CQC Registration
Support to define the correct legal entity, regulated activities, service types and locations; prepare the statement of purpose and required evidence; and plan for any registered manager application.
Secondary Care CQC support
CQC support for Special Assessment Unit Services
Assessment units need a defined purpose, clear admission criteria and prompt decisions about onward care. We help teams review the route from referral to discharge.
Provider type × service intent
Practical CQC support at each stage
CQC Compliance
Governance, policies, audits and evidence systems aligned to the regulations and the five key questions: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led.
Inspection Preparation
Focused preparation against relevant Quality Statements, including leadership readiness, staff understanding and the evidence that demonstrates how the service operates in practice.
Mock Inspections & Audits
A proportionate review of records, governance, people’s experience, processes and outcomes, followed by a prioritised action plan for identified gaps.
Your operating model
Define the service before the paperwork
Explain who the unit assesses, which investigations and treatments it provides and whether people stay overnight. The unit’s name alone does not establish registration scope.
We start with your proposed or current service, the people you support and the organisations involved. This gives the registration and compliance review a practical scope, including any changes to locations, leadership or activities.
CQC regulates activities in England. The appropriate registration depends on what your organisation actually does and any applicable exceptions. Consultancy support does not guarantee registration or an inspection rating.
Service-specific priorities
What we focus on
Access and triage
Review acceptance criteria, referral quality and escalation when needs exceed the unit’s capability.
CQC references: Quality Statement – Assessing needs · Quality Statement – Involving people to manage risks
Assessment records
Check multidisciplinary input, consent, risk reviews and documentation of decisions.
CQC references: Quality Statement – Assessing needs · Quality Statement – Consent to care and treatment
Safe onward care
Trace results, transfer plans and communication with the receiving service or community team.
CQC references: Quality Statement – Safe systems, pathways and transitions · Quality Statement – How staff, teams and services work together
From evidence to action
Prepare for a useful review
Bring your service description, staffing structure and any previous CQC feedback. For an operating service, a proportionate sample of records helps us explore access and triage, assessment records, safe onward care in practice.
We agree the review scope with you, compare written processes with day-to-day delivery and identify gaps. Findings should lead to an action plan with named owners, realistic dates and a way to check that improvements have taken effect.
- Statement of purpose and current registration details, where applicable
- Relevant policies, staff competence and supervision evidence
- Care or clinical records, consent and risk assessments
- Audit findings, incidents, complaints and improvement records
Registration, review or improvement?
For a new service, the first step is to establish scope and readiness before preparing application evidence. For an existing provider, we can focus on a particular concern or agree a broader mock inspection. If you are changing the service, review the regulatory implications before introducing the change.
Our work builds on your existing systems. We help your team understand the evidence and the actions needed, with the provider retaining responsibility for safe delivery and ongoing compliance.
Regulatory references: CQC scope of registration and good governance guidance. Requirements should be checked against the current guidance for your activities.