If your organisation operates both children's and adult services, you'll know that Ofsted and CQC have different inspection frameworks, different terminology, and different expectations for records. Here's a practical comparison.
Terminology Differences
- CQC: "service users" / "people we support" — Ofsted: "children and young people"
- CQC: "care plans" — Ofsted: "placement plans" and "pathway plans"
- CQC: "safeguarding adults" — Ofsted: "child protection"
Documentation Focus
CQC places emphasis on:
- Person-centred care evidence
- Mental capacity and consent records
- Medication management
- Risk assessments and care plans aligned with daily notes
Ofsted places emphasis on:
- The child's voice — wishes and feelings
- Educational progress and stability
- Missing episodes and return interviews
- Positive relationships and key worker records
- Chronological records of significant events
Common Ground
Both regulators want to see:
- Clear, factual, contemporaneous recording
- Evidence of person-centred practice
- Safeguarding procedures followed consistently
- Learning from incidents and complaints
Using Evidentia Across Both Frameworks
Evidentia's jurisdiction selector lets you switch between CQC and Ofsted rules, ensuring your analysis is tailored to the correct regulatory framework for each service.
Disclaimer: Evidentia provides AI-assisted suggestions only and does not constitute professional or regulatory advice.
Evidentia Team
Compliance intelligence insights from the Recordsafe team.