CQC compliance service
CQC Mock Inspections
Includes: Independent compliance review • Identify red flags • Roles and Responsibilities • Governance, Leadership, and Quality Assurance Issues • Missing Evidence
Or call 0208 111 1188Trusted by UK providers since 2012
In short
We assess your governance, records, policies, staff knowledge, service-user experience, operational practice and compliance evidence, identifying weaknesses and regulatory risks before they become inspection findings. You receive a detailed report with clear findings and a prioritised corrective action plan.
Often combined with Remedial Action Plan, Reg 17 - Good Governance and Quality Statements.
What Is a Mock Inspection?
A CQC Mock Inspection is a structured review designed to test how well your service can demonstrate compliance in practice. Rather than simply checking whether policies exist, we look at whether your documents, records, staff knowledge, governance systems and day-to-day practice tell the same story.
How does CQC conduct inspections?
Under the Single Assessment Framework, CQC inspectors assess services using:
- The Five Key Questions
- Quality Statements
- Evidence Categories
- Triangulation Method
- Regulatory Judgement and Scoring
- People's Experience
Our service
We assess following:
Governance & Leadership
Management oversight, audits, accountability, risk management and quality assurance.Policies & Procedures
Whether policies are current, relevant, implemented and reflected in practice.Care / Clinical Records
Accuracy, completeness, consent, risk assessments, care planning and record quality.Safeguarding
Staff knowledge, reporting arrangements, escalation and safeguarding evidence.Medicines Management
Storage, administration, prescribing, records and medication governance where applicable.Recruitment & Workforce
Recruitment files, DBS, references, induction, supervision and staffing controls.Training & Competency
Mandatory training, competency assessment, staff knowledge and development.Complaints & Incidents
Reporting, investigation, Duty of Candour, learning and improvement.Service-User Experience
Feedback, involvement, dignity, choice, communication and person-centred care.Health, Safety & Infection Control
Premises safety, IPC, equipment, emergency arrangements and environmental risks.Quality Assurance
Audits, monitoring, action plans, performance indicators and continuous improvement.
Why choose us?
Independent Compliance Review
We provide an objective assessment of your service before the regulator does.Regulatory Experience Since 2012
QMADS has supported 59 types of health and social care providers with registration, governance and compliance for more than a decade.Evidence, Not Just Documents
We test whether your policies, records, staff knowledge and operational practice are consistent.Tailored Service-Specific Assessment
Our inspection scope is adapted to your service type, regulated activities and known risk areas.Practical Corrective Action
We do not stop at identifying problems. You receive a clear roadmap showing what needs to change.Wider Remediation Support
Where significant gaps are identified, QMADS can provide additional governance, policy, training and remedial-action support.
Our Process (End-to-End)
Pre-Inspection Review
We agree the scope of the inspection and request relevant documents and evidence in advance.Governance & Document Review
We review areas such as policies, audits, risk registers, complaints, incidents, training records, care or clinical records and governance evidence.On-Site or Virtual Assessment
Our consultant conducts a structured review of the service, systems and available evidence.Staff & Management Interviews
Where appropriate, we speak with the Registered Manager, Nominated Individual, senior staff and frontline employees to test knowledge and implementation.Record & Practice Sampling
We sample records and operational evidence to identify whether policies and procedures are being followed in practice.Findings & Corrective Action Plan
You receive a detailed report identifying compliance strengths, weaknesses, risks and prioritised actions.
Pricing
| Feature | Small to Medium | Medium To Large |
|---|---|---|
| Social Care Organisations | £2000 + VAT = £2,400 | £2500 + VAT = £3,000 |
| Private & Primary Care Organisations | £2500 + VAT = £3,000 | £3000 + VAT = £3,600 |
| Specialist & Secondary Care Organisations | £3000 + VAT = £3,600 | £4000 + VAT = £4,800 |
What does the report look like?
Please download the shortened and sample version of our Inspection Report which will give you the indication of what the report format would look like.
How to go ahead?
Choose Your Mock Inspection
Select the inspection option that best suits your service, location and level of support required.Place Your Order
Contact us by website, email, phone or WhatsApp to confirm your booking.Confirm the Scope
We agree the service areas, locations, records and evidence to be reviewed.Send Your Documents
You provide the requested policies, governance records, audits, training information and other relevant evidence in advance.Inspection Date Confirmed
We schedule the mock inspection and confirm whether it will be on-site, virtual or a combination of both.Receive Your Report
After the inspection, you receive a detailed findings report with prioritised actions and recommended next steps.
Identify your compliance gaps before CQC does!
Answers
Common questions
A mock inspection is an evidence-driven simulation of a real CQC inspection, using the same five key questions, quality statements, evidence categories and inspection logic as the Single Assessment Framework. It identifies compliance gaps, documentation failures, cultural risks and leadership vulnerabilities before the regulator attends, and ends with a CQC-style report and scoring.
The scope can include governance, safeguarding, staffing, recruitment, training, medicines, care or clinical records, complaints, incidents, infection control, premises and service-user experience.
Yes, where included within the scope. Staff interviews help establish whether policies and regulatory requirements are understood and implemented in practice.
Yes. Appropriate record sampling can form part of the inspection to assess documentation, risk management, consent, care planning and other relevant evidence.
Yes. You receive a structured report explaining the findings, identified risks and areas requiring improvement.
Yes. A prioritised corrective action plan is included, setting out the main areas that should be addressed.
No. CQC independently assesses and rates providers. A mock inspection helps identify weaknesses and improve inspection readiness but cannot guarantee a regulatory outcome.
Providers commonly arrange one before an expected CQC assessment, after significant organisational changes, following concerns or complaints, or as part of routine governance assurance.
Yes. QMADS can provide additional support through Remedial Action Plans, governance reviews, policy updates, training and ongoing consultancy.
Yes. Multi-location and group-provider mock inspections can be scoped and quoted separately.
Further reading
Blogs on Mock Inspections
- 4 min readThe Back & Forth of CQC Framework: SAF Changes Explained 2026-27CQC is changing its assessment approach again. Discover what sector-specific frameworks, KLOE-style questions and proposed removal of scoring mean…
- 4 min readHow CQC Inspects Online Clinics Telemedicine, Telehealth & Online Providers Under the Single Assessment Framework (SAF)The rise of telehealth, telemedicine, and online healthcare services has changed how healthcare is delivered in the UK. However, one misconception…
- 3 min readCQC Compliance Audit – InternalA CQC Compliance Audit is not an optional exercise for regulated providers. It is one of the clearest ways to demonstrate that your organisation…
Why providers choose QMADS for this
Inspection preparation
Build readiness before the inspector arrives
Assess your evidence, leadership and operational arrangements through focused reviews and mock inspections.
Honest advice
Clear advice. Candid assessments.
We explain the gaps, their implications and the action needed so you can make informed decisions.
Actionable recommendations
Know what to fix—and where to start
Prioritised action plans give your team clear steps, responsibilities and timescales.
Next step
Talk to us about Mock Inspections
Book a free consultation or send us your details, and a QMADS consultant will come back to you with scope, timescales and a confirmed fee.