CQC Single Assessment Framework Explained
The Single Assessment Framework (SAF) replaced CQC's previous Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOEs) and Ratings Characteristics as the foundation for all CQC assessments. Under SAF, CQC uses six evidence categories to gather information about providers, and assessments can happen at any time — not just during scheduled inspections. Understanding how SAF works is essential for every registered provider, nominated individual, and registered manager who wants to maintain or improve their CQC rating.
The Five Key Questions Under SAF
SAF retains the same five key questions that have underpinned CQC assessments since 2014 — Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, and Well-led. However, each key question is now broken down into specific quality statements that describe what good care looks like. There are 34 quality statements in total, grouped under the five key questions. Each quality statement has clear "We" statements describing the expected experience of people using the service.
Critical Audit Checkpoints
- Safe: 9 quality statements covering safeguarding, medicines, infection control, staffing, and premises safety
- Effective: 7 quality statements covering care planning, nutrition, consent, staff competence, and partnership working
- Caring: 4 quality statements covering dignity, privacy, independence, and emotional support
- Responsive: 6 quality statements covering person-centred care, access, communication, and complaints
- Well-led: 8 quality statements covering governance, leadership, culture, learning, and continuous improvement
- Each quality statement has specific "I" statements reflecting what people using the service should be able to say about their care
Six Evidence Categories
CQC gathers evidence through six distinct categories. Providers should understand each category because CQC can use any or all of them at any time — not just during an on-site inspection visit. This means your evidence must be current and accessible at all times, not assembled in a rush before a scheduled visit.
Critical Audit Checkpoints
- People's experience: direct feedback from people using the service and their families
- Feedback from staff and leaders: what your team says about working conditions, culture, and support
- Feedback from partners: commissioners, local authorities, health professionals, and advocacy services
- Observation: what inspectors see during site visits — care delivery, environment, interactions
- Processes: your policies, procedures, audits, governance records, and quality monitoring systems
- Outcomes: measurable results of your care — incident trends, complaints patterns, health outcomes, and improvement evidence
Scoring and Ratings Under SAF
Under SAF, CQC assigns a score of 1 to 4 against each quality statement based on the evidence gathered. These scores aggregate to produce the key question ratings and overall rating. The scoring system means that even small improvements in specific areas can shift your overall rating — making targeted quality improvement more impactful than ever.
Critical Audit Checkpoints
- Score 4 = Evidence of an Outstanding level of care for this quality statement
- Score 3 = Evidence of Good care meeting all expected standards
- Score 2 = Evidence of Requires Improvement with identified gaps or concerns
- Score 1 = Evidence of Inadequate care with significant failures or risks
- Scores aggregate mathematically across quality statements to produce key question and overall ratings
- CQC can update individual quality statement scores without a full inspection — your rating can change at any time
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Single Assessment Framework replace KLOEs?
CQC began rolling out SAF from late 2023, with full implementation across all provider types during 2024-2025. By 2026, all assessments use the SAF methodology. KLOEs and Ratings Characteristics are no longer used.
Can my CQC rating change without an inspection visit?
Yes. Under SAF, CQC can update your rating based on evidence gathered through any of the six evidence categories — including notifications you submit, feedback from people and partners, and data analysis. This makes continuous compliance monitoring essential.
How many quality statements are there in SAF?
There are 34 quality statements across the five key questions: 9 under Safe, 7 under Effective, 4 under Caring, 6 under Responsive, and 8 under Well-led. Each has specific criteria describing expected standards.
Further Reading
Related Resources
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