CQC Fundamental Standards: All 14 Explained (Not 13)
The standards below which care must never fall: each one, what it requires, the regulation behind it, and why older lists say 13.
The CQC fundamental standards are the standards below which care must never fall, set out in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. CQC’s current list has 14: person-centred care, visiting and accompanying, dignity and respect, consent, safety, safeguarding from abuse, food and drink, premises and equipment, complaints, good governance, staffing, fit and proper staff, duty of candour and display of ratings. Older guides list 13 because visiting and accompanying is a later addition.
Search for the fundamental standards and you will find pages saying 13 and pages saying 14. CQC’s own page currently lists 14. This guide lists all of them with the regulation behind each and links to practical guidance, so you can use it as a map of what CQC can act on.
Key takeaways
- The fundamental standards are the legal minimum: care must never fall below them.
- CQC’s current page lists 14. Earlier lists, still widely published, list 13.
- They are not the same as the five key questions, which structure CQC’s assessments.
- Regulation 17 (good governance) is the one that underpins evidence of all the others.
In this guide
The 14 Fundamental Standards
| Standard | What it means (CQC) | Regulation |
|---|---|---|
| Person-centred care | Care tailored to you that meets your needs and preferences | Reg 9. See person-centred care |
| Visiting and accompanying | You can have visitors, go out on visits, and have someone with you at appointments | Reg 9A |
| Dignity and respect | Treated with dignity and respect, privacy, treated as an equal, supported to stay independent | Reg 10. See dignity in care |
| Consent | You or someone legally acting for you must consent before care or treatment | Reg 11 |
| Safety | No unsafe care or avoidable harm; risks assessed; staff competent | Reg 12. See risk assessments |
| Safeguarding from abuse | No abuse or improper treatment: neglect, degrading treatment, disproportionate restraint, inappropriate limits on freedom | Reg 13. See safeguarding adults |
| Food and drink | Enough to eat and drink to keep you in good health | Reg 14 |
| Premises and equipment | Clean, suitable, secure and properly maintained | Reg 15 |
| Complaints | Able to complain; provider investigates and acts | Reg 16. See handling complaints |
| Good governance | Plans, effective governance and systems to check quality and safety | Reg 17. See governance meetings |
| Staffing | Enough suitably qualified, competent and experienced staff, with support, training and supervision | Reg 18. See supervision |
| Fit and proper staff | Only employ people suitable for the role, with strong recruitment and checks | Reg 19. See recruitment files |
| Duty of candour | Open and transparent about care; if something goes wrong, tell you, support you and apologise | Reg 20. See duty of candour |
| Display of ratings | Display your CQC rating, put it on your website and make the latest report available | Reg 20A |
The standards are as described on CQC’s fundamental standards page, last updated 3 March 2026.
Why Some Lists Say 13
Earlier versions of CQC’s list had 13 standards. CQC’s current page includes “visiting and accompanying” as a separate standard, giving 14. Many providers’ policies, training materials and websites still say 13, so check the source date and use CQC’s current list when you update your documents.
Fundamental Standards vs Key Questions
The fundamental standards are the legal requirements. The five key questions (Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led) are how CQC structures its assessments and ratings. The framework CQC uses to assess against those questions is changing, but the fundamental standards and the regulations behind them remain. See the new framework explained.
How to Evidence Them
- Map your audit schedule to the standards so each is checked regularly. See the audit schedule.
- Keep policies current and staff aware. See policy review.
- Log incidents, complaints and safeguarding, and show learning.
- Run governance meetings that review data against the standards.
- Use mock inspections to test staff knowledge. See mock inspection questions.
Track your evidence against the standards
See a sample improvement plan, view pricing or get started free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the CQC fundamental standards?
The standards below which care must never fall, set in the 2014 Regulations. CQC lists 14: person-centred care, visiting and accompanying, dignity and respect, consent, safety, safeguarding, food and drink, premises and equipment, complaints, good governance, staffing, fit and proper staff, duty of candour and display of ratings.
How many fundamental standards are there, 13 or 14?
CQC’s current page lists 14. Older lists have 13, before visiting and accompanying was listed separately.
What is the difference between fundamental standards and key questions?
Fundamental standards are the legal minimum. The five key questions structure CQC assessments and ratings.
Which regulation is good governance?
Regulation 17. It requires systems and processes to assess, monitor and improve quality and safety and to keep accurate records.
Can CQC take action if a fundamental standard is breached?
Yes. CQC can take regulatory action, and for some regulations can prosecute. See CQC enforcement action explained.
Do the fundamental standards change when the assessment framework changes?
The standards come from the regulations, which are separate from CQC’s assessment framework. The framework is changing, but the regulations remain.
Sources: CQC: The fundamental standards of care · CQC: Regulation 17, Good governance