England's care homes are in better shape than you think.
An analysis of 14,780 CQC-rated care homes finds the vast majority are delivering good care. But the patterns separating the best from the worst reveal something surprising.
How England's care homes are rated
Of 14,780 CQC-registered care homes across England, the vast majority are rated Good, but 2,374 homes fall short, and 136 are in crisis.
98% of Inadequate homes fail on Safe and Well-led simultaneously. But only 12.5% fail on Caring. Struggling homes still care about their residents. They've lost control of their systems.
The domains that make or break a rating
Each care home is scored across five domains. The patterns reveal what actually separates Inadequate from Outstanding.
The five failures that define an Inadequate home
These patterns appear consistently across inspection reports. They're not about funding or staffing numbers. They're about systems and leadership rigour.
The five practices that define an Outstanding home
Outstanding homes aren't funded 10x better. They're managed 10x better. These practices cost less than most people think.
Looking for a care home in your area?
Search 14,780 CQC-rated homes across England, with honest ratings and clear information to help you choose.
Search care homesData and methodology
Analysis based on 14,780 CQC-registered care homes across England (CareHomeGuide database, May 2026). Domain score analysis conducted across 6,365 homes with complete ratings data from the CQC March 2026 ratings dataset. Qualitative findings derived from thematic analysis of 100 CQC inspection reports (50 Inadequate, 50 Outstanding). Percentages reflect frequency of themes within each cohort.
Published by CareHomeGuide.uk — the independent directory of CQC-rated care homes in England. Free to use and cite with attribution.