Heads up: the Single Assessment Framework is currently under review by CQC and an updated version is expected to be published in late 2026. This page reflects the framework as it stands today.
In 2023 the CQC retired its old Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOEs) and replaced them with 34 quality statements grouped under the same five key questions. CQC stopped scoring at evidence category and only scored at quality statement level in May 2025 to streamline processes.. This page is a plain-English guide to how the framework actually works and what every quality statement means.
Under the old framework, CQC inspectors used Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOEs) to guide their assessments. Each key question had a long list of KLOE prompts and sub-prompts, and inspectors translated their findings into ratings.
The single assessment framework introduced in 2023 replaced KLOEs with quality statements. Each quality statement is written as a commitment, a “we statement” that a well-run service can stand behind, for example “we work with people to understand and manage risks”. Inspectors collect evidence against each statement, score it, and the scores roll up into ratings for each key question and an overall rating for the service.
Source: CQC assessment framework.
Every CQC inspection still revolves around the same five key questions. Each one is now broken into a set of quality statements, totalling 34 across the framework.
People are protected from abuse and avoidable harm.
Care, treatment and support achieve good outcomes and promote a good quality of life.
Staff treat people with kindness, dignity, compassion and respect.
Services meet the needs of the people who use them.
Leadership, governance and culture drive the delivery of high-quality, person-centred care.
Expand each key question to see the full list of quality statements CQC will assess your service against.
People are protected from abuse and avoidable harm.
Care, treatment and support achieve good outcomes and promote a good quality of life.
Staff treat people with kindness, dignity, compassion and respect.
Services meet the needs of the people who use them.
Leadership, governance and culture drive the delivery of high-quality, person-centred care.
Source: CQC: Appendix 1 – the 34 quality statements. CQC apply service-specific evidence indicators when assessing each quality statement.
Mapping your evidence to 34 quality statements by hand is slow, error-prone, and easy to bias toward the things you already know are strong. The OroMiQ Engine was built specifically to do this work systematically. It powers every Orobo Healthcare compliance audit, mock inspection, and ongoing support engagement.
Analyses all 34 CQC quality statements
Identifies your highest-impact improvement opportunities
Tracks compliance trends over time
Maps your evidence to the right quality statement, every time
Our predictions are professional estimates based on assessment responses, our methodology, and publicly available CQC data. They are not official CQC inspections or guarantees of inspection outcomes, and actual results may vary. Orobo Healthcare is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or representing the Care Quality Commission. See our Terms of Service for full details.
Use the form on this page to get the complete plain-English breakdown of every quality statement, what good evidence looks like, and how to score yourself before CQC do.
Already use the framework day-to-day? Talk to a consultant about a full OroMiQ-powered compliance audit instead.
KLOEs (Key Lines of Enquiry) were the prompts CQC inspectors used under the previous assessment framework. In 2023 CQC introduced a single assessment framework that replaced KLOEs with 34 quality statements. Quality statements are written as commitments (or "we statements") that providers, commissioners, and system leaders should live up to. The five key questions (Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, Well-led) remained.
There are 34 quality statements grouped under the five CQC key questions: 8 in Safe, 6 in Effective, 5 in Caring, 7 in Responsive, and 8 in Well-led. CQC stopped scoring at evidence category and only scored at quality statement level in May 2025 to streamline processes.
Yes. CQC inspectors gather evidence against each relevant quality statement and score it. Scores roll up into ratings for each key question, which combine into your overall service rating (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, or Inadequate). Strong evidence on a small number of quality statements is rarely enough; CQC look for consistent quality across the framework.
Most do, but the way each is assessed varies by service type and regulated activity. For example, "Medicines optimisation" applies differently to a domiciliary care agency than a residential care home.
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Our predictions are professional estimates based on assessment responses, our methodology, and publicly available CQC data. They are not official CQC inspections or guarantees of inspection outcomes, and actual results may vary. Orobo Healthcare is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or representing the Care Quality Commission. See our Terms of Service for full details.
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