Preparing for a CQC inspection in England: a practical evidence checklist
Updated: Oct 11
A good inspection evidence folder should demonstrate how safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led practice works in real life. Do not treat a folder or template as proof of compliance on its own.
Start by checking governance: current policies, assigned responsibilities, audits, action plans and evidence that lessons from incidents and complaints have led to changes.
Review recruitment and staffing evidence: appropriate checks, training relevant to each role, induction, supervision, competency assessment and safe staffing arrangements.
Look at care records and medicine management: personalised plans, risk assessments, daily records, consent, medicines administration records, review dates and follow-up when information is missing.
Record what was checked, any gaps, who owns the action and when it will be reviewed. Check that what staff actually do matches what written records describe.
Looking Glass Care supports care providers in England with practical CQC documentation reviews, audit preparation and personalised policies. Ask for a free 30-minute consultation at lookingglasscare.co.uk or email info@lookingglasscare.co.uk. This is general information, not a guarantee of an inspection rating.
A focused documentation review for £125
For care providers in England who want help with one agreed area: governance, recruitment or care documentation. The fixed price covers a remote review of up to three documents and 30 pages in total, a written gap summary and a prioritised action checklist.
Email info@lookingglasscare.co.uk with the area, approximate document/page count and your preferred deadline. We agree the scope and delivery date before payment. Please do not send identifiable care or staff records; first agree a suitable route for redacted documents.
This campaign payment link closes on 11 October 2026; after that date, email us to check current availability and pricing. The focused review is independent documentation support, separate from broader review packages. It is not a full inspection, certification, legal or clinical advice, or a guaranteed CQC outcome.
Useful resources for this topic
If you would like a practical record to use alongside this article, the resources below explain their scope, format and price. Choose only the material that fits your circumstances; a completed template is a starting point for action and review.
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