Adult Social Care Insights, Governance & Quality Improvement

What happens in the first 24 hours after a significant incident can shape everything that follows. This article explores leadership, governance, Duty of Candour and why good organisations put people first when it matters most.

This week's Adult Social Care Briefing explores what the Workforce Strategy means for providers, alongside current CQC assessment priorities and the leadership actions organisations should be considering.

Do your audits provide assurance, or simply reassurance? In the first episode of Beyond the Audit, Cheryl Baird explores the difference between governance and assurance, why completed audits don't always mean improved care, and the questions every leader should be asking to understand what's really happening within their organisation

Collecting more information isn't the answer. Discover why connecting information through a single source of truth helps strengthen governance, improve assurance and support better decisions in adult social care.

Adult Social Care Briefing cover featuring an editorial workspace symbolising evidence-based governance, assurance and quality improvement.

A few years ago, someone told me they didn't think they were management material. They'd lost confidence, and other people had started to doubt whether leadership was the right path for them. When I got to know them, I saw something different. I saw someone who genuinely cared about people, wanted to do the right thing, listened carefully and was willing to learn. More than anything, they simply needed someone to believe in them. Today, they're an excellent manager. I didn't

This week's Adult Social Care Briefing explores the Government's Fair Pay Agreement proposals, the expanded Care Workforce Pathway and the appointment of CQC's new Chief Executive, with practical insights for providers.

This week's Adult Social Care Briefing reviews the latest CQC and ADASS publications, explaining what has changed, why it matters and the practical implications for adult social care providers.

Most medication error investigations identify what happened. Fewer explain why it happened. This article explores how learning, culture, human factors and governance can reveal far more than the error itself.

This week's Adult Social Care Briefing explores the latest developments in workforce wellbeing, safeguarding, governance and quality assurance, with practical actions for care providers and registered managers.

A personal reflection on trust, culture and why the conversations that matter most often begin after the meeting has ended

Published: 2 July 2026 A weekly briefing highlighting the key developments affecting adult social care providers. The Adult Social Care Briefing is published every Thursday and highlights significant developments affecting adult social care providers. Each edition explains what has changed, why it matters and the practical actions providers may wish to consider. The aim is to provide a concise, practical update that supports governance, leadership and operational decision-mak

Different providers. Different services. Different inspectors. Yet the same themes continue to appear. Why do medicines, care planning, oversight and record keeping remain recurring findings in Requires Improvement reports?

Residents rarely talk about governance frameworks or audit schedules. They talk about whether they feel listened to, respected and at home. Quality is at its strongest when residents help shape the decisions that affect their daily lives.

After years of supporting providers through inspections and quality improvement programmes, one thing has become clear: good governance is not about preparing for inspection. It is about understanding what is happening within a service, learning from it and using that learning to improve outcomes for the people who rely on care and support.

Having a policy is not the same as implementing it. This article explores why policies often fail in care homes, the risks of poor implementation, and how providers can turn governance documents into meaningful improvements in care quality, compliance and resident outcomes

When something goes wrong, nobody asks to see the training matrix. They ask whether the person had the knowledge, skills and competence to provide safe care

Creating and implementing effective CQC action plans is essential for care homes to maintain high standards and comply with regulations. I understand how challenging it can be to respond to CQC inspection reports and turn feedback into clear, practical steps. This post offers straightforward advice on developing action plans that work, helping care providers improve their services and meet regulatory expectations. Eye-level view of a care home manager reviewing documents at

As AI adoption accelerates across health and social care, organisations must balance innovation with governance, quality and accountability. A practical perspective on implementing technology that delivers meaningful impact.

As Dementia Action Week comes to an end, perhaps the most important question is not simply whether people with dementia are safe.