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CQC's assurance framework

The Health and Care Act 2022 puts the Care Quality Commission's (CQC) assurance of local authorities on a statutory footing. The new duty on the CQC to assess local authorities’ delivery of their adult social care (ASC) duties under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014 came into effect on 1 April 2023. Linked to this new duty is a power for the Secretary of State to intervene where, following assessment under the new duty, it is considered that a local authority is failing to meet their duties.


In August 2023, the Department for Health and Social Care published its framework for adult social care (ASC) intervention in local authorities. Following a pilot stage in 2023, CQC have rolled out the programme of assessment. This baselining stage, whereby all councils will have been assessed will conclude by December 2025. Information on councils who have been given notification of assessment and all finalised reports of individual council assessment can be found on the CQC website.

Local authority assessment reports: Care Quality Commission

Please contact your regional Care and Health Improvement Advisor (CHIA) for further information and support. As soon as a council receives notification from CQC of their assessment, the CHIA will be in touch to offer the council in-person staff preparation workshops.

Documents and tools to support councils with preparation

We’ve produced a suite of documents and tools to help councils with the preparation of the Care Quality Commission's (CQC) new framework.

PSW Assurance Community of Practice events

Presenting the story during inspection

5 March 1.00pm-2.00pm

Hearing from those PSW's who have experienced it, what they learnt and providing top tips on what not to do. 

To join the PSW Community of Practice and access these events please email [email protected].