Changes to CQC's assessment of adult social care services

On 19 May 2010, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) announced that, after the end of June 2010, they would no longer award quality ratings in inspections of registered adult social care providers.

The move to end the ratings system was met with concern by some providers and organisations (including the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services), particularly because the system was ending before a replacement process was in place.

The criticism of this decision led to an ill-fated attempt by the CQC to create a new 'excellence' award scheme, to be administered locally under licence from the CQC. The excellence scheme was abandoned after sector hostility to the voluntary nature of the scheme and the additional fees that would have been applied.