CQC Compliance in Private Practice: How to Start Strong from Day One
Setting up your own private medical practice can be one of the most rewarding steps in your professional career, however it comes with its challenges. One of the most crucial areas to get right from the start is CQC compliance. Getting this wrong could set your practice back months, cost you financially, and impact patient trust. However, with the right preparation and approach, it can become a core strength of your clinic.
Here Designated Medical’s experts, Dionne Simons, Head of Medical Operations, with more than two decades in private healthcare management, and Sarah Robinson, an experienced CQC Registered Manager, who successfully led The Harley Street Dermatology Clinic through inspections and audits, break down how to prepare for your first CQC inspection and maintain ongoing compliance with confidence.
Why CQC Compliance Matters
Whether you’re just leaving the NHS or already running a small practice, CQC (Care Quality Commission) compliance isn’t a one-time hurdle; it’s a continuous journey. It ensures your service is safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led – the five key domains that CQC uses to evaluate healthcare providers.
From registration to inspection and beyond, building systems and a culture that meet these standards will help your practice grow with integrity and confidence.
Compliance: Where to Begin
The first step is understanding the Fundamental Standards set out by CQC, which include:
- Person-centred care
- Dignity and respect
- Safety and safeguarding
- Consent, staffing, governance, and more
You’ll also want to be familiar with Quality Statements, which serve as commitments that align with the 5 Key Questions asked during inspections:
Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, and Well-Led.
Building a Culture of Compliance
Compliance isn’t just about ticking boxes; it should be embedded into the DNA of your practice. Here’s how to build a culture that supports ongoing success:
- Develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): These serve as your blueprint for quality care and compliance.
- Involve Your Team: Everyone should understand the importance of compliance from the outset.
- Training and Onboarding: Make compliance a part of every new hire’s induction.
- Regular Check-ins: Schedule weekly or monthly meetings to review compliance topics and improvements.
- Delegate with Purpose: Assign responsibilities clearly and follow up regularly.
Proving It: The Power of Evidence
One of the golden rules in CQC compliance: If it’s not documented, it didn’t happen.
That’s why maintaining a comprehensive evidence folder is essential. Here’s what you should include:
- Policy reviews
- Incident logs and outcomes
- Patient feedback
- Cleaning schedules, temperature checks
- Training records and meeting minutes
- Certification tracking (e.g., PAT testing, insurance, ICO registration)
Preparing for Your First Inspection
Expect to receive around two weeks’ notice for your first inspection. Preparation is key. Here’s how to be ready:
- Organise evidence folders (digital or physical) mapped to each CQC domain.
- Ensure your entire team is trained and aware of their roles.
- Run mock inspections or spot checks.
- Prepare STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) stories for interview questions, such as:
“Can you give an example of how you improved safety?”
S – We had repeated issues with incorrect sharps disposal.
T – I needed to reduce risk and improve staff practice.
A – I ran refresher training, added signage, and updated our induction.
R – No further incidents for 6 months, and staff felt more confident.
Real-World Success: Harley Street Dermatology Clinic
Sarah shares the key steps she undertook to lead The Harley Street Dermatology Clinic through its CQC journey:
- Implemented robust governance and compliance systems
- Focused on training and evidence tracking
- Created a culture where quality was everyone’s responsibility
- Embedded daily practices that ensured ongoing CQC readiness; not just at inspection time
Are You Inspection-Ready?
A good rule of thumb:
“Would I feel confident if a CQC inspector walked in today?”
If the answer is no, it’s time to reassess.
Summary
- Compliance is ongoing, not a one-time checklist.
- Start with a full audit to uncover gaps.
- Embed compliance in your culture from Day 1.
- Document everything – if it’s not evidenced, it doesn’t exist!
Next steps…
- Take advantage of our free 45-min consultation with our experts, who have a proven track record in private practice management, and will be able to provide you with practical help and guidance on building a successful private practice quickly and effectively, to book your session please email info@designatedmedical.com
- Join our Private Practice Success WhatsApp group, a space where you can easily keep in touch, share information and ask questions with colleagues.
- Register for our ‘Building a Successful Private Practice’ series of free webinars.