Key Summary
- New CQC chief inspector Chris Badger prioritises more visits and inspections to drive improvement
- He plans to tackle workforce issues through better pay, funding, and career pathways
- Badger supports the Casey Commission’s vision for a 10-year national care service reform
Chris Badger joined Care Quality Commission (CQC) as chief inspector of Adult Social Care and Integrated Care in September, 2025.
He has been contributing remarkably to adult social care for the past fifteen years.
His experience spans from being the director of Adult Social Care at Hertfordshire County Council, along with his role as an adviser to the Department of Health and Social Care.
He discussed the key areas he aims to focus during his service in his first Inside CQC column from Care Management Matters (CMM).
Badger’s top priority at CQC is visit and inspection of more services, as he strongly believes in regulation that encourages improvement.
He considers this as a key step to maintain CQC’s credibility.
He looks forward to visit care providers to witness first-hand compassion, innovation, and dedication driving high-quality care across the sector.
Other issue he aims to focus is workforce challenges.
He understands the social care work visa obstacles and considers long-term funding, better pay and clearer career paths to help the workforce.
He also welcomes the Casey Commission to reform adult social care.
The Casey Commission headed by Baroness Louise Casey of Blackstock, has been asked to develop a 10-year plan next year to create a national care service aimed at improving and reforming adult social care across England.
As much as he plans to work on the external factors, Badger also focuses on internal affairs as well.
He will prepare CQC to return to their specialist teams inorder to strengthen their local relationships.
This will help them identify and resolve issues efficiently as a team.
Badger appreciated Manchester’s Creative Support in Wythenshawe, that was promoted from ‘good’ to ‘outstanding’ recently.
He praised their strong leadership, person-centred care, and excellent collaboration with other health services to ensure seamless support for people with learning disabilities and autism.
Badger said, “This is a local example, but as we develop and maintain our specialist adult social care regulatory function, it is important to recognise and influence how social care works as part of the wider system.”
“There is true interdependency in health and social care. Both sectors face challenges, but working together, can find solutions.”
“I will be using my voice as Chief Inspector to keep drawing attention to that,” he assured.
