The appointment of Chris Badger as the new Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care and Integrated Care at the Care Quality Commission signals what we hope will be a long-awaited turning point in the regulation of safety and transparency in care. Stepping into the role previously held by James Bullion, Chris Badger brings valuable experience from the local authority sector, and many of us working at the front line of care advocacy will be watching closely—hopeful that this marks the beginning of a new vision for the CQC.
At Care Campaign for the Vulnerable, we have campaigned for over a decade for the implementation of choice-led, consent-based safety monitoring in care homes—particularly those supporting people living with dementia. While providers across the country have increasingly shown interest in adopting this technology, the progress has often been slowed by a lack of clarity from the regulator. Our calls for a consistent and supportive approach from the CQC have, until now, met resistance or silence. It has created frustration for families and providers alike, who want to do the right thing but are unsure where the regulator stands.
Chris Badger has already spoken of the importance of giving people timely, meaningful information when making decisions about care. This emphasis on transparency and empowerment is not only refreshing—it’s essential. Families must be able to trust the system, and that starts with knowing that the regulator supports providers who wish to introduce sensible, ethical, and person-centred safety monitoring. It is not about surveillance. It is about giving people choice, and about creating a culture of openness that protects not only residents but the dedicated care staff who support them.
We hope that Chris’s leadership will usher in an era where digital innovation is not feared but welcomed—an era where the CQC works alongside providers and organisations like ours to understand how technology, when implemented with care and consent, can support better outcomes. We want to see a regulator that listens not just to systems, but to people. A regulator that acknowledges the real-life challenges in dementia care and is willing to evolve to meet them.
There is a real opportunity here. If this appointment brings an openness to dialogue, a willingness to pilot new approaches, and a genuine interest in co-designing regulation that meets the needs of today’s care environment, then this could be the beginning of meaningful and lasting change. We want to see safety monitoring viewed not as a risk, but as a tool to raise standards and build trust.
This is a moment of potential and CCFTV are hopeful that the Care Quality Commission will move towards a more collaborative, modern, and person-focused approach to regulation—one that reflects the evolving landscape of care and the need for greater accountability and reassurance. The sector is ready. Families are ready. Forward thinking and responsible Providers are ready. Now is the time for the regulator to lead with vision and courage.
By Jayne Connery, Director & Founder – Care Campaign for the Vulnerable
