Check your rights when receiving regulated care — CQC standards, care home rights, raising concerns about poor care, safeguarding, and making a complaint — checked against official sources.
↓ Try the Checker NowThe Care Quality Commission regulates health and social care services in England, and has real enforcement powers when standards fall short — knowing what to report, and how, matters for getting a genuine concern properly investigated.
Be specific about what happened, when, and who was involved — the CQC responds far more effectively to concerns with concrete detail than to general dissatisfaction. Include dates, the specific service or ward, and any evidence you have, since this shapes how seriously and quickly a concern can be investigated.
The CQC can inspect a service, issue requirement notices, and in serious cases suspend or cancel a provider's registration entirely — reports from patients, families, and staff are a genuine and important source of information that feeds directly into their inspection priorities.
This checker gives you a plain English read on your specific situation, answered only from its own guide for your part of the UK, checked against official sources. No login needed, and your answer is generated instantly based on what you tell us.
Our guidance covers many common situations, but complex or high-stakes cases need professional advice. Official information: Care Quality Commission (England), Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (England), Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (England), Care Inspectorate Wales, Care Inspectorate (Scotland) and RQIA (Northern Ireland). For free help, contact Citizens Advice (England 0800 144 8848, Wales 0800 702 2020), Citizens Advice Scotland (0800 028 1456) or Advice NI (0800 915 4604), or speak to a solicitor.
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Tip: Tell us what type of care service is involved, what the concern or complaint is about, and whether you have already raised it with the provider.
Include the type of care provider (care home, home care, NHS), what the concern is, who is affected, and what steps have already been taken.
Free · Guidance only, not legal advice
Where do I report abuse or neglect in a care service?
If someone is in immediate danger, call 999. In England, abuse or neglect of an adult who needs care goes to the council adult safeguarding team. The council makes the enquiries, not the CQC.
Will the CQC sort out my complaint?
No. To get an answer about what happened, complain to the service itself first. Tell the CQC as well: it uses what people tell it to check on services, and it can take action against a provider.
What if I am not happy with the reply to my complaint?
In England, adult social care complaints go to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, and NHS complaints go to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. Both are free.
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The checker answers only from this guide (one guide for the whole UK; lines that differ by nation are marked), plus what you tell it. If your question is not covered there, it says so instead of guessing. Each guide was checked against primary sources on 26 September 2026.
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Directed and published by Matt Thompson, founder of UK Work Rights. Guidance checked against GOV.UK, ACAS and legislation.gov.uk. This is general rights guidance, not legal advice.
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