Care Quality in Practice: What Recent CQC Inspections Can Teach Us

CQC Outstanding

Recent inspection findings published by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) provide a reminder of the importance of safe, effective and person-centred care.

In October 2026, CQC reported on three care homes with very different outcomes. Two services were rated Inadequate and placed in special measures, while a third achieved an Outstanding rating.

Although each service has its own circumstances, the findings highlight some important lessons for everyone working in adult social care.

Safeguarding: Recognising Concerns and Taking Action

At Pilgrims Way Care Home with Nursing in Maidstone, CQC identified significant safeguarding concerns. These included incidents, such as an assault between residents, which had not been reported to the local authority safeguarding team.

Inspectors also found that staff did not always feel confident speaking up, with reports of tensions and bullying within the team.

These findings reinforce the importance of a positive safeguarding culture where staff recognise concerns, know how to report them and feel supported to challenge poor practice.

Safeguarding is not simply about having policies and procedures. It requires staff and managers to take appropriate action when concerns arise.

Medicines Management and Responding to Health Needs

Medicines management was an area of concern at both Pilgrims Way and Yarborough House RCH in Grimsby.

At Pilgrims Way, inspectors found that one resident had missed their prescribed medication for two consecutive nights because supplies had run out.

There were also concerns about staff failing to recognise or respond appropriately to changes in people's health, including high blood sugar readings and prolonged constipation.

At Yarborough House, CQC identified failures to recognise unintentional weight loss and risks of malnutrition. People requiring modified diets were not always supported appropriately, increasing the risk of choking.

These examples highlight the importance of staff having the knowledge and confidence to recognise changes in a person's condition, maintain accurate records and seek appropriate advice or support.

Care Planning: More Than a Paper Exercise

At Yarborough House, inspectors found that people at risk of pressure damage were not always supported with repositioning in accordance with their care plans.

This raises an important question: Are care plans genuinely guiding everyday care, or are they simply documents that staff are expected to complete?

An effective care plan should reflect the individual's needs, preferences and risks, and provide clear guidance for staff. Crucially, that guidance must then be followed, reviewed and updated when circumstances change.

What Does Outstanding Care Look Like?

The findings at Cornelius House in Chichester provide a positive contrast.

CQC upgraded the service from Good to Outstanding, praising its compassionate approach, strong leadership and commitment to individualised care.

Inspectors highlighted several examples of good practice:

·        Staff used soft toys to help communicate with a resident who found personal care difficult, reducing their anxiety and improving their experience of care.

·        Care plans for people with visual impairments included precise guidance about the positioning of food on plates, helping them eat independently.

·        The home introduced a silent call bell system after a resident explained that the sound of traditional call bells caused distress.

·        Staff encouraged a resident to maintain their mobility while respecting their choice to use a wheelchair when they wished.

What makes these examples particularly valuable is that they demonstrate how person-centred care can work in practice.

Staff listened to individuals, recognised what mattered to them and adapted their approaches accordingly.

Leadership and a Culture of Continuous Improvement

One of the strongest themes across these inspections is the importance of effective leadership.

At both inadequate services, CQC identified concerns about management oversight and failures to address known problems. At Pilgrims Way, audits and surveys had identified issues, but sufficient action had not followed.

In contrast, Cornelius House demonstrated a culture where feedback was valued, staff were supported and improvements were made in response to people's experiences.

Good leadership involves more than monitoring compliance. It means creating an environment where staff feel valued, concerns are acted upon and everyone is encouraged to learn and improve.

What Can We Learn?

These inspections illustrate that quality care depends on much more than policies, procedures and inspection ratings.

It requires staff who are appropriately trained and supported, managers who respond to concerns, and a genuine commitment to treating people with dignity, respect and compassion.

Perhaps the most important lesson comes from Cornelius House: outstanding care is often demonstrated through the small, thoughtful adjustments that make a significant difference to someone's everyday life.

Sources

Care Quality Commission, October 2026:

·        CQC takes action to protect people at Maidstone nursing home – 16 October 2026

·        CQC downgrades rating of Grimsby care home and places it in special measures – 21 October 2026

·        CQC rates Chichester care home outstanding – 21 October 2026