Guide

Care Inspectorate Scotland inspection preparation checklist

Checklist for Care Inspectorate inspection readiness covering documentation, staff training records, care plans, Health and Social Care Standards evidence, premises, environment, and safeguarding arrangements.

Healthcare & Social Care Scotland

Use this checklist to verify that your Care Inspectorate-registered service is ready for inspection at any time. The Care Inspectorate conducts both announced and unannounced inspections, so your service should be inspection-ready as a matter of routine.

  1. Current Care Inspectorate registration certificate displayed at the premises

  2. Statement of purpose (or service description) is up to date and reflects current service provision

  3. Registered manager is in post and the Care Inspectorate has been notified of any changes

  4. Insurance certificates are valid (employers' liability, public liability, professional indemnity where applicable)

  5. Previous inspection requirements and recommendations have been addressed with evidence of actions taken

  6. Annual return has been submitted to the Care Inspectorate on time

  7. Notification procedures are in place and staff know what events must be reported to the Care Inspectorate

  1. All staff in registrable roles are registered with the SSSC or have applied within the required timescale

  2. PVG scheme membership is confirmed for all staff working with protected adults or children

  3. Mandatory training records are complete and up to date for all staff (including moving and handling, first aid, fire safety, infection control, adult protection)

  4. Supervision records are on file for each staff member at the required frequency

  5. Annual appraisals have been completed for all staff

  6. Staff rota demonstrates adequate staffing levels for current service users and dependency levels

  7. Induction records are complete for all staff who started within the last 6 months

  8. Staff can articulate how they meet the Health and Social Care Standards in their daily practice

  1. Every service user has an up-to-date personal plan (care plan) reviewed at least every six months

  2. Personal plans include evidence of the individual's involvement and, where appropriate, family or carer involvement

  3. Risk assessments are current and reflect each individual's needs and choices

  4. Medication records are accurate, up to date, and show no unexplained gaps

  5. Incident and accident records are maintained and show evidence of follow-up actions and learning

  6. There is evidence of personalised, meaningful activities and social engagement for each person

  7. Anticipatory care plans or end-of-life plans are in place where relevant

  1. Fire risk assessment is current and reviewed at least annually

  2. Fire safety equipment is serviced and tested (extinguishers, alarms, emergency lighting)

  3. Fire drills have been conducted and recorded at the required frequency

  4. Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) are in place for service users who need them

  5. Premises are clean, well-maintained, homely, and free from hazards

  6. Infection prevention and control measures are in place and audited regularly

  7. Equipment maintenance logs are current (hoists, beds, wheelchairs, call systems)

  8. Food hygiene rating is current and food storage temperatures are recorded

  1. Adult Support and Protection policy is current and staff know the reporting procedure

  2. Safeguarding concerns have been reported to the local authority and the Care Inspectorate where required

  3. Complaints procedure is displayed and accessible to service users in a format they can understand

  4. Complaints log is maintained with evidence of investigation, outcome, and learning

  5. Service users and families know how to raise concerns and feel safe doing so

ℹ️ If you answered no to any registration or staffing items

Address registration and governance gaps immediately. Operating without a valid registration certificate, without a registered manager, or with unregistered staff in registrable roles are serious compliance failures. The Care Inspectorate can impose conditions on your registration or issue improvement notices for these shortfalls. See the enforcement response guide if you have already received a requirement or condition.

Healthcare regulation across the UK nations

Comparison reference for healthcare regulation in England (CQC), Scotland (HIS and Care Inspectorate), Wales (HIW and CIW), and Northern Ireland (RQIA). Covers registration, inspection frameworks, workforce registration, and key differences between the four nations.

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Social care registration and regulators

Guide to registering as a social care provider across all four UK nations. Covers CQC registration in England, Care Inspectorate in Scotland, CIW in Wales, and RQIA in Northern Ireland — including fees, registered manager requirements, and inspection frameworks.

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Register with the Care Inspectorate Scotland

Step-by-step guide to registering a care service with the Care Inspectorate Scotland under the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010, including application requirements, fitness assessments, premises standards, fees, and expected timescales.

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Understanding the Care Inspectorate Scotland

Comprehensive explainer of how the Care Inspectorate Scotland operates, its regulatory model under the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010, how it differs from CQC in England, the Health and Social Care Standards, and its relationship with the SSSC and Healthcare Improvement Scotland.

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Meet Scotland's Health and Social Care Standards

How to meet Scotland's Health and Social Care Standards (My support, my life) 2018, covering the five headline standards, self-assessment approaches, evidence of compliance, and common shortfalls identified by the Care Inspectorate.

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