CQC Compliance 6 April 2026
CQC Notification Requirements: What Care Homes Must Report and When
Last updated: 6 April 2026 | Reviewed September 2026
This article reflects CQC statutory notification requirements as of April 2026 under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
Care home managers have a legal duty to notify CQC of certain events. But what exactly must be reported? How quickly? What happens if you don't? This guide covers the mandatory notification requirements under the Health and Social Care Act and CQC regulations.
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Care homes must notify CQC of seven categories of events under Regulation 18 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008: deaths of service users, serious injuries, allegations or discovery of abuse, outbreaks of infection, unsafe staffing, controlled drug incidents, and registered manager absence. Most require same-day notification by phone to CQC's duty team on 03000 616161, followed by written confirmation within 24 hours.
| Event | Notification Required | Timeframe | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Death of service user | Yes — always | Same day | 03000 616161 |
| Serious injury (hospital admission) | Yes | Same day | 03000 616161 |
| Abuse allegation or discovery | Yes — always | Same day | 03000 616161 + safeguarding |
| Infection outbreak (2+ affected) | Yes | Same day | 03000 616161 + UKHSA |
| Unsafe staffing (risk to safety) | Yes | Same day | 03000 616161 |
| Controlled drug incident | Yes — loss/theft/misuse | Same day | 03000 616161 + police |
| Registered manager absence | Yes — without replacement | Same day | 03000 616161 |
| Missing service user | Yes — if unaccounted for | Within 24 hours | Written to CQC |
| Near-miss/notifiable safety incident | Yes | Within 24 hours | Written to CQC |
The Legal Requirement
Under Regulation 18 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, registered providers must notify CQC of certain events "without delay" or within specific timeframes. This is not optional—it's a statutory duty.
Failure to notify CQC of a reportable event is a breach of regulation and can result in:
- Regulatory action: Warning notice, suspension of registration, or cancellation
- Criminal prosecution: Up to £20,000 fine or imprisonment (in serious cases)
- Safeguarding referrals: Potential concerns about your fitness to operate
Events That Must Be Notified Immediately (Same Day)
These events require notification to CQC without delay—normally the same day they occur, or the next working day if they happen out of hours.
Death of a Service User
What: Death of any person using the service, whether in the care home or elsewhere (e.g., hospital).
Why: CQC needs to know about deaths to understand safeguarding and quality patterns.
How: Notify CQC's duty team by phone on 03000 616161, then follow up in writing within 24 hours.
Serious Injury or Unexplained Deterioration
What: Serious injury requiring hospital admission, or unexplained serious deterioration in health or wellbeing requiring medical intervention.
Examples: Fall resulting in fracture, pressure ulcer requiring hospital treatment, sudden unexplained loss of consciousness, severe allergic reaction.
How: Notify CQC by phone, then in writing within 24 hours. Include details of the incident, immediate actions taken, and whether safeguarding has been informed.
Allegation or Discovery of Abuse or Neglect
What: Any allegation or discovery of abuse, neglect, exploitation, discrimination, or inappropriate treatment—by staff, other service users, or external persons.
Examples: Physical abuse, psychological abuse, financial exploitation, sexual abuse, discriminatory language or actions, withholding medication, inadequate personal care.
How: Notify CQC immediately AND make a safeguarding referral to the local authority. The duty team will advise on next steps. Police may be contacted for criminal incidents.
Outbreak of Infection or Contamination
What: Outbreak of infection (e.g., norovirus, C. difficile) or contamination affecting service users.
Threshold: Generally notifiable if 2+ people are affected and linked to your service, or 1+ person if in a vulnerable population (e.g., immunocompromised).
How: Notify CQC and UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Implement infection control measures. Document all affected individuals and treatment provided.
Unsafe Staffing Levels or Significant Departure from Plan
What: Actual or potential risk to safety due to significant staffing shortages or departure from your agreed staffing plan.
Examples: Key staff absence without cover, inability to provide planned activities due to staffing, lack of registered nurse when required.
How: Notify CQC explaining the shortfall, mitigation measures you've put in place, and timeline for resolution.
Incident Involving Controlled Drugs
What: Loss, theft, damage, or inappropriate administration of controlled drugs.
Examples: Missing medication, destroyed stock not recorded, staff administering without proper authorisation.
How: Notify CQC, the local police, and the NHS England Serious Incident Framework (if harm occurred). Your medicines regulators (NMC, GMC) will also be involved if professional staff are implicated.
Registered Manager Absence or Breakdown
What: Registered manager ceases to work, becomes ill, or is suspended from duty without immediate replacement.
Why: A registered manager is a legal requirement. Absence must be notified and resolved.
How: Notify CQC immediately. Explain interim arrangements, any deputies in place, and your plan to recruit or reinstate a registered manager.
Events That Must Be Notified Within 24 Hours
These events require written notification to CQC within 24 hours of discovery or occurrence. They don't typically require an immediate phone call but must be logged formally.
Notifiable Safety Incident
Service User Going Missing
Complaints Raising Significant Safeguarding or Quality Concerns
How to Notify CQC
Immediate notification (by phone): Call CQC's duty team on 03000 616161. Available 24/7. Have details ready: your location, what happened, when, who was involved, and what you've done so far.
Written notification (follow-up): Email [email protected] or use the CQC portal. Include:
- Date and time of incident
- Names and roles of people involved
- Detailed account of what happened
- Impact on the service user(s)
- Actions taken immediately and planned actions
- Any external agencies notified (police, safeguarding, UKHSA)
Get Notifiable Events Documentation Right
Explore templates, checklists, and guidance to ensure your care home meets all CQC notification requirements confidently.
Common Mistakes Managers Make
Waiting for investigation results before notifying
Notify CQC immediately. An allegation alone is reportable, regardless of whether it's proven.
Thinking minor incidents don't need reporting
Many "minor" incidents are notifiable. When in doubt, notify. It's better to notify and have CQC say it wasn't necessary than to fail to report a notifiable event.
Only telling staff, not telling CQC
Internal incident reporting is good practice, but it's not a substitute for CQC notification. Document the incident, notify CQC, and conduct your internal investigation separately.
Assuming someone else will notify
As a registered provider, it's your legal responsibility. If a staff member reports abuse to safeguarding, you must still notify CQC. Don't assume the local authority will do it.
Notifying without documenting
Keep a log of when CQC was called, who you spoke to, what you reported, and when written confirmation was sent. This protects you if there's later dispute about whether you notified.
CQC notification forms can be accessed here .
Key Takeaways
- Notification requirements are statutory—not optional. Failure to notify is a regulatory breach.
- Seven categories of events trigger immediate notification (same day): deaths, serious injury, abuse allegations, infections, staffing crises, controlled drug incidents, and registered manager absences.
- When in doubt, notify. CQC won't penalise you for reporting an incident that turned out not to be serious. But failing to report something that was reportable can result in regulatory action.
- Document everything: when you notified CQC, who you spoke to, and what you told them. This is your evidence of compliance.
- CQC's duty team can be reached 24/7 on 03000 616161. If it's an emergency (safeguarding, death), call them immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every fall in a care home require CQC notification?
No. A fall that results in a fracture or requires hospital admission is notifiable as a serious injury. A fall managed on-site without serious injury is not automatically notifiable but should be recorded internally and reviewed through your governance process.
Do I need to wait for investigation results before notifying CQC?
No. Notification must be made when the event occurs or is discovered, not after investigation is complete. An allegation alone is reportable regardless of whether it is subsequently proven.
What if I am unsure whether an event is notifiable?
Notify. CQC will not penalise you for reporting an event that turns out not to meet the notification threshold. Failing to report a notifiable event is a regulatory breach that can result in enforcement action.
Can the local authority notify CQC on my behalf?
No. As registered provider, CQC notification is your statutory responsibility. Even if you have made a safeguarding referral to the local authority, you must also notify CQC separately and within the required timeframe.
Is there a form to complete?
CQC notification forms are available at cqc.org.uk/guidance-regulation/notifications . For immediate notifications, call 03000 616161 first and follow up in writing using the CQC portal or by email to [email protected].
Related: Missing Resident Notification
This article covers statutory incident notifications. But missing resident incidents — while not an automatic notification trigger — may require reporting depending on circumstances. Learn when absence triggers notification, what CQC assesses, and why safeguarding and risk context matter.
Related: Fracture Notification Guidance
This article covers broad statutory notification requirements. Fractures are one of the most common serious incidents in adult social care and one of the most misunderstood for notification purposes. Learn when a fracture triggers notification, what CQC really assesses, and why context matters more than severity.
Related: Changes to Your Statement of Purpose
This article covers incident notifications (deaths, serious injuries, abuse allegations). But CQC also requires you to notify when your registered documentation changes . Learn what triggers Statement of Purpose notification obligations and why the gap between registered and actual operations matters.
Read: When Must You Notify CQC About Statement of Purpose Changes →
Had to Notify CQC of a Serious Incident?
Your next inspection may focus on how you responded to the incident. ReporticaAI's CQC Recovery Pack helps you build a structured, inspector-ready action plan that demonstrates your safeguarding response and continuous improvement.
Primary Care: Notification Requirements in GP Practices
Primary care providers are now subject to full CQC regulation and the same statutory notification obligations. While the framework outlined here applies across all regulated sectors, GP practices, primary care networks, and independent primary care providers should also understand the specific context of primary care assessment and registration.
Read: CQC Registration and Inspection for GP Practices →
This article is published in accordance with PAIDS™ (Professional AI Documentation Standards) — well-sourced, thoroughly researched and defensible with verifiable data.
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