CQC provider ratings and their impact on care quality

In response to the Francis Inquiry report and other concerns, the Care Quality Commission introduced ‘Ofsted-style’ performance ratings for health and social care services. By law, care providers have to display the ratings given to them, but how are these ratings leading to care quality improvements?

What did we do?

The King’s Fund and Manchester Business School undertook research, funded by the Department of Health, to examine how health and social care providers, the public and other key stakeholders have responded to the introduction of performance ratings by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). We also explored what impacts ratings have on the processes of improvement and on the quality of care.

We analysed the large amounts of data which CQC collects about inspections and ratings for hospitals, general practices, mental health services and residential adult social care, alongside our own primary research.

The final report was published in September 2018.

The project built on a previous report by The King’s Fund and Manchester Business School: Evaluating the Care Quality Commission’s acute hospital regulatory model.

Why did we do this work?

Understanding how ratings work, as part of the wider inspection process, is essential if we are to maximise the potential impact of provider ratings on care quality improvements and patient choice, and minimise costs and any adverse or unintended consequences.

Main contact

For more information please contact Ruth Robertson, Senior Fellow: [email protected]