How to prepare for a CQC inspection

CQC inspections used to be periodic events. Under the Single Assessment Framework, they are continuous — but most providers still get a heads-up that an inspector is on the way. If you have between four and eight weeks of warning, this playbook is the structure to use. If you have less, skip steps 5 and 6 and double down on steps 4 and 9.

1. 1

   Confirm exactly which Quality Statements apply to your service

   Under the Single Assessment Framework, not every Quality Statement applies to every service type. Start by confirming the exact list that applies to a GP practice, alongside any additional ones that apply to your specific regulated activities. The CQC publishes these on its website. Print the list and treat it as your master inspection checklist — every other step in this playbook maps back to it.

2. 2

   Audit your current policies against the Quality Statements

   Walk through each Quality Statement in turn and identify which of your current policies addresses it. Where the same policy covers multiple statements, note all of them. Where a Quality Statement has no clear policy, flag it as a gap. This step typically reveals 3–6 gaps in a practice that has not done a structured audit recently.

3. 3

   Refresh stale policies before they go in front of an inspector

   Inspectors look for evidence that your policies reflect current guidance from CQC, NICE, RCGP, and NHS England. Anything older than 12 months should be reviewed and either confirmed as still current or refreshed. AI policy drafting tools can compress this from days of writing to hours of review — but the human review step is non-negotiable.

4. 4

   Build a single evidence pack per Quality Statement

   For each applicable Quality Statement, create a single evidence pack that contains the relevant policies, audit results, training records, and outcomes data. Inspectors will ask for evidence by Quality Statement, and your job is to answer that ask in seconds rather than hours of digging through shared drives.

5. 5

   Run a mock inspection at least four weeks out

   Schedule a mock inspection at least four weeks before the real one is due. The point is not to perform — it is to find the gaps you missed in steps 1–4. The mock inspector should be someone who is willing to push back, ideally a peer practice manager from another practice or an external compliance consultant.

6. 6

   Capture patient feedback in the form CQC asks for

   Patient experience is one of the five evidence categories under the Single Assessment Framework. Make sure you have recent, structured feedback through the Friends & Family Test, NHS Choices reviews, complaints data, and any other patient voice channel you run. Aggregate the data and write a one-page summary covering volume, sentiment, themes, and what you have done in response.

7. 7

   Walk the building with fresh eyes

   The Safe key question is partly assessed through observation. Walk every patient-facing area in the practice with fresh eyes — fire exits, infection control signage, sharps bins, cold-chain equipment, accessible toilets, calling systems, waiting room comfort. Take photos of anything that needs fixing and assign owners.

8. 8

   Brief every member of staff

   Inspectors talk to staff. Brief every member of the team — clinical and non-clinical — on what is happening, what they should do during the inspection, and what topics are likely to come up. They do not need to memorise policies; they need to know where the policies live, what their personal responsibilities are, and how to escalate concerns. Run a 15-minute team meeting the week before.

9. 9

   Prepare the Provider Information Return (PIR) carefully

   If CQC has requested a PIR, treat it as a serious piece of writing rather than a tickbox exercise. The PIR is your structured opportunity to tell CQC the story of your service before they walk in. Use named examples, link to evidence, and avoid generic language. The Practice Manager and a clinical lead should both review it before submission.

10. 10

    Run a final readiness review the day before

    On the day before the inspection, do a final 30-minute readiness review with the practice manager and clinical lead. Confirm: every Quality Statement has its evidence pack, the building has been walked, staff are briefed, the PIR is submitted, and the readiness dashboard score is where you want it. Anything outstanding gets escalated immediately.