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CQC Public Engagement Network

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) Public Engagement Network exists to ensure the voices of people experiencing health inequalities inform how services are regulated and improved. The Public Engagement Network is a space where not-for-profit organisations that represent the perspectives of people who experience health inequalities can share insights with the CQC to inform how services are regulated and improved.

  • Health inequalities
  • Lived experience
  • Person-centred care

The Voices for Health Equity Partnership – led by National Voices, working alongside Innovation Unit and Collaborate CIC – coordinate the Public Engagement Network on behalf of the CQC.

Benefits of Public Engagement Network membership include:

  • A powerful lever for change through the CQC:
    You will have a direct route to ensure the insights you gather inform the CQC’s regulatory role, alongside opportunities to engage directly with senior leaders. This means your evidence can help shape the standards services are judged against, how quality is defined and measured, and the way the CQC holds providers to account – giving you the chance to have your voice heard at the highest levels and influence decisions that shape the health and care system.
  • A high-quality learning programme to grow your impact:
    You will have access to a free, high-quality learning programme designed specifically for organisations working to address health inequalities. The programme will focus on the issues that matter most to members and provide practical skills, knowledge, and tools to strengthen your work. You will also have opportunities to shape the content, ensuring it is relevant and valuable.
  • Building collective voice and shaping priorities:
    By connecting with other not-for-profit organisations representing communities facing health inequalities, you can come together around shared issues and make more progress than you might individually. Together, you can identify common priorities for feedback and insight gathering, ensuring the issues that matter most to your communities are recognised, understood, and acted upon. You will also have access to spaces where you can not only highlight challenges but help shape practical solutions.
  • Access to usable data and evidence (in development):
    We are currently developing a new process to ensure that when the communities you work with share insights with the CQC, you will be able to access this data in formats that support your wider work addressing health and care inequalities.

On 1st April 2026, the Voices for Health Equity Partnership Registrations began work leading the next phase of the Public Engagement Network. Work is currently underway to prepare to welcome new members to the Network. We will share more information on how to register and eligibility criteria over the coming weeks. If you would like to be notified when the new registration process opens, please fill out this Expression of Interest form and we will be in touch soon.  

FAQs

How much does it cost to become a member?

Membership of the CQC Public Engagement Network is free.

Can I get support to fill out the form to join the Public Engagement Network?

When registrations launch, if you would like accessibility support to fill out the Public Engagement Network form, please contact Catherine Emmanuele via email or call 020 3176 0738 and they will support you to fill out the form.

Can I have a conversation with a member of the team before signing up?

When registrations launch, if you would like to have a conversation with a member of the team before signing up, please contact Catherine Emmanuele via email or call 020 3176 0738 and they will help you.

Who are the Voices for Health Equity Partnership?

The Voices for Health Equity Partnership are a group of experienced, mission-driven organisations committed to advancing equity in health and care. It is led by National Voices, working with the Innovation Unit and Collaborate CIC. The Voices for Health Equity Partnership co-ordinate the Public Engagement Network on behalf of the CQC.

How is being a Public Engagement Network member different from being a National Voices member?

Membership of the CQC Public Engagement Network is specifically focused on amplifying the voices of people experiencing health inequalities and ensuring those insights directly inform how the CQC regulates and improves services, whereas membership of National Voices spans a broader range of health and care issues, including but not limited to health inequalities. Many organisations are members of both, as they are complementary but distinct: the Public Engagement Network offers a targeted route into influencing regulation on health inequalities, while National Voices membership provides wider opportunities for collaboration, learning, and influencing across the full health and care landscape.