Our data & ratings
How we rate care homes
Short version: we don't. The ratings you see on AskBart are the official ones from the independent regulator — here's how to read them.
We show official ratings, not our own
AskBart doesn't invent or sell ratings. Every rating you see comes from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) — the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England — based on its own inspections. We simply display it, unaltered, so you can see it at a glance and read the full report.
What the ratings mean
- Outstanding — the service is performing exceptionally well.
- Good — the service is performing well and meeting expectations.
- Requires improvement — the service isn't performing as well as it should; ask what has changed since.
- Inadequate — the service is performing badly and is being closely monitored.
Each home is also rated across five areas — whether it is safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led — so a home rated "Good" overall might be stronger in some areas than others. Read how to read a CQC report for more.
The rest of the UK
Care homes are regulated by the CQC in England, the Care Inspectorate in Scotland, Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) in Wales, and RQIA in Northern Ireland.
How we keep information current
We regularly refresh the data we hold on each home — ratings, inspection dates, fees and details. Ratings can change between inspections, so we always encourage you to check the date and, most importantly, to visit in person before deciding.