What is a mock CQC inspection?
The benefits of a mock CQC inspection with Thornbury Nursing Services
- Receive advice from the experts
- Improve your services
- Be prepared
- Inspire your team with confidence
Success stories from our clients
Frequently asked questions about mock CQC inspections
A CQC inspection is like a mock inspection, the only difference is who conducts it and what key questions are assessed throughout. During an inspection, the CQC will assess your service and the outcome of their review will determine your rating.
Inspections ensure that your service complies with the standards of the CQC and that your patients receive the quality of care they deserve. Offering the best care to your service users will ultimately help you to improve or maintain your rating as a health or social care provider.
Join one of our CQC webinars to find out more about what is involved in a CQC inspection.
Preparing for your CQC inspection gives you an opportunity to make improvements before you are assessed and helps your team feel ready for questions from inspectors. We recommend conducting a mock inspection ahead of any inspection by the CQC. It is the best way to thoroughly prepare for a real CQC inspection.
If you are not doing a mock inspection, there are a few things you can still do to prepare for a CQC inspection. You should make your team aware that a CQC inspection will be taking place as the inspector may speak to individual staff. If you have any residents who you are responsible for, they should also be made aware of the visit.
Plus, you should make sure all key documents are prepared since they are likely to be reviewed in a CQC inspection. We also advise that you appoint a trusted member of the team to prepare for any questions and to guide the inspection team around your organisation.
Other providers of mock CQC inspections typically assess how long an inspection will take depending on the size of an organisation. Ours are kept at a standard of two days minimum, depending on the type of inspection you request, to ensure that we offer a comprehensive review of your service without disrupting your day-to-day work.
We can review your service against specific quality statements, gather feedback and evaluate how opinions are collected.
Depending on your rating, CQC inspections are carried out between 6 months and 5 years. Whether your organisation is rated ‘requires improvement’ or ‘outstanding’ it is important that you take the steps to prepare for your next inspection. However, if your organisaton has a lower rating, we recommend having practice inspections until you are satisfied that your service performs as expected or better.
We advise that you book a mock CQC inspection if you want support improving your practice, if you believe you are due for an inspection or if you want a routine run-through.
Once we have completed our evaluation of the information gathered during the mock CQC inspection, we will review our findings and offer recommendations to make sure you take the right steps to improve your service.
The post-inspection report will highlight specific areas where your service needs improvement and suggest necessary actions, helping you prepare you for a CQC inspection.
If you lack the capacity to implement the suggested improvements, we can help you with tailored consultancy solutions including care plan reviews, staff training and risk register management.