What to Expect During a CQC Inspection

CQC inspections can be announced or unannounced, and understanding what to expect can help you and your team feel more prepared and confident.

Types of CQC Inspections

Comprehensive Inspections

• Full assessment of all five Key Questions
• Usually announced with 2-4 weeks notice
• Involves multiple inspectors
• Lasts 1-3 days depending on service size

Focused Inspections

• Target specific areas of concern
• Often unannounced
• Shorter duration (few hours to one day)
• Follow up on previous issues

Unannounced Inspections

• No advance notice
• Can happen at any time
• Test real-world conditions
• Focus on resident experience

The Five Key Questions

Every inspection assesses your service against five fundamental questions:

1. Is it Safe? - Protection from abuse and avoidable harm
2. Is it Effective? - Care, treatment and support achieve good outcomes
3. Is it Caring? - Staff involve and treat people with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect
4. Is it Responsive? - Services meet people's needs
5. Is it Well-led? - Leadership, management and governance assure high-quality care

What Inspectors Will Do

During the inspection, CQC inspectors will:

• Tour the premises - Check cleanliness, safety, and suitability
• Review records - Care plans, medication records, staff files, policies
• Interview staff - Assess knowledge, training, and understanding
• Speak with service users - Gather feedback on care quality
• Observe care delivery - Watch interactions and care provision
• Check compliance - Verify adherence to regulations and standards

Documents Inspectors May Request

Be ready to provide:

• Care plans and risk assessments
• Medication administration records (MARs)
• Staff rotas and training records
• Incident and accident logs
• Safeguarding records
• Quality assurance audits
• Meeting minutes
• Complaints and compliments records

Inspection Timeline

1. Arrival - Inspectors introduce themselves and explain the process
2. Initial tour - Walk through the premises
3. Document review - Examine records and policies
4. Interviews - Speak with staff, residents, and relatives
5. Observations - Watch care delivery
6. Feedback session - Initial findings shared with manager
7. Report - Published within 4-6 weeks

After the Inspection

Following the inspection:

• Inspectors provide initial verbal feedback
• Written report published on CQC website
• Rating assigned (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate)
• Action plan required if improvements needed
• Follow-up inspection may be scheduled

How to Prepare

Want to be inspection-ready? Our mock inspection service provides:

• Realistic inspection simulation
• Detailed feedback report
• Action plan for improvements
• Inspector-led training

Contact us at 07495 932662 to book your mock inspection.