Dental CQC Mock Inspection: What It Covers and How It Helps Your Practice
A CQC inspection of a dental practice tests more than your folders. Inspectors want to see that decontamination, radiography, medical emergency arrangements and governance work properly every day, and that your team can explain how. A dental CQC mock inspection gives you an honest, independent view of where you stand before CQC arrives.
I spent more than 12 years as a CQC inspector and I have also managed a dental practice. In this post I explain what a dental mock inspection involves, what it looks at, and how to get the most from it.
What is a dental CQC mock inspection?
A dental CQC mock inspection is an independent review of your practice, carried out the way a CQC inspector would approach it. It combines three things:
An evidence review of your policies, audits, risk assessments, staff records and governance information
Observations of your surgeries, decontamination room and safety systems
Conversations with your team about how procedures work in practice
The aim is to find out whether what is written down matches what actually happens, and give you a clear, prioritised plan.
CQC Consultancy is an independent advisory service and is not the Care Quality Commission. CQC does not give dental practices a rating; inspectors decide whether you are meeting the standards in each area. A mock inspection cannot guarantee that outcome, but it can show you your strengths and gaps while there is still time to act.
Who should consider a dental mock inspection?
It suits owners, principal dentists and practice managers in England who are expecting an inspection, addressing concerns from a recent one, bringing in new management or systems, or simply want a regular, objective check. NHS, private and mixed practices all benefit.
What does a CQC inspection of a dental practice look at?
CQC assesses dental practices against the five key questions under the Single Assessment Framework: is the service safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led? A good dental mock inspection tests your evidence against each of them, with particular focus on the areas below.
Infection control and HTM 01-05
Decontamination is central to any dental inspection. I check the dirty-to-clean workflow, instrument storage, daily and periodic testing and validation of autoclaves and washer-disinfectors, six-monthly infection prevention and control audits and the actions taken from them. I also look at sharps safety, clinical waste, Legionella risk assessment and water monitoring, staff training and hepatitis B immunity records. For more detail, read my practical guide to dental infection control and HTM 01-05.
Safeguarding
Your team should be able to recognise and respond to concerns about children and adults at risk. I check for up-to-date policies with local authority contact details, a named safeguarding lead, training at the right level for each role, and whether staff know what to do and record when they have a concern.
Recruitment
I sample staff files against Schedule 3 of the regulations: photo ID, DBS checks at the right level, evidence of conduct in previous employment and references, full employment history with gaps explained, relevant health and immunisation information, and induction records.
Premises and equipment
I review your fire risk assessment and fire safety checks, pressure vessel inspections for the autoclave and compressor, servicing of dental chairs, suction and the amalgam separator, electrical safety, and health and safety and COSHH risk assessments.
Radiography and radiation safety
I check your Local Rules, radiation risk assessment, equipment test records, training, and justification and grading of images against IRR17 and IR(ME)R.
Medical emergencies and emergency medicines
I check your emergency drugs and equipment, the checking records, staff training, and whether your team know what to do in an emergency. My post on emergency medicines in dental practices explains what CQC expects.
Complaints, incidents and medicines security
I look at how you record, investigate and learn from complaints, incidents and significant events, including how you meet the duty of candour. I also review how prescription pads are stored, logged and tracked, and how medicines kept on site are stored and monitored.
Governance and audits
Finally, I assess your leadership, policies and audit cycle, and, crucially, how you act on audit findings to improve. This is often where the well-led question is won or lost. My guide to writing a governance policy for a dental practice is a useful starting point.
If you would like an independent check across all of these areas, see my dental CQC mock inspection service.
How a dental mock inspection works
1. Free 15-minute call
We start with a free, no-obligation call to talk about your practice and what you need.
2. Scope and preparation
We discuss your practice, any previous CQC findings, known concerns and where you need the most support. We agree the scope and I request the most relevant evidence.
3. Evidence review
I review a proportionate sample of your policies, audits, risk assessments, staff records and governance information. I check whether documents are current, specific to your practice and actually used.
4. On-site visit and team discussions
Where an on-site review is included, I look at your surgeries, decontamination room and safety systems, and talk to clinicians, nurses, reception staff and leaders about how procedures work in practice.
5. Feedback and improvement plan
I compare what is documented, what I see and what staff tell me. You get clear feedback and a written report with a prioritised action plan, so the most urgent risks are dealt with first.
Virtual review or full mock inspection?
There are two options:
Virtual Compliance Review (£499): a remote review of key policies, audits and compliance evidence, with a prioritised action plan. This suits practices that mainly want their documents checked.
Full Comprehensive Mock Inspection (£1,799): an on-site assessment covering all applicable quality statements, including evidence sampling, observations, staff discussions and a detailed improvement plan.
An on-site visit gives a fuller picture because it covers your premises, decontamination room, emergency equipment and team knowledge, which documents alone cannot show. You can read more about how pricing compares in how much does a CQC mock inspection cost?
How to prepare for your dental mock inspection
You do not need special preparation, as the point is to see your practice as it really is. A few steps help, though:
Share previous CQC reports and any concerns you already know about, so the review is focused.
Gather key evidence such as your audit cycle, decontamination logs, emergency drug checks and staff training records.
Tell your team what to expect, so conversations feel relaxed rather than like a test.
Run a self-check first. My free CQC mock inspection checklist is a good place to start.
Why use a former CQC inspector?
I was a CQC inspector for more than 12 years, including as a lead inspector, so I know how inspectors weigh evidence. Having managed a dental practice, I also know how a busy surgery runs, so my advice is practical and proportionate. Find out more about my dental CQC mock inspection, or see my wider CQC compliance support and mock inspections.
Frequently asked questions
What is a dental CQC mock inspection?
It is an independent review of your dental practice carried out the way a CQC inspector would approach it, combining an evidence review, observations and staff conversations, followed by a written report and prioritised action plan.
Can a mock inspection guarantee my practice will pass?
No. Dental practices are not rated. CQC decides whether you are meeting the standards in each area it looks at. A mock inspection gives you an honest view of where you stand and a clear plan to strengthen your evidence and practice.
Does a dental mock inspection cover HTM 01-05 and radiography?
Yes. Decontamination and radiation safety are central to dental inspections, so HTM 01-05, IRR17 and IR(ME)R compliance are reviewed as standard within the agreed scope.
Will a mock inspection disrupt patient care?
The visit is planned with you to keep disruption to a minimum, and team discussions are kept short and arranged around your clinics wherever possible.
Should I choose a virtual review or an on-site mock inspection?
A virtual review suits practices that mainly want documents checked. An on-site mock inspection also covers premises, decontamination, emergency equipment and team knowledge, giving a fuller picture.
Get your practice inspection-ready
Find out where your practice stands before CQC does. Tell me about your practice and any recent challenges, and I will recommend the right level of support.
CQC Consultancy is a private advisory service and is not the Care Quality Commission. Findings do not guarantee specific outcomes. Please refer to official CQC sources for the latest guidance.
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