CQC Key Question Caring Domain Inspection Preparation Checklist
This checklist covers compliance with Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 and applicable UK statutory requirements for healthcare operations. Non-compliance can result in prosecution, unlimited fines, and service cancellation under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and CQC Fundamental Standards.
- Industry: Healthcare
- Frequency: Quarterly
- Estimated Time: 20-30 minutes
- Role: Patient Experience Manager
- Total Items: 20
- Compliance: Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, CQC Fundamental Standards, Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009, Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
CQC Registration & Provider Compliance
Verify CQC registration currency, Registered Manager appointment, and Provider Information Return.
- Is the CQC registration current and are all regulated activities registered for the location?
- Is a Registered Manager (RM) appointed and registered with CQC, or is an application in progress?
- Is the Provider Information Return (PIR) or equivalent self-assessment submitted to CQC on time?
- Attach photo of CQC registration certificate, Registered Manager registration, and most recent PIR submission:
Safe Recruitment, IPC & Medicines Management
Verify DBS checking, IPC programme, and medicines management compliance per CQC Fundamental Standards.
- Are all staff DBS checked at appropriate level (Enhanced where required) before patient/service user contact?
- Is the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) programme in place per UKHSA and NICE NG125 guidance?
- Is medicines management policy compliant with CQC Regulation 12 and local formulary requirements?
- Attach photo of DBS check log, IPC audit results, and medicines management audit:
Duty of Candour, DoLS & Notifiable Incidents
Verify duty of candour implementation, DoLS authorisations, and CQC notifiable incident compliance.
- Are Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) or Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS) applications in place where required?
- Is the duty of candour policy implemented with all serious incidents notified to CQC within the required timescale?
- Overall CQC fundamental standards compliance assessment:
- Attach photo of DoLS application register, duty of candour notifications, and serious incident reports:
Safeguarding, CQC Reports & Improvement Planning
Verify Safeguarding referral process, CQC report display, and improvement plan tracking.
- Are Safeguarding referrals made promptly to the Local Authority when a concern arises regarding vulnerable people?
- Are CQC Inspection reports displayed (where required) and improvement action plans tracked to completion?
- Months since last CQC inspection or focused inspection:
- Registered Manager or Nominated Individual certification:
Corrective Actions & Inspector Sign-Off
Document all deficiencies and assign corrective actions. POPProbe auto-assigns these to team members, generates a signed PDF report instantly, and tracks compliance status across all locations. -> Start free, no credit card required
- List all deficiencies identified in this inspection:
- Overall compliance status?
- Corrective actions assigned to (name and department):
- Inspector digital signature and date:
Related Health Services Checklists
- CQC Key Question Well-Led Domain Governance Framework Audit
- CQC Regulation 12 Medication Safety & Medicines Management Audit
- CQC Regulation 12 & UKHSA IPC Infection Prevention Control Audit
- CQC Regulation 13 Safeguarding Adults from Abuse Compliance Audit
- CQC Regulation 13 & KCSIE 2023 Safeguarding Children Compliance
- CQC Regulation 20 Duty of Candour Compliance & Openness Audit
- CQC Regulation 5 Fit & Proper Persons Requirement Director Audit
- CQC Regulation 9 Person-Centred Care Planning Compliance Audit
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Why Use This CQC Key Question Caring Domain Inspection Preparation Checklist?
This cqc key question caring domain inspection preparation checklist helps healthcare teams maintain compliance and operational excellence. Designed for patient experience manager professionals, this checklist covers 20 critical inspection points across 5 sections. Recommended frequency: quarterly.
Ensures compliance with Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, CQC Fundamental Standards, Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009, Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Regulatory-aligned for audit readiness and inspection documentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the CQC Key Question Caring Domain Inspection Preparation Checklist cover?
This checklist covers 20 inspection items across 5 sections: CQC Registration & Provider Compliance, Safe Recruitment, IPC & Medicines Management, Duty of Candour, DoLS & Notifiable Incidents, Safeguarding, CQC Reports & Improvement Planning, Corrective Actions & Inspector Sign-Off. It is designed for healthcare operations and compliance.
How often should this checklist be completed?
This checklist should be completed quarterly. Each completion takes approximately 20-30 minutes.
Who should use this CQC Key Question Caring Domain Inspection Preparation Checklist?
This checklist is designed for Patient Experience Manager professionals in the healthcare industry. It can be used for self-assessments, team audits, and regulatory compliance documentation.
Can I download this checklist as a PDF?
Yes, this checklist is available as a free PDF download. You can also use it digitally in the POPProbe mobile app for real-time data capture, photo documentation, and automatic reporting.