What CQC reports
CQC published its annual State of Care report on 23 October. The adult social care section points to weaknesses in leadership, oversight, staff competence and recruitment in services where inspectors found concerns.
It also describes consolidation among care homes and a more varied community care market. The report links these changes with challenges for commissioning and the sustainability of care provision.
Reading the findings in context
The findings provide a useful prompt for reviewing how a service checks care quality and follows up risks. CQC's assessments were risk-led; results from assessed services should not automatically be treated as representative of every provider.
A national report is not an assessment of your service. No rating, inspection outcome or new provider deadline can be inferred from this summary.
Points to consider
CQCaudit interpretation for a provider’s own review.
- Review whether governance checks connect identified risks with completed improvement actions.
- Consider how supervision and competency checks demonstrate staff readiness for their roles.
- Use the report as context alongside evidence from your own service.
Read the original sources
- Care Quality CommissionThe state of health care and adult social care in England 2025/26: Adult social care Published · Checked
- Care Quality Commission, published on GOV.UKState of health and adult social care in England: 2025 to 2026 Published · Checked
Prepared with automated research and summarisation. Source checking does not represent clinical, legal or qualified professional sign-off. Our news standards.
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