What to do if a care home is rated Inadequate or closes

Practical steps if a relative's care home is rated Inadequate, put into special measures, or closes, and where to get help fast.

Published 2026-07-15 · A general guide, not legal, medical or financial advice.

Seeing a relative's care home rated Inadequate, or hearing that it may close, is alarming. It does not always mean an immediate move, and taking it in clear steps helps you make a sound decision rather than a panicked one that could cause more harm than the problem itself.

If a home is rated Inadequate

• Read the report to see exactly what was wrong and whether it affects your relative directly. Some failings are serious and immediate; others concern record-keeping or governance that matter but do not put residents in danger today.
• Ask the manager for the improvement plan and timescales. Inadequate services are placed in special measures and re-assessed within months, and a number do turn themselves around, often after a change of management.
• Raise specific concerns in writing, and ask directly how your relative is being kept safe right now.
• Contact the council's adult social care team if you are worried about safety; they have duties towards people in their area and a view across the home.

Deciding whether to move someone

Moving a frail or older person is itself stressful and carries real risks to health and wellbeing, so weigh that against the seriousness of the failings and whether they are genuinely being fixed. If you do decide to look elsewhere, ask for a fresh needs assessment, use CareRadar to compare nearby homes by rating, scores and history, and visit any shortlisted options before committing.

If a home closes

If a home closes, whether through CQC action or for business reasons, the local council has a duty to help residents find suitable alternative care and to support the move. Ask for a reassessment of needs, for help transferring records and care arrangements, and for time to consider options. Do not feel you must accept the first alternative offered if it is not right for your relative.

If someone is at immediate risk

Do not wait for any process. Contact the council's safeguarding team, or the police in an emergency. You can raise a safeguarding concern about another person, and anonymously if you wish.

Where to get support

Age UK and the Relatives and Residents Association offer free guidance and a listening ear if you are facing this, and an advocate can help you press a case when you are stretched and worried.