Free Resource
CQC Compliance
for Clinics
Everything you need to know about CQC registration, inspection, and ongoing compliance — written specifically for aesthetic and injectable clinics, not care homes.
⚠️ Licensing update — September 2026: A licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England is being introduced under Section 180 of the Health and Care Act 2022. Following the Government's response to the DHSC consultation, lower and medium-risk procedures are proposed to be licensed and administered by local authorities, while higher-risk procedures are proposed to remain with regulated healthcare professionals at CQC-registered premises. The scheme is not yet in force and no date has been confirmed. INTENTIQ's training, competency, consent and traceability records support the evidence both regimes are expected to require.
Who this is for: If you perform Botox, dermal fillers, or any injectable treatment in the UK — and especially if you are registered or planning to register with the CQC — this page is your starting point. We've mapped every major CQC regulation to what it means for your day-to-day clinic operations.
Interactive walkthrough
See governance mapped to every CQC duty
Flip through the Governance Rooms — one patient journey and the whole clinic, shown regulation by regulation, with live proof from a real UK clinic.
The 6 Regulations That Matter Most for Aesthetic Clinics
Regulation 5
Fit & Proper Persons
All directors and registered managers must be fit and proper persons — DBS checked, professionally qualified, and with no relevant convictions.
- DBS checks on file for all clinical staff
- Qualifications verified and recorded
- Responsible Individual named on registration
✓ INTENTIQ: HRRecord entity + DBS tracking built in
Regulation 9
Person-Centred Care
Every patient must receive care that is tailored to their individual needs, preferences, and circumstances.
- Individual patient records per treatment
- Medical history and contraindication screening
- Patient feedback actively sought and acted on
✓ INTENTIQ: Patient record, PROM tracking, feedback module
Regulation 11
Need for Consent
Patients must give legally valid, informed consent before every treatment. This means documented, timestamped, and specific to the procedure.
- Digital consent signed before every treatment
- Risks, alternatives, and questions documented
- Mental capacity considered where relevant
✓ INTENTIQ: ConsentForm entity with full audit trail
Regulation 12
Safe Care & Treatment
The most commonly cited regulation in aesthetic clinic inspections. Covers injectable safety, emergency protocols, and product traceability.
- Batch numbers recorded for every injectable
- Emergency drug box checked weekly
- Anaphylaxis protocol documented and trained
✓ INTENTIQ: AssetLog traceability + EmergencyDrugBox entity
Regulation 17
Good Governance
The broadest regulation. Requires a robust governance framework, risk management system, and evidence of continuous improvement.
- Risk register maintained and reviewed
- Monthly governance meetings documented
- SOP library version-controlled and staff-acknowledged
✓ INTENTIQ: 19-module Governance Audit Framework
Regulation 20
Duty of Candour
When something goes wrong, you must be open and transparent with patients, apologise, and explain what happened and what will change.
- Complaint pathway documented end-to-end
- Lessons learned recorded and acted on
- SOP updates triggered by complaints
✓ INTENTIQ: BusinessComplaint + DutyOfCandourCase entities
CQC Readiness Checklist
📋 15-Point Pre-Inspection Checklist
✓
Statement of Purpose — up to date, submitted to CQC, reflects current services
✓
DBS checks — all clinical staff checked, certificates on file, renewal dates tracked
✓
Digital consent records — every patient has signed timestamped consent before treatment
✓
Injectable batch traceability — batch number, expiry, supplier, and patient link for every injectable
✓
Emergency drug box — checked weekly, reconciled monthly, expiry dates in date
✓
SOP library — all SOPs live, within review dates, staff-acknowledged
✓
Risk register — current risks documented with mitigations and owners
✓
Incident log — all incidents reported, investigated, and closed with lessons learned
✓
Complaint register — acknowledged within SLA, investigated, closed with written resolution
✓
Staff training records — CPD, mandatory training, and competency assessments up to date
✓
Fire safety log — weekly alarm test, monthly lighting test, annual drill documented
✓
Legionella assessment — water safety risk assessment completed and on file
✓
Patient feedback system — feedback actively collected and responded to
✓
Governance meeting minutes — monthly meetings documented with action tracking
✓
Safeguarding policy — current, staff-trained, lead identified
Common Questions
Do I need to register with CQC if I only do Botox and fillers?
If you are a regulated healthcare professional (nurse, doctor, dentist, paramedic) performing any procedure that constitutes a “regulated activity” — including administering prescription-only medicines like Botulinum Toxin — yes, CQC registration is likely required. Check the CQC regulated activities list and seek advice from your professional body.
What does CQC actually look at during an aesthetic clinic inspection?
Inspectors assess five domains: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, and Well-Led. In aesthetic, weight-loss, wellness and private clinics they focus heavily on: consent records, injectable traceability, emergency preparedness (anaphylaxis kit, training), complaints handling, staff training and DBS, and governance documentation.
Will cosmetic injectables need a licence in England?
A licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England is being introduced under Section 180 of the Health and Care Act 2022. Following the Government's response to the DHSC consultation, lower and medium-risk procedures — including botulinum toxin and semi-permanent dermal fillers — are proposed to be licensed through local authorities, with medium-risk work carried out under the oversight of a named regulated healthcare professional. Higher-risk procedures are proposed to be limited to regulated healthcare professionals at CQC-registered premises, outside the licensing scheme. The scheme is not yet in force and no start date has been confirmed. INTENTIQ's CPD, training and practitioner credential tracking builds the evidence base both regimes are expected to require.
How can INTENTIQ help me prepare for a CQC inspection?
INTENTIQ maintains a live, timestamped evidence trail across all governance domains — consent, traceability, audits, incidents, complaints, training, and SOPs. Every record you create in the platform is already formatted as inspection evidence.
Book a demo to see it in action.
Want to see how your clinic scores?
Book a free 30-minute demo and we'll run through your current compliance position using the INTENTIQ framework — live, with real data.