Governance Audit Framework
Closing the CQC Loop — a structured, evidence-based audit system that turns compliance activity into inspection-ready proof.
Every audit timestamped. Every regulation mapped. Every inspection ready.
18 Audit Types
Every core CQC governance area covered — from fridge temperatures and medicines management to fire drills and fit & proper person checks.
CQC Regulation Mapped
Every audit type is linked to the specific CQC regulation it satisfies — Reg 9, 11, 12, 17, 19, or 20 — creating an unambiguous evidence trail.
Real-Time Dashboard
See exactly which audits are complete, outstanding, or overdue at any moment. No spreadsheets. No manual tracking. Always inspection-ready.
The 18 Governance Audit Types — Full Reference
| Audit Type | CQC Regulation | Purpose & Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Fridge Temperature (Clinical) | Reg 12 | Ensure medicines and injectables are stored at correct temperatures. Failure = direct patient safety risk and CQC non-compliance. |
| Kitchen Fridge Temperature | Reg 12 | Food safety compliance for clinics with staff/patient catering facilities. |
| Room Temperature | Reg 12 | Thermal environment monitoring — critical for patient comfort and clinical product integrity. |
| Infection Control Audit | Reg 12 | Systematic review of infection prevention and control procedures, PPE availability, sterilisation, and surface decontamination. |
| PPE Sign-Off | Reg 12 | Confirm adequate PPE stock, correct usage by staff, and documented compliance — essential post-COVID regulatory expectation. |
| Medicines Management | Reg 12 / Reg 17 | Controlled drug registers, storage security, expiry date checks, disposal records, and prescribing audit trail. |
| Emergency Drug Audit | Reg 12 | Verify emergency medication availability, expiry dates, and staff competency to administer. Critical for CQC’s ‘Safe’ domain. |
| Fire Instructions & Drills | Reg 17 | Record fire evacuation rehearsals, staff briefings, and equipment checks. Mandatory for safe environment compliance. |
| Incident Audit | Reg 17 / Reg 20 | Review of all adverse events, near misses, and complaints — root cause analysis and corrective action evidence. |
| Environmental Audit | Reg 12 / Reg 17 | Physical environment assessment — cleanliness, maintenance, accessibility, equipment condition. |
| Accessibility Audit | Reg 9 / Reg 17 | Ensure clinic premises and services are accessible to all patients including those with disabilities. |
| Health & Safety Audit | Reg 17 | Comprehensive review — manual handling, COSHH, electrical, clinical waste. |
| Fit & Proper Person | Reg 19 | Evidence of DBS checks, references, professional registration verification, and ongoing suitability of registered managers and directors. |
| Record Keeping Audit | Reg 17 | Review of clinical record completeness, consent documentation, and data governance — key CQC evidence area. |
| Patient Feedback Audit | Reg 17 | Structured review of patient feedback, complaints, and satisfaction data — demonstrates patient experience accountability. |
| Antibiotic Prescribing Audit | Reg 12 / Reg 17 | Stewardship audit reviewing antibiotic prescribing decisions against clinical guidelines — increasingly scrutinised by CQC. |
| Skills & Drills | Reg 12 / Reg 17 | Clinical emergency simulation exercises — anaphylaxis, cardiac arrest. Mandatory for CQC and medical indemnity compliance. |
| Prescription Audit | Reg 12 / Reg 17 | Review of prescribing practices, patient suitability assessment, documentation, and follow-up against prescribing standards. |
How the Governance Audit Framework Closes the Loop
Intentiq’s compliance module captures risks, incidents, and policy gaps. The LMS trains staff on the procedures that address those gaps. But without a structured audit cycle to verify that those procedures are actually being followed, compliance remains theoretical — not evidenced.
The Governance Audit Framework is the closing mechanism. It converts ongoing clinical activity into timestamped, regulation-mapped proof — not just for CQC inspection, but as the daily operating infrastructure of a well-run clinic.
Every completed audit is retained with full version history. Evidence can be attached — photos, documents, sign-off records. Overdue audits trigger automatic alerts. The real-time dashboard means a clinic’s compliance posture is visible at a glance, every day.
No other platform in this category offers a complete, integrated, 18-type governance audit framework as a core feature of a single subscription.
See the Governance Audit Framework in Action
Request a demonstration and see how Intentiq makes CQC compliance continuous — not just a pre-inspection scramble.