with people, observe the cleanliness and safety of the environment, and see how the service operates day-to-day. This observation provides crucial evidence of whether what the service says it does actually matches what it does.
The 34 quality statements directly relate to the fundamental standards set out in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. The fundamental standards are the baseline requirements that all services must meet. The quality statements go beyond this baseline to describe what excellence looks like. Meeting the quality statements is the way to demonstrate compliance with the fundamental standards and to achieve higher CQC ratings.
Understanding the 34 quality statements is only the first step. Here is how to translate that understanding into practical preparation.
Use the 34 quality statements to audit your current practice. For each statement, rate your service on a scale: not yet in place, partially in place, mostly in place, or fully embedded. Identify which statements are your areas of strength and which need development.
Use your self-assessment findings to identify priorities, assign ownership, and set clear deadlines for improvement.
Organise policies, records, feedback, outcomes, and observations so your evidence clearly demonstrates how your service meets each statement.
Train your staff, monitor progress, and review your evidence regularly so quality improvement becomes part of everyday practice.
Care Sync Experts specialises in supporting care services to achieve compliance with CQC quality standards and to achieve outstanding ratings.
CQC registration
Support through the full registration process, from initial application through to first inspection
Policy packs
Comprehensive policy templates aligned to the quality statements and regulatory requirements
Mock inspections
Full or focused mock inspections to test your readiness
Staff training
Bespoke training on quality standards, person-centred care, and CQC expectations
Self-assessment support
Guidance on conducting a thorough self-assessment and developing an action plan
Support for Quality Statements
If you need support in preparing your service against the 34 quality statements, contact Care Sync Experts today. Our team can help you translate the quality statements into practical action.
Book a free consultation with Care Sync Experts. We will review your service against the 34 quality statements and give you a clear action plan.
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