Knowledge centre · Improvement

What to do after a CQC Requires improvement rating

A Requires improvement rating means CQC found the service is not performing as well as it should in at least one area. It is a clear signal to act — and with a focused plan many services improve their rating at the next assessment.

MyCareCompliance brings practical CQC audits, evidence, workforce oversight and improvement actions into one platform for adult social care providers.

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7 days free. Plans from £24.99 per organisation per month, inclusive of VAT. Features vary by plan. Compare plans and trial terms.

Last reviewed: 10 October 2026. Independent guidance from AJG Advisory — not official CQC guidance. Always check the official sources listed below for current requirements.

Who it applies to

Providers rated Requires improvement overall or for one or more key questions.

First week

Read the draft report carefully and submit factual accuracy comments if anything is wrong
List every finding, breach and 'should' statement in one place
Share the findings honestly with staff, people using the service and families
Deal with any immediate safety risk straight away

Building the improvement plan

One action per finding, with a named owner and a realistic deadline
Say what evidence will prove the action worked, not just that it was done
Prioritise breaches of regulation and anything affecting safety
If CQC asked for an action plan, send it by the date given

Proving improvement

Re-audit the areas that failed and keep the results
Show trends over several months, not a single good month
Record feedback from people and staff about the changes
Review progress at every governance meeting

Internal audit questions

1.Does every report finding have an action, owner and deadline?
2.Have failed areas been re-audited since the actions were completed?
3.Can the nominated individual show how they oversee progress?

Practical checklist

Factual accuracy comments submitted if needed
All findings in one improvement plan
Evidence of completion attached to each action
Monthly progress reviewed at governance meetings

How MyCareCompliance can help

In MyCareCompliance each finding can become an action with an owner, due date and evidence requirement, and re-audits show whether the fix held. AJG Advisory also offers consultant-led turnaround support if you want hands-on help.

Official sources

MyCareCompliance is founded by Jack Green, ACC Accredited Care Consultant, with over 10 years in adult social care and registered manager experience. Read Jack’s background.

See how the platform organises this work

Genuine product screenshots using demo data. Scores show internal assurance, not CQC ratings. Features vary by plan.

Compliance Centre showing overall score and domain ratings for a care service — Compliance Centre — one snapshot of where the service stands today.

Audit register listing scheduled and completed CQC audits with due dates — Audit programme — scheduled, completed and overdue audits in one register.

Improvement action plan with owners, priorities and due dates — Improvement plan — findings become actions with an owner and a deadline.

Workforce compliance records showing DBS, right to work and training expiry status — Workforce compliance — DBS, right to work, training and supervision expiry.

Need to manage this in your service?

Use MyCareCompliance to organise audits, actions, evidence and governance in one place. 7 days free, then from £24.99 per month for the whole organisation, inclusive of VAT. Features vary by plan.

Start free trial Book a free demo

MyCareCompliance does not guarantee a CQC rating or inspection outcome.