PATHWAY TO GOOD
Rated Requires Improvement? Let’s get you to Good.
A practical improvement programme for care homes and GP practices rated Requires Improvement by CQC. I’ll review where you are, help you build a clear plan, and support you for three months to make the changes stick.
From a former lead CQC inspector with over 12 years’ inspection experience.
THE PROBLEM
A Requires Improvement rating puts real pressure on your service
You know things need to change, but it can be hard to know where to start, what CQC will look for next time, and how to show improvements are actually working.
✓ Your rating is public. People using your service, families, commissioners and staff can all see it.
✓ Everything needs fixing at once. The report raises issues, but not a clear order to tackle them in.
✓ Time is short. Your managers are running the service day to day while trying to improve it.
✓ Paperwork alone won’t move the rating. CQC wants evidence that care has genuinely improved.
Four simple steps
HOW IT WORKS
1. Review
I read your latest CQC inspection report and understand what led to your rating.
2. Mock inspection
On site, against the quality statements (for GP practices, including CQC's clinical searches and a sample of patient records). Honest feedback on the day and a clear written report.
3. Develop action plan
A SMART plan with owners, deadlines and measures, covering every issue from your report and the mock inspection.
4. Implement & re-visit
Three months of meetings and check-ins, help updating policies, governance and audits, and coaching for leaders. Then a progress review and re-visit before re-inspection, included in the price.
Practical and proportionate, focused on genuine improvement rather than box-ticking.
I know what CQC looks for, because I used to be the inspector
Understanding CQC requirements is one thing. Knowing what those requirements mean in practice is another.
I spent over 12 years as a CQC inspector, including as a lead inspector. I’ve seen what separates Requires Improvement from Good, and I’ll help you focus on the changes that genuinely improve care, not unnecessary paperwork.
I believe compliance shouldn’t be a box-ticking exercise. My approach is honest, practical and collaborative.
CREDENTIALS
✓ Former lead CQC inspector: more than 12 years’ inspection experience
✓ Expert witness for healthcare regulatory tribunals
✓ Practical, risk-based advice tailored to your service
✓ Clear and achievable next steps
Ready to start your pathway to Good?
Book a free 15-minute discovery call. We’ll talk through your report and whether the programme is right for you, with no obligation.
Common questions
No. Nobody can honestly guarantee a rating, as the decision is CQC’s alone. What I can do is give you an honest picture of where you are, a clear plan, and practical support to make and evidence real improvements.
The review, mock inspection and action plan come first, followed by 3 months of hands-on implementation support, then a progress review and re-visit before your CQC re-inspection.
CQC sets its own timetable, so it can happen. If it does, we’ll focus on the highest-risk issues first, and I’ll help you get ready with the evidence of the improvements you’ve already made.
Both. The mock inspection and the re-visit are on site. Progress meetings, check-ins and coaching can be remote or in person, whichever works best for your team.
Yes, Pathway to Good is designed for both. For GP practices, the mock inspection also includes a review of CQC’s clinical searches and a sample of patient records.
FAQ