What the fundamental standards are
The fundamental standards come from the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. CQC describes them as the standards below which care must never fall, and every provider it registers is expected to meet them. They apply whatever the setting: a care home, a home care service, supported living or a clinic.
Putting them on the wall will not make a service compliant on its own. What it does is keep the language in front of the team, so the words in a CQC conversation are words your staff already use.
The 14 standards, in plain English
- Person-centred care. Care and treatment tailored to the person, meeting their needs and preferences.
- Visiting and accompanying. People can have visitors, and support to go out or be accompanied to appointments.
- Dignity and respect. Treated with dignity and respect at all times, including privacy and equality.
- Consent. Consent is given before any care or treatment, by the person or someone acting for them.
- Safety. No unsafe care or treatment. Risks are assessed and staff are competent to keep people safe.
- Safeguarding from abuse. No abuse or improper treatment, including neglect or disproportionate restraint.
- Food and drink. Enough to eat and drink to stay in good health during care.
- Premises and equipment. Clean, suitable, secure and well-maintained premises and equipment.
- Complaints. People can complain, with a system to investigate thoroughly and act on concerns.
- Good governance. Effective governance and systems to check quality and safety and drive improvement.
- Staffing. Enough suitably qualified, competent staff, with training, supervision and support.
- Fit and proper staff. Robust recruitment and relevant checks, including DBS and work history.
- Duty of candour. Open and transparent: tell people when something goes wrong, support them and apologise.
- Display of ratings. Display the CQC rating on site and online, with the latest report available.
Getting more out of it than wall decoration
- Use it in induction, so new staff meet the standards in week one rather than the week before an inspection.
- Pick one standard a month for a team meeting, and ask what the evidence would be if someone asked today.
- Put a name against each standard, so the team knows who leads on complaints, governance or recruitment.
- Pair it with the checklist and the wider standards detail on our CQC compliance resources page.
Download and printPoster (PDF, 1 page). Free to use in your service.
This is a quick-reference resource. Always follow your own policies and procedures, the regulations themselves and current CQC guidance.
Sources (checked 17 September 2026): The fundamental standards (Care Quality Commission).
