The CQC's Single Assessment Framework assesses care providers against 34 quality statements across 5 key questions. Pulse maps to 32 of the 34— with direct evidence for 18, strong support for 8, and supporting evidence for a further 6.
Filter by key question to see how Pulse maps to specific areas of CQC assessment
Are people protected from abuse and avoidable harm?
Does care achieve good outcomes based on best available evidence?
Are people treated with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect?
Are services organised to meet people’s needs?
Does leadership and governance ensure high-quality, person-centred care?
Each quality statement is scored 1–4. These scores aggregate to your rating. A single low score can cap your entire key question rating.
Critical: A single score of 1 on any quality statement caps the entire key question at Requires Improvement.
Under the SAF, inspectors typically assess 10–12 quality statements per inspection — not all 34. Pulse provides structured evidence across 32statements, meaning wherever the inspector focuses, you have data ready. The difference between “Good” and “Outstanding” often comes down to whether you can prove quality, not just describe it.
Give your team the recognition they deserve. Give your families a voice. Give the CQC the evidence they need.