CQC source published . ServPatch summary and commentary: 29 September 2026.
A recent example of outstanding home care
On 11 September 2026, CQC announced that Home Instead Mid Norfolk had been rated outstanding after its first inspection, which finished in July. The service received outstanding ratings across all five key questions.
CQC highlighted a person-centred service focused on independence and positive outcomes. This is a finding about that individual provider, rather than a rating of any software or a template that guarantees the same result elsewhere.
Questions for home care managers
ServPatch’s suggested discussion points focus on whether everyday information reflects the person:
- Can a carer quickly find the person’s preferences before a visit?
- Do care notes explain the person’s response, as well as the task completed?
- Can changes in needs or wishes reach the right person for review?
- Does the team ask people receiving care what is working for them?
Use visit records to support continuity
Try following one recent change from the visit note through to the care-plan review. Look for a clear account of the person’s wishes, the action agreed and the outcome. This is a practical internal review exercise, not a CQC scoring method.
Our guide to choosing digital care records for home care offers questions for testing this workflow during a software demonstration.
Official source
Read CQC’s original update (11 September 2026).
Independent commentary from ServPatch. CQC does not endorse ServPatch; software alone does not establish compliance or an inspection rating.