CQC Toolkit
The audits and checks inspectors expect.
Run any of them here, free and without an account, and download a PDF report. Or print it, or download it as Word. Built only from official sources: CQC, NHS England, NICE, UKHSA, MHRA, HSE, GOV.UK, statutory regulators and national health charities. Each links to its source and to the publisher's own tool where there is one.
49 templates, 286 checks
Specific to a type of service
Emergency drugs and equipment checkSafe environments
From Resuscitation Council UK (charity) · official toolVaccine fridge and cold chain logMedicines optimisation
From UKHSA (GOV.UK) · official toolHigh-risk drug monitoring searchMedicines optimisation
From CQC, MHRASafety alerts logLearning culture
From MHRA · official toolTest results and referrals trackingSafe systems, pathways and transitions
From CQCCervical screening sample trackingMonitoring and improving outcomes
From CQCDecontamination audit (HTM 01-05)Infection prevention and control
From NHS England, Infection Prevention Society (charity) · official toolRadiation protection and radiograph quality auditSafe environments
From GOV.UK, UKHSA and FGDP (GOV.UK), College of General Dentistry (charity) · official toolMedical emergencies kit checkSafe environments
From Resuscitation Council UK (charity) · official toolLegionella and water temperature logInfection prevention and control
From HSEClinical record-keeping auditDelivering evidence-based care and treatment
From CQCSharps safety checkSafe environments
From HSEMedicines in care homes auditMedicines optimisation
From NICE · official toolCare plan auditPerson-centred care
From Skills for Care (charity)Falls reviewInvolving people to manage risks
From NICE · official toolPressure ulcer prevention reviewInvolving people to manage risks
From NICENutrition and hydration auditSupporting people to live healthier lives
From NICE, BAPEN (charity) · official toolOral health checkSupporting people to live healthier lives
From NICEDoLS tracker reviewIndependence, choice and control
From GOV.UKVisiting and accompanying (Regulation 9A)Independence, choice and control
From CQCMealtime observationKindness, compassion and dignity
From CQC, NICEVisit times and missed calls reviewCare provision, integration and continuity
From NICE · official toolMedicines support reviewMedicines optimisation
From NICE · official toolCare worker observation of practiceSafe and effective staffing
From NICE, Skills for Care (charity)Continuity of care reviewCare provision, integration and continuity
From NICELone working checkWorkforce wellbeing and enablement
From HSE · official toolSponsor licence duties check (if you sponsor workers)Governance, management and sustainability
From Home Office (GOV.UK) · official toolCosmetic consent auditConsent to care and treatment
From GMCVisiting clinicians file reviewSafe and effective staffing
From CQC, NHS EmployersComplications and outcomes reviewMonitoring and improving outcomes
From GMCEmergency equipment and anaphylaxis checkSafe environments
From Resuscitation Council UK (charity) · official toolAdvertising and information reviewProviding information
From Advertising Standards Authority, GMCIdentity and verification checks auditSafeguarding
From GMC and healthcare regulators, CQCRemote prescribing decisions auditMedicines optimisation
From GMC and healthcare regulators, CQCSafety-netting and follow-up reviewSafe systems, pathways and transitions
From GMC and healthcare regulators, CQC
From Resuscitation Council UK (charity) · official toolVaccine fridge and cold chain logMedicines optimisation
From UKHSA (GOV.UK) · official toolHigh-risk drug monitoring searchMedicines optimisation
From CQC, MHRASafety alerts logLearning culture
From MHRA · official toolTest results and referrals trackingSafe systems, pathways and transitions
From CQCCervical screening sample trackingMonitoring and improving outcomes
From CQCDecontamination audit (HTM 01-05)Infection prevention and control
From NHS England, Infection Prevention Society (charity) · official toolRadiation protection and radiograph quality auditSafe environments
From GOV.UK, UKHSA and FGDP (GOV.UK), College of General Dentistry (charity) · official toolMedical emergencies kit checkSafe environments
From Resuscitation Council UK (charity) · official toolLegionella and water temperature logInfection prevention and control
From HSEClinical record-keeping auditDelivering evidence-based care and treatment
From CQCSharps safety checkSafe environments
From HSEMedicines in care homes auditMedicines optimisation
From NICE · official toolCare plan auditPerson-centred care
From Skills for Care (charity)Falls reviewInvolving people to manage risks
From NICE · official toolPressure ulcer prevention reviewInvolving people to manage risks
From NICENutrition and hydration auditSupporting people to live healthier lives
From NICE, BAPEN (charity) · official toolOral health checkSupporting people to live healthier lives
From NICEDoLS tracker reviewIndependence, choice and control
From GOV.UKVisiting and accompanying (Regulation 9A)Independence, choice and control
From CQCMealtime observationKindness, compassion and dignity
From CQC, NICEVisit times and missed calls reviewCare provision, integration and continuity
From NICE · official toolMedicines support reviewMedicines optimisation
From NICE · official toolCare worker observation of practiceSafe and effective staffing
From NICE, Skills for Care (charity)Continuity of care reviewCare provision, integration and continuity
From NICELone working checkWorkforce wellbeing and enablement
From HSE · official toolSponsor licence duties check (if you sponsor workers)Governance, management and sustainability
From Home Office (GOV.UK) · official toolCosmetic consent auditConsent to care and treatment
From GMCVisiting clinicians file reviewSafe and effective staffing
From CQC, NHS EmployersComplications and outcomes reviewMonitoring and improving outcomes
From GMCEmergency equipment and anaphylaxis checkSafe environments
From Resuscitation Council UK (charity) · official toolAdvertising and information reviewProviding information
From Advertising Standards Authority, GMCIdentity and verification checks auditSafeguarding
From GMC and healthcare regulators, CQCRemote prescribing decisions auditMedicines optimisation
From GMC and healthcare regulators, CQCSafety-netting and follow-up reviewSafe systems, pathways and transitions
From GMC and healthcare regulators, CQC
For every regulated service
Safe recruitment file check (per staff member)Safe and effective staffing
From CQC, NHS Employers, Home Office (GOV.UK) · official toolTraining matrix reviewSafe and effective staffing
From CQCSupervision and appraisal record checkWorkforce wellbeing and enablement
From Skills for Care (charity), CQCIncident and learning reviewLearning culture
From NHS England · official toolDuty of candour checkLearning culture
From CQCComplaints handling reviewListening to and involving people
From Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman · official toolStatutory notifications checkGovernance, management and sustainability
From CQC · official toolStatement of purpose checkGovernance, management and sustainability
From CQC · official toolFreedom to speak up checkFreedom to speak up
From NHS England · official toolFire safety checksSafe environments
From GOV.UKHealth and safety risk assessment reviewSafe environments
From HSE · official toolStandard infection control precautions auditInfection prevention and control
From NHS England · official toolData security and protection checkGovernance, management and sustainability
From NHS England · official toolConsent and mental capacity auditConsent to care and treatment
From GOV.UK
From CQC, NHS Employers, Home Office (GOV.UK) · official toolTraining matrix reviewSafe and effective staffing
From CQCSupervision and appraisal record checkWorkforce wellbeing and enablement
From Skills for Care (charity), CQCIncident and learning reviewLearning culture
From NHS England · official toolDuty of candour checkLearning culture
From CQCComplaints handling reviewListening to and involving people
From Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman · official toolStatutory notifications checkGovernance, management and sustainability
From CQC · official toolStatement of purpose checkGovernance, management and sustainability
From CQC · official toolFreedom to speak up checkFreedom to speak up
From NHS England · official toolFire safety checksSafe environments
From GOV.UKHealth and safety risk assessment reviewSafe environments
From HSE · official toolStandard infection control precautions auditInfection prevention and control
From NHS England · official toolData security and protection checkGovernance, management and sustainability
From NHS England · official toolConsent and mental capacity auditConsent to care and treatment
From GOV.UK
Templates summarise official guidance as of October 2026. They do not replace it: always check the linked source for the full requirements. Audit Angel CQC is not affiliated with the Care Quality Commission.
Know your gaps before the inspector does.
Set-up takes ten minutes. Start with example evidence for your type of service, run your first audit, then replace the examples with your own.
Free during the pilotNo contractNo card needed