Professor Sir Mike Richards has stepped down as Chair of the CQC, while agreeing to continue in-post until his replacement can be appointed.
He said: “It has been a privilege to serve as Chair of the CQC, following my independent review of the Assessment Framework. I am extremely grateful for the trust placed in me. We have made progress on several critical improvements. I am particularly pleased that we now have specialist sector teams in place and will shortly be communicating the consultation response on the new Assessment Approach.
“However, it has become increasingly clear that the turnaround of the CQC – alongside the work required to establish it as the world’s leading health and care regulator – will demand a longer-term commitment as Chair than I am able to make.
“Finally, with Sir Julian Hartley’s departure, there is an urgent need to appoint a permanent CEO. After careful consideration, I believe it would be best for this appointment to be led by a new Chair who can commit to providing long‑term continuity.
“I remain fully committed to the CQC’s future success and to supporting any incoming Chair during the transition.”
Responding to the news, Professor Martin Green OBE, chief executive of Care England, said: “Sir Mike took on this role at a very difficult time for the CQC. Confidence in the regulator, especially from adult social care providers, was already fragile, and the system was clearly not working as it should.
“What mattered about his independent review of the Single Assessment Framework was that it reflected what providers had been experiencing on the ground for some time; delays that made no sense, a loss of sector expertise, and a framework that felt disconnected from the reality of delivering care. He was prepared to say that out loud, and that was important. Many of the problems facing the CQC have not gone away, and there is still a long way to go. But his work helped to open the door to a more honest conversation about what regulation needs to look like if it is to support good care rather than get in the way of it.
“As the CQC moves into its next phase, the priority must be stability and follow-through. Providers need clarity, consistency and a regulator that understands the pressures they are under. We are ready to work with the new leadership to make sure the lessons of past years are not lost, and that regulation starts to work properly for the people who rely on and deliver care every day.”
