Welcome to the May 2026 policy updates. Please note policies are rapidly changing to a new format. Quality Statements are evidenced clearly at the start of the policy, and a detailed Procedures section has been clearly separated out in the policies. For structured details on these policy updates, please see this>
This article will be updated throughout May.
Staff Induction Policy
Change Classification: MAJOR
This is a comprehensive restructure of the Staff Induction Policy for England. The new version replaces the previous edition with a fully reorganised document that separates policy detail from step-by-step procedures, adds new service-specific induction content for community-based and residential care settings, introduces defined roles and responsibilities for Registered Managers, mentors and new staff, and creates a structured eight-step procedures section with explicit recording requirements at each stage. The update reflects the March 2025 Care Certificate revision (expanding from 15 to 16 standards), adds Regulation 12 and Schedule 3 to the regulatory header, presents CQC Quality Statements with full quoted text, adds a new quality statement on learning, improving and innovation, and introduces references to the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism, digital skills, and the Data Protection Act 2018 / UK GDPR. The scope now explicitly covers community and residential services and lists who the policy applies to by category.
Released 8 May 2026
MAR Chart Management - Residential Services
Change Classification: MAJOR
This release represents a comprehensive restructure of the MAR Chart Management policy for residential services in England. The new version introduces a formal numbered section architecture, expands the regulatory header with full quality statement text and policy-specific relevance statements, and replaces the previous narrative-style body with a clearly divided Policy Detail section and a new eight-step Procedures section. Significant additions include a hospital admission and discharge procedure, an error reporting procedure with defined timescales, a training matrix requirement, and guidance on correcting handwritten MAR entries. Terminology has been standardised to "people we support" throughout, and references have been updated and restructured. One personalised field has been added and two retained.
Released 8 May 2026