The CIA Group

17/06/2026

One of the questions we often ask Registered Managers is..."What keeps you awake at night?"

The answers are rarely about just one thing. Recruitment, covering shifts, medication, backlogs of documentation that need updating, and preparing for a local authority or CQC assessment are usually among the top 10 things.

But there is also emotion and worry, such as worrying about a person who wasn't their usual self today. Wondering if they have made the right decision. Thinking about a member of staff who's struggling. Worrying about the individuals they support and their circumstances or health.

When we partner with care providers, we work together to take an honest look at the service. We identify what's working well, where the regulatory gaps are, and where improvements are needed. We bring everything into the open so there are no surprises if the regulator walks through the door.

Once those areas have been identified, they're no longer the unknown. They become actions with clear priorities, realistic timescales, and practical solutions to bring the service back into compliance and strengthen the quality of care.

Managers leave the audit feeling more confident because they understand their service better. They know where the risks are, they know what needs to happen next, and they feel back in control of their governance.

We'll never take away the worries that come from genuinely caring about the people you support or the team you lead. In many ways, those worries are what make great Registered Managers. What we can do is help remove the uncertainty around governance.

If you would like to have a conversation about how our care quality partnerships could benefit you and your service, please don't hesitate to contact us. 01723 256120 or email [email protected].

17/06/2026

A helpful update for adult social care providers as part of the ongoing development of data and insight across the sector.

A new free digital platform, Get Adult Social Care Data (GASCD), is being rolled out by the Department of Health and Social Care for CQC-registered providers. It has been designed to bring together a range of local and national intelligence to support better planning, benchmarking, and understanding of demand.

In practice, GASCD will give providers access to insights such as:
Local care provision breakdowns, including community-based service types
Comparisons of care home occupancy against local and regional averages
Information on what services local authorities are commissioning and where demand is increasing.Area-based data on disability prevalence and population need

For providers, this type of intelligence can be particularly valuable when reviewing service models, understanding commissioning priorities, and strengthening governance and planning decisions with a clearer evidence base.

Nominated individuals and registered managers will receive an email invitation during June from the DHSC notification system (sent to the email registered with the Care Quality Commission). Over time, access will be extended so that additional team members within provider organisations can also be added.

For queries, the DHSC team can be contacted at: [email protected]

Watch the demonstration here:

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

16/06/2026

"We're rated Good, so why would we need to audit?"

A Good rating is something to be proud of, but it's important to remember that the rating reflects what the CQC found at the time of their assessment, for some services, that could have been several years ago.

The individuals being supported and their needs change.
Staff teams change.
Management Teams change.
Processes evolve.
Risks emerge.
Regulatory expectations develop.

The CQC has recently confirmed that it is increasing assessment activity and tackling aged ratings across adult social care. As more services come under review, providers need to be able to demonstrate the quality of care being delivered today, not the quality that was being delivered when they were last assessed.

This is where Regulation 17 (Good Governance) comes in.

Good governance isn't about assuming everything is fine because there haven't been any issues raised. It's about having systems in place to continually assess, monitor and improve the quality and safety of the service.

One of the biggest misconceptions we come across is that having no safeguarding concerns, incidents, accidents, near misses or complaints recorded must mean everything is working well.

Sometimes that's true, but in reality, it raises a different question.

Do people feel able to speak up?
Do staff understand what should be reported?
Is there a culture of openness and learning?
Are opportunities for improvement being identified and acted upon?

A service with strong governance doesn't necessarily have fewer incidents.

What it does have is confidence that concerns are recognised, reported appropriately, investigated, and used as a learning opportunity to improve outcomes for people using the service.

Independent audits can provide that reassurance. They can help identify regulatory gaps, test governance systems, and provide an objective view of whether the service is meeting the expectations of the current framework.

We work in partnership with providers to test governance systems, identify regulatory gaps, and strengthen assurance between inspections. If that would be helpful, we’re happy to have a conversation.

Contact us for more info 01723 256120 or email [email protected].

15/06/2026

09/06/2026

Not every service supporting people with complex needs is required to be registered with CQC.

Many day centres operate outside of the CQC regulatory framework because they do not provide regulated activities, however, they still provide vital support to individuals with learning disabilities, autism, mental health needs, physical disabilities, and other complex needs.;

Whilst CQC registration may not be required, the responsibility to deliver safe, effective, person-centred support remains just as important.

In many cases, local authority contracts and commissioning arrangements still require providers to demonstrate robust governance and quality assurance processes, including:

✅ Safer recruitment practices
✅ Comprehensive risk assessments
✅ Person-centred support plans
✅ Safeguarding systems and oversight
✅ Staff training and competency
✅ Effective incident reporting and review
✅ Quality assurance and continuous improvement processes

Over recent months, we have seen an increase in day centres commissioning independent care quality audits. The reasons are clear:

✅ To strengthen internal governance and oversight
✅ To provide assurance to trustees, directors, and leadership teams
✅ To demonstrate quality and compliance to local authority commissioners
✅ To identify areas for improvement before they become more significant concerns
✅ To benchmark their service against recognised quality standards
✅ And most importantly, to ensure the support provided is making a positive difference to people's lives, experiences, wellbeing, and outcomes

Our audits are undertaken against the principles and expectations of CQC regulations, providing a recognised benchmark for quality, safety, governance, and outcomes for people using the service.

We recently received feedback from a service following an audit (shared here in an anonymised form). They highlighted that, despite not being a regulated service, the audit approach aligned well with their request and was clearly understood by the CIA Consultant.

They valued not only the understanding of their current position against recognised quality standards, but also the practical, actionable recommendations provided to support ongoing development. They also shared that they intend to re-engage with our service in the future to continue their quality journey.

Feedback like this reinforces the value of independent oversight not as a compliance exercise, but as a meaningful tool for continuous improvement.

If you are responsible for a day centre service and would like to discuss an independent governance review or care quality audit, please get in touch.

📧 [email protected]
📞 01723 256120
🌐 www.theciagroup.co.uk

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08/06/2026

A recent Supreme Court ruling has changed how the law views consent and deprivation of liberty for severely disabled people aged 16 and over across the UK.

In simple terms, the Court has decided that some individuals who lack formal mental capacity may still be able to give “valid consent” to their care arrangements if they can understand and express that they are content with them. This marks a shift away from the previous “acid test” from the Cheshire West case, which focused more on whether someone was under continuous supervision, not free to leave, and unable to consent.

Campaigners warn this could reduce the number of people classed as being deprived of their liberty, meaning fewer people would automatically receive the legal safeguards, independent checks, and oversight that come with Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Official figures already show a significant backlog in DoLS applications, with hundreds of thousands awaiting completion in England.

Supporters of the judgment say it brings greater clarity and a more nuanced, person-centred approach that better reflects individual wishes and feelings. However, charities such as Mencap, Mind, and the National Autistic Society have raised serious concerns, warning it could weaken protections and make it harder to identify and challenge restrictive or unsafe care arrangements.
The ruling applies across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, and could lead to changes in how care providers and local authorities assess liberty and consent going forward.

There is now growing pressure for updated guidance to avoid confusion in practice and ensure safeguards remain robust while the legal framework is reconsidered.

Full article here: BBC News https://lnkd.in/eZY-jzXm

04/06/2026

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has announced that it will begin piloting its new assessment approach between June and October 2026, with final evaluation in November before any wider rollout.

These pilot assessments will run alongside existing inspections, not replace them, and participation is voluntary. Providers who choose to take part will receive a pilot report in addition to their standard inspection report, but pilot judgements will carry no regulatory weight and will not affect ratings or compliance status.

The aim of the pilot is to test and refine the way assessments are carried out, particularly whether providers and inspectors can more clearly understand how judgements and ratings are reached, before the approach is implemented at scale.

It’s important to remember that whilst the assessment framework may evolve, the regulations themselves do not change. Compliance with the Health and Social Care regulations remains the foundation of safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led services.

This is why regulatory readiness shouldn’t feel like something reactive to change with fear or concern, it’s about having the right support in place to stay confident, compliant, and prepared for what’s ahead.

It should be embedded into day-to-day practice. Services that are consistently delivering good care in line with the regulations are already building strong compliance positions, regardless of how the assessment approach develops.

At The CIA Group, we support providers to take a clear, honest view of where they are right now through audits, governance reviews, and compliance support, helping identify regulatory gaps and strengthen quality assurance systems before they become issues.

If you would like to learn more about how we can support your care service in understanding how your current governance practices and processes are performing and if you are compliant with the regulations, please email [email protected]

04/06/2026

📢 We're Expanding Our Consultant Network in the North East

The CIA Group is seeking experienced Adult Social Care Quality and Compliance Consultants to join our network of self-employed associate consultants across the North East of England.

As demand for our services continues to grow, we are looking to connect with knowledgeable professionals who are passionate about supporting care providers to improve quality, strengthen governance, achieve compliance, and deliver positive outcomes for people using services.

We would particularly like to hear from professionals with experience in:
✔ CQC inspections and regulatory frameworks
✔ Quality assurance and compliance auditing
✔ Mock inspections and regulatory gap analysis
✔ Service improvement and action planning
✔ Registered Manager coaching and mentoring
✔ Governance, oversight, and quality monitoring systems
✔ Safeguarding and risk management
✔ Care homes, domiciliary care, supported living, extra care, and specialist services
✔ Producing professional reports with practical, outcomes-focused recommendations
✔ Supporting providers through regulatory challenges and improvement journeys

The ideal consultant will:
🔹 Have extensive experience within adult social care
🔹 Possess strong knowledge of CQC regulations, frameworks, and expectations
🔹 Be confident working with providers, directors, senior leaders and Registered Managers
🔹 Have excellent communication, coaching and relationship-building skills
🔹 Demonstrate strong analytical and report-writing abilities
🔹 Be professional, credible and solutions-focused
🔹 Be organised, reliable and able to work independently
🔹 Be willing to travel across the North East as required

Please note: This is an opportunity for self-employed consultants working on a contracted, project-by-project basis.

Applicants should already have:
✔ Self-employed status and the right to work in the UK
✔ Independent Consultant Experience (2 - 3 years min) and/or Former CQC Inspector experience
✔ Professional Indemnity Insurance
✔ Public Liability Insurance
✔ An Enhanced DBS certificate (preferably on the Update Service)
✔ Their own IT equipment and the ability to work remotely
✔ Appropriate invoicing arrangements

Many of our consultants are former CQC inspectors, experienced operational leaders, and quality specialists who bring a wealth of practical knowledge and sector expertise to our clients.

If you would like to become part of a supportive national consultancy network and work with care providers across England to improve quality and compliance, we would love to hear from you.

Please send me a direct message or email [email protected] for a confidential discussion.

28/05/2026

Recently, Rachel Bryan received some great feedback from Giles Sabater at CareYourWay

We love working with the team at Care Your Way. Some partnerships just work naturally, and that’s very much how our partnership has been from the beginning.

We were really touched by the lovely feedback from their team this week, and it genuinely means a lot to us.

Care Your Way is such a warm, approachable, and proactive organisation. Their support for their Franchise Partners and commitment to delivering high-quality, personalised care really comes through in everything they do, and it’s been a pleasure supporting them.

We’re very grateful to work alongside people who share the same values around quality, partnerships, and going above and beyond for the people they support and their teams.

Of course, this wouldn't be possible without all of the incredible CIA Consultants who work with their franchise partners to support with compliance audits and CQC registration preparation. Thank you to each and every one of you.

26/05/2026