Governance review
Review leadership oversight, audits, risks, complaints, incidents, quality systems and evidence of improvement.
Compliance audits
CQC Compliance Audits
Structured reviews of governance, evidence and operational systems to help providers identify compliance gaps and prioritise improvement work. Our CQC governance reviews assess management oversight, risk controls, audit follow-up and evidence of continuous improvement in line with the applicable requirements of Regulation 17: Good governance.
How we can help
Focused support for your CQC journey
Evidence review
Test whether policies, records and management evidence support the way the service says it operates.
Regulatory readiness
Identify areas that may need strengthening before inspection, assessment or a significant service change.
Action planning
Translate findings into practical priorities, owners, timescales and evidence of completion.
What does a CQC compliance audit review?
A compliance audit examines whether the evidence available supports the way a service describes its quality, safety and governance. The scope should reflect the provider type, regulated activities and concerns being reviewed. Depending on that scope, relevant evidence may include audit findings, risk registers, incidents, complaints, staffing oversight and records of improvement.
How to prepare for an audit discussion
Start with a short explanation of your service, the reason for the review and any areas where you need assurance. Identify existing audit reports, governance records and outstanding actions so the discussion can focus on known risks and gaps. Agree which records are relevant before sharing them, and use anonymised examples wherever possible.
Turning findings into practical actions
Findings should distinguish the concern, the evidence reviewed and the improvement required. A useful action records who is responsible, the intended completion date and how completion will be checked. For example, identifying an incomplete audit schedule is only the first step: the follow-up should establish whether audits take place, findings reach the right leaders and resulting actions are reviewed.
Agreeing the scope of support
The extent of the review and any follow-up work should be agreed before work begins. A focused governance review and a broader mock inspection serve different purposes, so the appropriate approach depends on the question you need answered. An independent audit supports improvement; it does not replace CQC assessment or guarantee a particular rating.
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