How does coproduction align with CQC?
Coproduction has long been a hallmark of high-quality care. But in recent years, it has also become a clearer expectation from regulators — especially under the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) latest inspection model, the Single Assessment Framework (SAF).
While many providers feel rightly frustrated by increasing regulatory pressures, the reality is that coproduction can offer a practical route to demonstrating quality. Not just for the sake of inspection, but to help evidence the work you’re already doing to put people at the heart of their own care.
What’s changed with the new CQC framework?
The CQC’s Single Assessment Framework replaces the old model of five key questions and separate handbooks with one unified set of quality statements. These quality statements sit under the same five key lines of enquiry (KLOE) — Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led — but are now more focused on how services demonstrate outcomes in real time.
Several of these statements speak directly to coproduction. The language has shifted towards shared decision-making, partnership and empowerment. That means services that are already involving people meaningfully in their own care are often better placed to respond to inspection.
But it’s not just about ticking a box. The framework invites providers to reflect on how people are genuinely involved — and where that involvement can go deeper.
Where coproduction shows up in the quality statements
Although coproduction isn’t named outright, its values are woven through many areas of the framework. Here’s where it matters most:
- Responsive – Person-centred care
“We work in partnership with people to develop personalised care and support plans that reflect their needs and preferences.”
This statement closely aligns with collaborative care planning — a key component of coproduction. If your team is already involving people in shaping their own support plans, you’re already on the right track.
You can build on this with the practical steps in how to create and develop a co-produced care plan.
- Caring – Involving people in decisions
“We involve people in decisions about their care and treat them as partners.”
This reflects the importance of equality and reciprocity — two of the core principles of coproduction. The emphasis here is on shared power and trust, not just information-sharing.
- Well-led – Governance and improvement
“We work in partnership with people who use our services, their families and others to continually evaluate and improve the service.”
Here, CQC is looking for evidence that people with lived experience have influence beyond their own care — shaping the way services are run, reviewed and developed. If you’ve introduced resident forums, co-led audits, or family involvement groups, you’ll already have examples to draw on.
- Safe – Managing risk positively
“We promote a culture where people are involved in understanding and managing risks.”
This statement supports the idea that informed risk-taking can be part of person-centred care. When risk assessments are co-produced, they often become more accurate and respectful of autonomy.
What CQC is looking for — and how coproduction helps
While language may vary, what CQC ultimately wants to see is:
- That people are actively involved in shaping their support
- That services listen and respond to those contributions
- That the experiences of people drawing on care inform how services improve over time
Coproduction helps deliver all of this — when it is embedded well. It provides real evidence that people have choice, control and influence. It shows that services are not only reactive, but proactive and reflective.
And because coproduction encourages feedback loops and collaborative improvement, it naturally supports ongoing quality assurance.
What does strong evidence look like?
When inspectors look for proof of involvement, they are asking: Can you show us how people are part of the process, not just the outcome?
Some examples include:
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Area
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Evidence that supports coproduction
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Care planning
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Jointly written plans in the person’s own words, updated collaboratively
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Service development
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Records of co-production workshops, feedback from participants, actions taken
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Risk assessments
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Documentation showing shared conversations around acceptable risk
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Recruitment
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Interview panels that include people supported by the service
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Complaints process
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Mechanisms co-designed with residents and families to support safe feedback
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Our coproduction self-audit checklist can help identify where this kind of evidence already exists — and where to improve.
Coproduction as evidence, not just aspiration
CQC’s new framework may not always feel like a source of inspiration. For many providers, it represents another layer of pressure in an already stretched system. But whether or not the framework feels fair or useful, it remains a key part of how care services are evaluated.
The good news is that when coproduction is embedded meaningfully, it naturally strengthens your position against many of the new quality statements. It helps demonstrate personalisation, partnership and preventative thinking — all things the CQC looks for, whether in a local inspection or ongoing monitoring.
Rather than treating coproduction as a response to regulation, it can be helpful to flip the perspective. Focus on building a culture where people genuinely shape the support they receive. Then use that as the foundation for gathering evidence that meets inspection expectations.
In how technology supports coproduction in care, we explore how digital platforms can help services document this work without adding to the admin burden.
Ultimately, coproduction is not a guarantee of a good rating — but it is a strong indicator of a service that is thoughtful, person-led and responsive to change. And that is something CQC will always need to take seriously.
