About this data
Where the data comes from
All ratings and inspection information on this site comes directly from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent regulator of health and social care in England. The data is published under the Open Government Licence.
We access the CQC's public API, which is updated daily — the same data that appears on the CQC's own website.
What CQC ratings mean
The CQC inspects every registered care home in England. Each inspection results in an overall rating and individual ratings across five quality areas:
- Safe — Are people protected from abuse and avoidable harm?
- Effective — Does the care, treatment and support achieve good outcomes?
- Caring — Do staff involve and treat people with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect?
- Responsive — Are services organised so they meet people's needs?
- Well-led — Does the leadership, management and governance assure high-quality, person-centred care?
Each area is rated independently, so a care home rated “Good” overall may still have individual areas rated differently.
Important things to know
- Ratings reflect a point in time. A care home may have improved or declined since its last inspection. Always check the inspection date.
- This site is independent. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the CQC in any way.
- Ratings are not the whole picture. They are an important starting point, but we strongly recommend visiting care homes in person, speaking with staff, and talking to families of current residents before making a decision.
- Always verify directly. For the most up-to-date information, check the CQC website or contact the care home directly.
Coverage
This site covers care homes in England only. The CQC does not regulate care homes in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland — these are regulated by the Care Inspectorate, Care Inspectorate Wales, and the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority respectively.
Our methodology
We combine CQC data with other open datasets — including hospital locations and inspection history — to give a fuller picture of each care home. Read our full methodology, including what data we use, what we don't, and why.
How this site is funded
Care Home Ratings is free to use. We may earn a small commission from recommended products and services, which are clearly marked. Our care home data and editorial content are entirely independent of any commercial relationships. No care home can pay to influence its position in our results.
Contact
If you have questions or feedback about this site, please email hello@carehomeratings.co.uk.