CQC quality statement — Safe
Safeguarding
"We work with people to understand what being safe means to them and with our partners on the best way to achieve this. We concentrate on improving people's lives while protecting their right to live in safety, free from bullying, harassment, abuse, discrimination, avoidable harm and neglect." In MyCareCompliance, 25 mapped checks across 21 audit templates map to this quality statement.
Last reviewed: September 2026. This guidance reflects CQC information available at the date above — always refer to cqc.org.uk for current regulatory requirements.
How we check it
Each check below is a real question from a MyCareCompliance audit template. It names the regulation it evidences, describes what an auditor looks for in good and poor practice, and lists the evidence an inspector would expect you to produce.
- 25 mapped checks under the "Safeguarding" quality statement
- Evidences 2 regulations: Regulation 13 — Safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatment, Notifications (Registration Regulation 18) — Notification of other incidents
- Failed checks become tracked improvement actions with an owner, due date and evidence
The 25 checks
- Regulation 13 — Safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatmentCommissioned vs Delivered Care
Are instances of significant call clipping or non-delivery investigated to rule out potential financial abuse or neglect?
What we look for: Review the process for addressing falsification of timesheets or repeated short visits. Good practice involves investigating these as potential safeguarding issues. Ignoring severe call clipping is a fail.
Evidence: Safeguarding logs, Investigation reports, Disciplinary records, QA audits
- Regulation 13 — Safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatmentCompetency Audit
Is staff competency regarding safeguarding and whistleblowing practically assessed through scenario-based questioning during supervisions?
What we look for: Review 3-5 recent supervision records. Good looks like managers asking "What would you do if..." to test actual understanding of reporting procedures, rather than just checking if training is in date. A fail is staff being unable to articulate how to raise an alert or who the local authority team is.
Evidence: Supervision records, annual appraisal notes, safeguarding scenario Q&A sheets
- Regulation 13 — Safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatmentComplaints Audit
Are complaints appropriately triaged to ensure safeguarding concerns or disciplinary matters are not improperly managed solely as complaints?
What we look for: Scan the complaints log for allegations of abuse, neglect, or missed medication. Ensure these were escalated to the local safeguarding authority rather than just handled internally as a complaint. Fail if safeguarding thresholds were met but not acted upon.
Evidence: Triage records, Safeguarding referrals, HR files, Complaints log cross-reference
- Regulation 13 — Safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatmentCompliments / Feedback
Are all feedback submissions safely screened to ensure that hidden complaints, grievances, or safeguarding concerns are not missed and are appropriately escalated?
What we look for: Sample a selection of returned feedback forms. Good practice involves management reading all comments carefully to identify disguised concerns (e.g., 'carers are lovely but always late'). A fail is filing a feedback form with a hidden complaint without triggering the complaints procedure.
Evidence: Completed feedback forms, cross-referencing with complaints/safeguarding logs, triage process documentation
- Notifications (Registration Regulation 18) — Notification of other incidentsCQC Notifications Audit
Does a cross-reference of the central incident, accident, and safeguarding logs confirm that all notifiable events have been reported to the CQC?
What we look for: Sample the last 3 months of incidents, accidents, and safeguarding concerns. Good looks like every notifiable event (e.g., serious injury, abuse allegation) has a corresponding CQC notification on file. Fails if you find events that met the threshold but were not notified.
Evidence: Accident/Incident Log, Safeguarding Tracker, CQC Notification Submissions Log
- Notifications (Registration Regulation 18) — Notification of other incidentsCQC Notifications Audit
Are all incidents involving police attendance or criminal investigations related to service users or staff correctly notified?
What we look for: Check incident logs for any mention of 999/101 calls or police attendance at a service user's home. Good looks like immediate notification to CQC when police investigate an incident involving the service. Fails if police involvement is treated as an internal matter only.
Evidence: Daily Logs, On-call logs, Notification records, Local Authority safeguarding minutes
- Regulation 13 — Safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatmentDBS Compliance
Is there a clear procedure and historic evidence (where applicable) of making referrals to the DBS if a staff member is dismissed for safeguarding reasons?
What we look for: Ask the manager about their legal duty to refer to the DBS if someone is dismissed (or resigns pending dismissal) for harming a person drawing on care. Review the safeguarding log for any such incidents to verify a referral was made. A fail is a missed legal duty to refer a dangerous worker to the DBS.
Evidence: Safeguarding policy, dismissal records, DBS referral forms, CQC notification logs
- Regulation 13 — Safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatmentElectronic Call Monitoring
Are missed calls identified via ECM robustly investigated, including duty of candour, safeguarding referrals, and root cause analysis?
What we look for: Review any missed calls flagged by ECM in the last 3 months. Good practice requires a full incident report, welfare check of the client, notification to the local authority/CQC if harm occurred, and a documented investigation. Failing to recognize a missed call as a potential safeguarding issue is a fail.
Evidence: Incident reports, safeguarding referrals, local authority notifications, ECM missed call reports
- Regulation 13 — Safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatmentEmergency / On Call
Do records show that on-call staff correctly escalate medical emergencies, safeguarding alerts, and incidents?
What we look for: Review out-of-hours incidents requiring escalation to emergency services or local authorities. Check that on-call staff act promptly and correctly follow local safeguarding protocols. A fail would be an on-call worker leaving a safeguarding alert to be dealt with the next working day rather than taking immediate protective action.
Evidence: Incident reports, safeguarding referrals, local authority notifications
- Regulation 13 — Safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatmentGovernance / Quality Assurance
Does the management team maintain robust oversight of all safeguarding alerts, tracking them through investigation to formal closure with local authorities?
What we look for: Review the central safeguarding log. It should show the status of all alerts, dates of submission, and outcomes. Fail if the provider cannot demonstrate the current status of open investigations or lacks evidence of final closure.
Evidence: Safeguarding tracker, Local Authority correspondence, Case review notes
- Notifications (Registration Regulation 18) — Notification of other incidentsIncidents / Accidents Audit
Are statutory notifications to CQC and safeguarding referrals made without delay where incidents meet the threshold?
What we look for: Cross-reference incident logs with CQC notification submissions and safeguarding tracker. Look for prompt reporting (usually within 24-48 hours). A fail is finding serious injuries, police involvement, or abuse allegations in daily notes without corresponding notifications.
Evidence: CQC notification records, local authority safeguarding logs, incident reports, accident book
- Regulation 13 — Safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatmentLate / Shortened Visits Audit
Are significantly late or missed visits resulting in potential or actual harm escalated as safeguarding concerns and clinical incidents?
What we look for: Check the incident and safeguarding logs. If a visit was severely delayed or missed (e.g., resulting in a missed meal or medication for a vulnerable person), it must be formally reported and investigated. A fail is treating missed visits merely as logistical errors without assessing harm.
Evidence: Safeguarding log, Incident reporting system, Local Authority alerts, Missed visit policies
- Notifications (Registration Regulation 18) — Notification of other incidentsManagement Governance
Are all safeguarding concerns accurately logged, investigated in partnership with the local authority, and submitted as CQC statutory notifications?
What we look for: Cross-reference the safeguarding log with CQC notifications. Good looks like prompt reporting (within 24-48 hours) and internal investigations running parallel to LA processes. Fail if notifications are missed, delayed, or outcomes are not recorded.
Evidence: Safeguarding log, CQC notification portal records, local authority correspondence, safeguarding policy
- Regulation 13 — Safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatmentMissed Visits Audit
Have all missed visits been assessed against local safeguarding thresholds and reported to the Local Authority safeguarding team where appropriate?
What we look for: Review records of missed visits. Verify that the manager assessed whether the missed visit caused neglect or harm, and raised a safeguarding alert if it met the local threshold. A fail is missed visits involving vulnerable people not being reported.
Evidence: Safeguarding log, Incident reports, Local Authority referral forms, Care notes
- Regulation 13 — Safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatmentOnboarding New Staff
Can new staff demonstrate a clear understanding of local safeguarding procedures and the whistleblowing policy, including how to report concerns externally?
What we look for: Speak to new starters to test their knowledge on recognizing abuse and knowing the escalation pathway (including the local authority and CQC). A fail is staff stating they would 'only tell the manager' and not knowing what to do if the manager was involved.
Evidence: Staff interview notes, spot check records, signed policy declarations, safeguarding training certificates
- Regulation 13 — Safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatmentPolicy & Procedure Audit
Does the Safeguarding policy accurately reflect the current multi-agency procedures of the local authority?
What we look for: Cross-reference the service's safeguarding policy with the local Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB) procedures. It must include correct local contact details and thresholds. A fail is a generic national policy that lacks local referral pathways.
Evidence: Safeguarding policy, local authority SAB guidelines, incident reporting flowcharts
- Regulation 13 — Safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatmentSafeguarding Audit
Is the local safeguarding policy up to date, accessible to all staff, and aligned with the current Local Authority multi-agency safeguarding procedures?
What we look for: Review the safeguarding policy to ensure it contains current contact details for the local authority safeguarding team. Good looks like staff having instant access to this via their mobile devices in the field. A fail is an out-of-date policy or incorrect contact numbers.
Evidence: Safeguarding policy, Safeguarding procedure, Staff handbook, App or intranet access logs
- Regulation 13 — Safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatmentSafeguarding Audit
Can staff confidently describe the signs of abuse and the exact process for reporting a safeguarding concern internally and externally?
What we look for: During spot checks or supervisions, ask 3-5 staff members how they would report a concern. Good looks like staff easily identifying signs of abuse and knowing to contact the office immediately, and the LA/CQC if the office fails to act. A fail is staff stating they would 'wait until tomorrow'.
Evidence: Staff interview notes, Spot check records, Supervision notes, Staff meeting minutes
- Regulation 13 — Safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatmentSafeguarding Audit
Does the safeguarding log accurately capture all concerns, investigations, and outcomes, showing timely internal action?
What we look for: Review the safeguarding log for the last 6-12 months. Good looks like a fully completed tracker showing dates of concern, immediate actions taken to protect the person, and final outcomes. A fail is missing entries or concerns left open indefinitely without update.
Evidence: Safeguarding log, Incident reports, Client files, Investigation notes
- Notifications (Registration Regulation 18) — Notification of other incidentsSafeguarding Audit
Have all required statutory notifications regarding safeguarding incidents been submitted to the CQC without delay?
What we look for: Cross-reference the safeguarding log against CQC notifications. Good looks like a notification submitted for every safeguarding incident meeting the threshold, completed promptly. A fail is discovering a local authority safeguarding referral that was never notified to the CQC.
Evidence: CQC notification copies, Safeguarding log cross-reference, Provider portal records
- Regulation 13 — Safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatmentService User Experience
Do service users confirm they feel safe with the care staff and know how to report any safeguarding or safety concerns?
What we look for: Sample service user feedback via calls or visits to check if they feel safe and know who to contact if they don't. Good looks like clients confidently naming the manager or local authority as a point of contact. A fail is if clients do not feel safe or have no accessible information on reporting abuse.
Evidence: Service user interview notes, Safeguarding policy accessible formats, Welcome pack contents, Spot check records
- Regulation 13 — Safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatmentSkin Integrity
Are pressure damage incidents (Grade 2 and above) escalated appropriately, including CQC notifications and safeguarding alerts?
What we look for: Review incident logs for pressure ulcers. Good looks like local authority safeguarding protocols followed and CQC notified of serious injuries. A fail is failing to recognize a severe pressure ulcer as a potential safeguarding issue.
Evidence: Incident reports, Safeguarding logs, CQC notification records
- Regulation 13 — Safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatmentSponsor Worker Compliance
Are robust safeguards in place to protect sponsored workers from financial exploitation, including transparent repayment clauses?
What we look for: Check employment contracts and repayment agreements (e.g., for visa fees or flights) to ensure they are proportionate, transparent, and do not constitute debt bondage. A fail is punitive, escalating exit fees that trap workers in their employment, breaching ethical recruitment frameworks.
Evidence: Employment contracts, Repayment agreements, Staff handbook, Whistleblowing policy, Payroll records
- Regulation 13 — Safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatmentSupervision Audit
Is there an opportunity within supervision to discuss specific client care issues, safeguarding concerns, and learning from incidents?
What we look for: Examine notes for specific discussions regarding service users, near misses, or challenging behaviors encountered in the field. Good records show reflective practice where staff learn from recent incidents or raise low-level concerns. A fail is a total absence of client-focused discussion or missed opportunities to debrief after a safeguarding alert.
Evidence: Supervision notes, incident reports, safeguarding logs, client care plans
- Regulation 13 — Safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatmentTraining Matrix Audit
Is safeguarding training up to date for all staff, appropriate to their role?
What we look for: Review the matrix specifically for Safeguarding Adults. Good looks like 100% compliance, with managers completing advanced/Level 3 training. Fail if frontline staff have expired safeguarding training.
Evidence: Training matrix, Safeguarding certificates, Local authority training alignment
Other Safe quality statements
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