07/04/2026
CQC and Ofsted activities are rising. Is your service actually ready — or do you just think it is?
That gap between what your service does and what it can prove it does is where ratings are won and lost.
I see it every time we conduct a mock inspection. A registered manager who genuinely believes their service is performing well. Good staff. Decent care. Real commitment.
And then the inspection evidence just doesn't hold up.
The CQC has re-energised its inspection programme under the Single Assessment Framework. Ofsted has sharpened its focus on supported accommodation for 16 to 17 year-olds.
For providers who have been quietly hoping for more time — that window is closing.
Here's the reality check most providers are avoiding:
Most services perform better than their evidence demonstrates. When an inspector arrives, they don't see your intentions. They see your records. They hear your staff. They observe your practice.
All three have to stack up — on the day, every day.
So what does a mock inspection from Care Quality Support actually involve?
✅ Pre-inspection documentary review — policies, care plans, risk assessments, staff files
✅ Full on-site inspection simulation — walkarounds, observation, record scrutiny
✅ Staff and manager interviews — the same questions a real inspector would ask
✅ A rated mock inspection report — with a provisional judgement and action plan
✅ Evidence gap analysis — mapped against CQC Quality Statements or Ofsted criteria
✅ Post-inspection debrief — with an actionable improvement plan and clear ownership
Nothing staged. Nothing softened.
Who is this for?
🔵 New and recently registered providers approaching their first CQC or Ofsted inspection
🔵 Good-rated providers who are serious about achieving Outstanding
🔵 Providers under pressure — managing a Requires Improvement rating or enforcement action
Here's an example of what we found on a recent engagement:
A supported living provider in the East Midlands commissioned us after receiving a Requires Improvement rating. Frontline practice had genuinely improved. But the governance documentation — particularly around MCA compliance and restrictive practice recording — wasn't evidencing that improvement.
They had three months before the re-inspection. They used them wisely.
Outstanding is not about doing more.
It is about doing the right things consistently, with purpose — and being able to demonstrate that to an inspector at any point.
If you are not certain your service could pass an inspection tomorrow, now is the time to find out.
📩 Get in touch: [email protected]
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