CQC Support That Builds Confidence

The challenge we identified

For many practices, preparing for and responding to Care Quality Commission (CQC) activity can feel uncertain, time-consuming and stressful – particularly as expectations evolve and capacity within General Practice remains stretched.

While CQC regulation is set nationally, its impact is felt locally, by individual practices balancing inspection requirements alongside day-to-day patient care. Without the right support, compliance activity can become reactive rather than proportionate.

Devon LMC recognised a growing need for earlier, clearer and more consistent support to help practices prepare for CQC and maintain compliance overtime.

A proactive, practice-focussed response

Rather than responding only when issues arise, Devon LMC, working in collaboration with Devon ICB and the Devon Collaborative Board (DCB), took a proactive and preventative approach.

In June 2025, we rapidly operationalised and introduced a dedicated CQC Compliance Manager role, focussed on supporting practices to understand CQC expectations, prepare effectively for inspection, and respond constructively to feedback. The emphasis is on support, learning, and continuous improvement.

In November 2025, in recognition of the significant value this support was providing to practices, the Devon LMC Board agreed to bring the role into our core team. This strengthens our wider professional support offer and reflects our ongoing commitment to helping practices feel informed, confident and prepared.

What this support looks like in practice

Our CQC compliance support is practical, hands-on and tailored to the realities of General Practice. It includes:

• Pre-inspection preparation and readiness: supporting practices to understand what to expect from CQC and how to evidence their work proportionately.
• Mock CQC inspections: delivered by our CQC Compliance Manager to help practices identify strengths, gaps and areas for improvement ahead of formal inspection activity.
• Advice and guidance on CQC requirements: helping practices interpret evolving guidance and expectations with confidence and clarity.
• Post inspection support: assisting practices to understand inspection feedback, respond to reports and plan next steps where required.
• CQC Monthly Digest Reports: produced by our CQC Compliance Manager, these digests summarise Care Quality Commission inspection reports across General Practice in Devon. They highlight key themes, examples of good practice, critical issues and recommended actions across core domains including safety, effectiveness, responsiveness and leadership, enabling practices to learn from inspection outcomes elsewhere in the county.
• A dedicated Microsoft Teams CQC community: connecting over 200 Practice Managers and colleagues with CQC responsibilities to share experience, insight and learning, supporting confidence and reducing duplication across practices.

This support is designed to reduce uncertainty, encourage early action and support continuous improvement, rather than add burden.

Why this matters

CQC processes can have a significant impact on practice confidence and morale, workload and capacity, and stability and sustainability. By providing timely support, Devon LMC helps practices:

• approach CQC activity with greater confidence
• focus on improvement rather than compliance anxiety
• reduce the risk of escalation through early preparation

For a small team, this is another way we deliver high-impact, practical support where it matters most.

How practices can access CQC Support

Practices in Devon can access a dedicated suite of resources to support CQC preparation and ongoing compliance via the Knowledge Hub in our Members Area, linked below. These resources are designed to support practices at every stage of the CQC journey; from early preparation through to maintaining compliance over time. Members may find it helpful to filter resources by ‘CQC Campus’ to quickly locate relevant guidance and materials.