UK Elderly Care Updates: NHS, CQC and Sector Changes
By CareFinder Research Team · Published 2025-10-28 · Last reviewed 2026-09-18
The biggest recent changes in UK elderly care are a legal right to visits in English care homes, reform of how the CQC inspects, a government commission on adult social care, the end of overseas recruitment of care workers and a planned fair pay agreement for care staff. Families can follow each one through CQC, GOV.UK and the NHS.
Several big changes have reshaped elderly care in the UK in the last few years: a legal right to visits in English care homes, a shake-up of how the Care Quality Commission (CQC) works, a new commission on the future of adult social care, and major changes to how care workers are recruited and paid. None of them changes how you apply for care today, but each affects what you can expect and ask for.
This guide explains each change in plain terms, which nation it applies to, and where to find the latest official news, because policy in this area moves quickly.
Which bodies make the rules for elderly care?
Care for older people is split between health and social care, and between the four UK nations.
- The NHS pays for healthcare, including NHS Continuing Healthcare and the nursing element of care in nursing homes.
- Local councils (Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland) assess care needs and run the means test for social care.
- Regulators inspect services: the CQC in England, the Care Inspectorate in Scotland, Care Inspectorate Wales, and the RQIA in Northern Ireland.
- Governments in Westminster, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast set funding and law for their own nation.
When you read a headline about "care reform", check which nation it covers. Most of the changes below apply to England only.
What changed about visiting care homes?
Since 6 April 2024, visiting has been a legal requirement in England under a new fundamental standard, Regulation 9A. Care homes, hospitals and hospices must make it possible for people to receive visits, and care homes must not discourage residents from going out on visits.
Restrictions are only allowed in exceptional circumstances, where a visit would still pose a serious risk despite precautions, and they must be proportionate. Visits to someone at the end of their life should always be supported.
Scotland has its own version, known as Anne's Law, now set in legislation through the Care Reform (Scotland) Act 2025. Wales and Northern Ireland publish their own visiting guidance, so check gov.wales or nidirect for the current position there.
How is the CQC changing?
In 2024 the government asked Dr Penny Dash to review how well the CQC was working. Her full report, published in October 2024, found serious problems with the regulator's operations, including delays in inspections and difficulties with its new assessment approach, and made seven recommendations.
What this means for families:
- Some care homes have not been inspected for a long time, so the date of the last inspection matters as much as the rating.
- The way CQC describes its assessments has been changing, so older and newer reports may look different.
- Ratings remain the most useful independent starting point, but always visit and ask questions too.
For the current position, check the CQC news pages and the service's own profile on the CQC website.
What is the Casey Commission on adult social care?
In 2025 the government set up an independent commission into adult social care, chaired by Baroness Casey, to plan the foundations of a National Care Service in England. It works in two phases: the first reports in 2026 on the critical issues and medium-term fixes, and the second reports by 2028 on longer-term change.
Until any recommendations become law, the current rules stay in place. The planned "care cap" on lifetime personal care costs, which was due in October 2025, was cancelled in July 2024, and the means-test capital limits in England have not changed since 2010. For 2026/27 they remain £23,250 (upper) and £14,250 (lower), as set out in the GOV.UK charging circular for that year.
How are changes to care staffing affecting care?
Two changes affect who looks after your relative.
Overseas recruitment of care workers has ended
From 22 July 2025, providers can no longer sponsor new care workers or senior care workers from abroad. Workers already in the UK can still switch into these roles until 22 July 2028. This applies across the UK, because immigration is not devolved.
A fair pay agreement for care workers is planned
The Employment Rights Act 2025 allows for an Adult Social Care Negotiating Body in England. The government says it will bring unions and employers together to agree minimum pay and conditions, with the first agreement planned from April 2028.
For families, the practical point is continuity: ask any provider how it recruits and keeps staff, and how often your relative will see the same carers.
What does the NHS 10 Year Health Plan mean for older people?
The 10 Year Health Plan for England, published in July 2025, sets out three shifts: from hospital to community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention. For older people, that points towards more care delivered close to home and more use of the NHS App and digital records.
Changes of this kind roll out gradually and differ by area. Your GP practice and local integrated care board are the best people to ask what is available locally now.
Where can families find reliable updates?
Headlines about care funding are often confusing or premature. These sources are reliable:
- CQC news and service profiles for inspection changes and ratings in England.
- GOV.UK (Department of Health and Social Care) for policy, charging rules and the yearly charging circular.
- NHS.uk for NHS Continuing Healthcare, NHS-funded nursing care and health services.
- gov.scot, gov.wales and nidirect for the rules in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Age UK and Citizens Advice for plain-English explanations and free advice.
If a change could affect money you pay or receive, get advice from your council, a local advice service or an independent financial adviser who specialises in later-life care before acting on it.
Frequently asked questions
Has the cap on care costs been introduced?
No. The cap on lifetime personal care costs in England was cancelled in July 2024 before it started. The means test still uses the capital limits that have applied since 2010, confirmed each year in the GOV.UK charging circular.
Can a care home in England stop visits?
Only in exceptional circumstances, where a visit would pose a serious risk despite precautions. Any restriction must be proportionate and reviewed, and visits at the end of life should always be supported. If you are concerned, raise it with the manager and then with the CQC.
Is the National Care Service up and running?
Not yet. In England, the Casey Commission is working on the plan, with reports due in 2026 and 2028. In Scotland, the original National Care Service bill was scaled back and passed as the Care Reform (Scotland) Act 2025.
Will the end of overseas recruitment mean fewer care staff?
It closes one route for new recruits, but workers already in the UK can switch into care roles until July 2028. Staffing varies a lot between providers, so ask each one directly about staff turnover and agency use.
Where do I check a care home's current rating?
Use the regulator for the nation: the CQC in England, the Care Inspectorate in Scotland, Care Inspectorate Wales, or the RQIA in Northern Ireland. Look at the date of the latest inspection as well as the rating.
Key takeaways
- Most recent reforms apply to England only; check which nation a change covers.
- Visiting is a legal right in English care homes, and Scotland has Anne's Law.
- The CQC is being reformed, so read the inspection date alongside the rating.
- The care cap was cancelled; the Casey Commission is planning longer-term reform.
- Overseas care worker recruitment has closed and a fair pay agreement is planned for 2028.
- Follow CQC, GOV.UK and NHS.uk for reliable updates, and get personal advice before money decisions.