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The Single Assessment Framework (SAF) is the CQC's current methodology for assessing health and adult social care services in England. It replaced the older Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOEs) in 2023 and uses Quality Statements grouped under the five key questions to measure how well a service is performing.
The Single Assessment Framework rolled out in 2023 as part of the CQC's transition to a more flexible, evidence-driven inspection model. Where the old KLOEs used a relatively static set of questions, the SAF organises assessment around 34 Quality Statements grouped under the five key questions: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, and Well-Led.
Each Quality Statement is written from the perspective of people using the service and is supported by a defined set of evidence categories. CQC inspectors use these categories — feedback from people using the service, observation, processes, outcomes, and feedback from staff — to score the service from 1 (significant shortfalls) to 4 (outstanding).
For providers, the practical implication is that compliance is no longer a once-a-year exercise. Evidence is continuously collected and assessed, and the regulator can change the rating between formal inspections based on intelligence from feedback, complaints, notifications, and other sources.
The Single Assessment Framework replaced the Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOEs). The five key questions remain (Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, Well-Led) but the underlying assessment is now structured around Quality Statements and evidence categories.
There are 34 Quality Statements in total, distributed across the five key questions. Not every Quality Statement applies to every service type — the CQC publishes which apply to which provider category.
Each evidence category for each applicable Quality Statement is scored from 1 to 4. Scores are aggregated to produce an overall rating for the key question, and ultimately for the service as a whole (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate).
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