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The Care Quality Commission (CQC) monitors, inspects and regulates services to make sure they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety and publish what they find, including performance ratings to help people choose care.

Where the CQC receives information about a possible Safeguarding Adults situation or issue, the CQC should pass the information to the local authority through the locally determined referral point.

The CQC must always be made aware of a Safeguarding Adults concern within a regulated service. If the concern is reported to the local authority, the local authority must notify the CQC, even though the regulated service also has a duty to do so. The outcome of any assessment or investigation must also be shared with the CQC if it is related to a regulated service.

The CQC will be directly involved with a Safeguarding Adults process where:

  • One or more registered people are directly implicated;
  • Urgent or complex regulatory action is indicated;
  • A form of enforcement action has been commenced or is under consideration in relation to the service involved.

Where the allegation suggests breaches of regulation and standards, the CQC may conduct enquires or initiate a random inspection. This activity may take place as well as other investigations being undertaken by another organisation. If the police please visit the CQC website for more information on Safeguarding People.

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