A dignity policy and a training record are the starting point. An inspector is looking for what happens between those documents and Tuesday afternoon — the moment a staff member decides whether to knock before entering, whether to address someone by their preferred name, whether to step outside before making a phone call. The Kindness, compassion and dignity KLOE looks beyond policy and training for exactly that.
CQC inspectors assess the experience of dignity in daily care. Policy and training are the foundation, not the evidence base.
The practice dilemma
Inspectors assess practice directly by observing care, speaking to people about their experience, and questioning staff about specific situations. They also examine whether the environment reflects genuine respect for privacy and individual preference.
Inspectors ask a person how their care feels, then read the care records. When those two things diverge, it becomes a finding.
A common pattern: a service has a comprehensive dignity policy and strong training records. An inspector speaks to a person receiving care. That person feels well cared for, but they mention that staff sometimes discuss their care within earshot and that their preferred name is not always used. These observations tell an inspector that daily practice still has ground to cover.
What the KLOE covers
The Kindness, compassion and dignity KLOE covers several areas (CQC, 2026). These include dignity, respect and privacy, confidentiality, communication, emotional wellbeing and responsiveness to immediate need. At Good level, people should be treated with genuine kindness, empathy and respect in every interaction, and their communication needs and preferences should be understood and met.
SCIE identifies ten dignity factors in care (SCIE, 2020). These are: respect, compassion, sensitivity, inclusion, responsive care, enabling, involvement, well-being, empowerment and privacy. The evidence for each factor lies in how staff interact with people.
What makes documentary evidence strong
The strongest evidence is a chain: a supervision note records a dignity challenge, the next team meeting addresses the same issue, the following supervision note confirms it has not recurred.
The environment
Dignity extends beyond interactions to the environment. People should receive personal care in private. Visitors should be welcomed without being overheard. Calls should be made in confidence. Personal space should feel genuinely personal. Environmental evidence is an area that inspection preparation often overlooks.
A brief, documented audit of the physical environment can reveal gaps that are straightforward to address. Consider whether private spaces are available for conversations. Ask whether staff seek permission before entering personal areas. Check whether the service layout supports private moments. SCIE's dignity in care resources provide a useful framework for this kind of audit (SCIE, 2020).
Building the habit
Add one question to your next supervision: 'Can you describe a moment this week when you maintained someone's dignity under difficult circumstances?' The answer is evidence. So is the fact that you asked.
The habit also builds culture. Regularly asking staff about dignity in supervision develops a sharper awareness of it in practice. Documentation and culture reinforce each other: the evidence trail and the lived experience begin to align.
AlwaysReady lets you attach supervision notes and meeting records directly to this KLOE. Over time, it builds a chronological record of how dignity is monitored and maintained.
References and regulatory sources
- Care Quality Commission (2026). Draft assessment framework for adult social care. Published 19 March 2026. Available at: cqc.org.uk
- Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) (2020). Dignity in care. Available at: scie.org.uk/dignity