The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has announced a new phase of its Returning to Good and Outstanding programme, introducing enhanced assessments for some GP practices as part of its drive to increase regulatory activity and reduce the number of historic ratings across primary care.
The move comes as the regulator celebrates reaching its target of 9,000 inspections and assessments, demonstrating its commitment to increasing contact with providers and ensuring ratings more accurately reflect the care patients currently receive.
For many GP practices, particularly those rated Good or Outstanding several years ago, this signals a clear shift towards more frequent regulatory engagement. The CQC has been explicit that increasing the volume, quality and consistency of assessments is a key priority, and the Returning to Good and Outstanding programme has played an important role in achieving this ambition.
Who is eligible for a Returning to Good assessment?
The programme is focused on NHS GP practices that:
- Hold a current rating of Good or Outstanding
- Last had an inspection report published between 2017 and 2022
- Are considered lower risk
- Have no ongoing regulatory activity
- Are not dormant services (those that are not delivering regulated activities)
- These assessments are designed to provide assurance that the service continue to perform well, while allowing the CQC to carry out comprehensive inspections to newly registered practices, those outside of the criteria, or those with emerging risk.
What does the assessment involve?
Returning to Good assessments are shorter and more focused than a full inspection. Practices will receive a site visit, but just 5 working days’ notice of an inspection, compared to the 10 for a comprehensive inspection.
Unlike enhanced assessments, these will not routinely involve a GP Specialist Advisor unless concerns arise or the assessment needs to be escalated into a comprehensive inspection.
The standard assessment focuses on 10 non-clinical quality statements drawn from the CQC’s five key questions:
Safe (3)
- Safe environments
- Safe and effective staffing
- Infection prevention and control
Effective (2)
- Supporting people to live healthier lives
- Monitoring and improving outcomes
Caring (1)
- Kindness, compassion and dignity
Responsive (2)
- Equity in access
- Equity in experience and outcomes
Well-led (2)
- Shared direction and culture
- Governance, management and sustainability
What are enhanced assessments?
These inspections include input from a GP Specialist Advisor or CQC pharmacist to carry out clinical searches. They include the 10 quality statements above, alongside two additional clinical quality statements:
Effective
- Assessing needs Safe
- Medicines optimisation
Whilst the criteria for an enhanced assessment is not yet clear, the CQC have said the decision will depend on the information they currently hold, as well as any additional information received during the planning stage.
How QCS Can Help You Stay Inspection-Ready
Whether the CQC assesses all 34 quality statements under a full inspection or 10-12 through the Return to Good inspections, QCS gives teams the clarity and structure you need.
QCS provides:
- QCS Mock inspections aligned to the Return to Good framework that help test readiness and demonstrate effective governance
- A complete suite of QCS Policies and Procedures aligned with the Single Assessment Framework
- Key audits requested by the regulator
- QCS Feedback Surveys for staff, people who use services and partners, all aligned with the Single Assessment framework
- Lyra, our AI technology that gives staff instant, practical guidance based on your own policies