Regulation
Homes that report incidents fully, share safeguarding information promptly, or adopt safety monitoring sometimes feel they attract more scrutiny than those who choose silence. This is a deeply damaging dynamic.
Transparency must never be punished. Providers who wish to do the right thing
should feel encouraged, supported, and recognised. The regulator must be able to distinguish between openness and risk and must make it known that disclosure is a sign of integrity, not failure. If transparency becomes a risk, silence
becomes the industry’s default. That helps no one, least of all residents and staff.
A new approach to inspections: practical, predictable, and fair The inspection model must evolve in ways that reflect the lived realities of care homes. Providers want inspections that feel fair, proportionate, and consistent. Families want inspections that feel meaningful, not box-ticking exercises. CCFTV believes the following changes would make a real difference: 1. Inspections that prioritise culture and safety, not just documentation Paperwork is important but it does not paint the full picture. Strong leadership, compassionate culture, communication, and staff morale must carry equal weight.
2. Clearer communication with families and residents Families want more inclusion. They want the opportunity to share experiences with the regulator in confidential ways. Many are too scared to speak openly during inspections for fear of repercussions.
3. Faster, more accessible follow-up When concerns are raised, families and providers should not wait months. Swift action prevents harm and builds trust.
4. The regulator must close the gap between poor care and consequences Too many families tell us they reported issues only to find no immediate preventive action. The regulator must demonstrate earlier intervention and not just at the point of formal enforcement.
Listening to lived experience: families as partners, not bystanders Families are not an inconvenience. They are an untapped source of insight. They
see what happens beyond the scheduled visits, the planned reviews, and the visible routines. CCFTV believes the CQC should develop stronger mechanisms to listen to families, such as: n Structured family engagement forums. n Confidential reporting routes that cannot be ignored.
n Regular consultation with organisations that represent families.
n Inclusion of family experience in rating outcomes.
When families are involved meaningfully, the regulator benefits from real-world intelligence that cannot be captured in paperwork alone.
Why CCFTV wants to engage with the CQC CCFTV has always been driven by personal experience, public interest, and a desire to improve care in memory of those we have loved and lost. We are not a political body. We are not commercially driven. What we see comes directly from the voices of families and the many providers who ask us for guidance. We want to engage with the CQC because:
n We see patterns the regulator may not. n We hear concerns that do not always reach formal channels.
n We understand the fears families have about speaking up.
n We support providers who want guidance but feel lost in silence.
n CCFTV believes safety monitoring can transform how residents and staff are protected.
Our aim is not to criticise the CQC. It is to work towards a system that genuinely protects vulnerable people and supports providers in delivering the care they want to be proud of. We believe open engagement is the only way to achieve that.
Looking forward: a shared responsibility for change Regulation alone will not fix social care. Nor will innovation alone, or good providers alone, or strong family advocacy alone. The only workable future is one in which all of these forces come together. The CQC has a vital role, but so do
providers, families, staff, charities, legal partners, safeguarding teams, and advocates like CCFTV. A joined-up system is not a luxury –
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it is the only path to safer care. CCFTV hopes the next phase of national regulation embraces: n We remain ready and willing to contribute to that change.
Conclusion: a call for courage and collaboration The journey to safer care will require transparency, honesty, and a willingness to evolve. The families we support are not asking for perfection. They are asking for safety, dignity, clarity, and accountability. Providers are asking for fairness, consistency, and guidance that helps them improve rather than fear scrutiny. CCFTV believes that by embracing
proactive oversight, regulating safety monitoring clearly, supporting transparency, and listening to lived experience, the CQC can lead the sector into a stronger, more accountable future. We are ready to engage. The sector is
ready. Families are ready. Now we need a regulator ready to walk that path with us.n
Jayne Connery
Jayne Connery is the founder and director of Care Campaign for the Vulnerable, a national not-for-profit organisation advocating for safety, dignity, and transparency in care settings. Drawing from personal experience, Jayne launched CCFTV to support families and work with care providers in driving positive change – including the right to choice-led safety monitoring in care homes. She is a leading voice in dementia care and advocacy, and regularly works with care providers, legal teams, and policy leaders across the UK.
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