Most services have a dignity policy, a dignity champion and staff training records. These form the expected baseline — in care homes, domiciliary services and supported living alike. The Kindness, compassion and dignity KLOE looks beyond this baseline.
A policy sets out intention. A training record documents input. Inspectors look for evidence that dignity is lived out in practice every day for every person.
CQC inspectors assess the experience of dignity in daily care. Policy and training are the foundation, not the evidence base.
The practice dilemma
The Kindness, compassion and dignity KLOE is one of the most challenging to evidence. 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.
Documentary evidence provides important context. Inspectors are trained to recognise when the written record and lived experience diverge.
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
Strong documentary evidence does two things. First, it shows how care is delivered, not just what. Try this in supervision: 'Describe a recent dignity challenge and how you handled it.' A record of that conversation is evidence that dignity is a live team topic.
Second, it shows that the service acts on what it learns. Imagine a supervision note recording a difficult situation. The next team meeting note then addresses the same issue as part of shared learning. Together, they create the evidence trail inspectors look for.
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
Building strong evidence of kindness, compassion and dignity begins with routine conversation. A single question can do this: 'How did we maintain dignity this week?' Over time, the answers build a body of documented evidence. It speaks more directly to inspectors than any policy document.
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