CQC Audit Tool: Free Audit Pack for Care Homes and Home Care, and How to Choose Audit Software
There is no official CQC audit tool. Here is a free one you can use today, how to run an audit and score it, and what the paid audit software options say and cost.
CQC does not publish an official audit tool: it publishes the assessment framework and the regulations, and it expects you to audit your own service. This page gives you a free CQC audit tool you can download in Excel or Word: 12 audits (medication, care plans, infection control, health and safety, safeguarding, supervision, training, complaints, DoLS and MCA, recruitment, business continuity, equality and diversity) with 117 checks, scoring, an audit schedule and an action log. The checks are our suggestions, not CQC requirements. Below it we compare other free and paid audit tools, with published prices.
Download the free CQC audit pack
Excel version (.xlsx): an audit sheet for each of the 12 audits with a Yes/Partly/No/N/A result, automatic score and Green/Amber/Red rating, a summary sheet, an audit schedule that shows what is overdue, and an action log that flags overdue actions.
Word version (.docx): the same 12 audits as printable forms, with an audit schedule and an action log.
This page is for registered managers, nominated individuals and quality leads in care homes and home care agencies in England. Regulation 17 requires you to assess, monitor and improve the quality and safety of your service, and audit is how most providers do it. We cover what to audit, how to run and score an audit, how the free and paid tools compare and where they stop.
Key takeaways
- CQC has no official audit tool. Audits you run are measured against its five key questions and the regulations.
- The free audit pack covers 12 routine audits with 117 checks, scoring, a schedule and an action log, in Excel and Word.
- An audit is only as good as its evidence: look at records, observe practice and talk to people, do not score from policy.
- Every Partly or No needs an owner, a date and evidence of completion, then a re-audit.
- Paid audit software starts at about £75 to £150 a month where prices are published. Move to software when actions are missed or you run several services.
- KLOE-based audit tools are still usable if they map to the regulations, but check they have been updated.
In this guide
- Is there an official CQC audit tool?
- The free CQC audit pack: 12 audits
- How to run an audit
- What audits does a care home need?
- CQC audit tools compared: free and paid
- What a good audit tool must do
- Spreadsheet or software?
- What about KLOE audit tools?
- Where CQCLogic fits
- Sources and how this was checked
- Frequently asked questions
Is there an official CQC audit tool?
No. CQC publishes the assessment framework (five key questions, with quality statements under each) and the regulations. It does not publish a checklist of what evidences each quality statement, and it does not endorse any audit product or supplier. An “audit tool” is therefore any structured way to check your own service against those standards: a template, a spreadsheet, a self-assessment or audit software.
CQC’s five key questions are whether a service is safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led (sometimes called the five pillars or five standards). Your audits should add up to evidence for each of them. Related tools: our mock inspection template tests all 34 quality statements together, and the self-assessment tool gives a quick readiness view.
The free CQC audit pack: 12 audits
The pack covers the audits most care homes and home care agencies run routinely. The audit names and frequencies match the audit schedule in CQCLogic. Frequencies are our suggestions, as CQC sets none. Checks are marked as for care homes, home care or both.
| # | Audit | Suggested frequency | Regulations | Checks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medication | Monthly | Reg 12 | 12 |
| 2 | Care plans and risk assessments | Monthly (sample of records) | Reg 9, Reg 12, Reg 17 | 10 |
| 3 | Infection prevention and control | Monthly | Reg 12 | 11 |
| 4 | Health and safety, premises and equipment | Quarterly (with weekly and monthly checks logged) | Reg 12, Reg 15 | 12 |
| 5 | Safeguarding | Quarterly | Reg 13 | 9 |
| 6 | Supervision and appraisal | Quarterly | Reg 18 | 9 |
| 7 | Training and competency | Monthly (matrix review) | Reg 18 | 9 |
| 8 | Complaints, compliments and feedback | Quarterly | Reg 16, Reg 20 | 8 |
| 9 | DoLS and Mental Capacity Act | Quarterly | Reg 11, Reg 13 | 10 |
| 10 | Recruitment and employment files | Quarterly (sample of files) | Reg 19, Reg 5 | 10 |
| 11 | Business continuity and emergency planning | Every six months | Reg 12, Reg 17 | 8 |
| 12 | Equality, diversity and inclusion | Every six months | Reg 10, Reg 17 | 9 |
Download the Excel version or the Word version. They are free to use inside your own service.
How to run an audit
- Choose the audit and the date, and set the sample (for example 10 MAR charts, 5 care plans, 5 staff files). Pick an auditor who does not own the area.
- Check evidence, not intention. Look at records, observe practice, and speak to people and staff. A policy existing is not the same as it being followed.
- Record a result for each check: Yes (fully in place and evidenced), Partly, No or N/A.
- Score the audit: (Yes + half of Partly) divided by (Yes + Partly + No). The pack suggests Green at 90% or more, Amber at 70% to 89% and Red below 70%. Treat one serious No, such as a medicines or safeguarding risk, as urgent whatever the percentage.
- Raise an action for every Partly or No, with an owner, a due date and the evidence that will show it is done.
- Report and share: feed results into your governance meeting; see a governance meeting agenda.
- Re-audit at the suggested frequency and check that actions held. For a longer method see how to carry out a care home audit and the audit schedule template.
What audits does a care home need?
There is no fixed list. Regulation 17 requires systems and processes to assess, monitor and improve quality and safety and to assess, monitor and mitigate risks, and CQC looks at whether your audits find problems and whether you act on what they find. The 12 audits above are a practical core. Add others as your service needs, for example nutrition and hydration, pressure care, falls, care records or environment and cleanliness. For home care, add visit records, missed and late visit monitoring and lone working.
CQC audit tools compared: free and paid
What each option says on its own website (read 24 October 2026). Prices are as published; we have not used these tools.
| Tool | Free or paid | What it says it offers | Published price |
|---|---|---|---|
| CQCLogic free audit pack (this page) | Free | 12 audits, 117 checks, scoring, schedule, action log, Excel and Word | Free |
| Skills for Care inspection toolkit | Free | Exercises, examples, recommendations and resources to understand CQC expectations, | Free |
| Safe Workplace home care audit tool | Free (browse online or request a copy) | Home care audit table covering all 34 quality statements, with what to check and the regulation for each | Free |
| InspectReady free tools | Free tools plus paid platform | Readiness self-assessment and audit scheduler without an account; paid platform for audit scheduling, actions, policy register and evidence packs | Platform £49 a month (single home), £99 a month (2 to 5 homes); 14-day free trial |
| Care Audit Tool | Paid | 100 ready-made audits and 3,000+ questions, scheduling, instant compliance rating, actions assigned to staff, evidence uploads, surveys, reports | £75 a month (home care), £150 a month (care home), per registered entity. No free trial |
| QCS Audit Centre | Paid | Plan, complete and evidence audits alongside QCS policies, learning and mock inspection products | Not published |
| Radar Healthcare audit management | Paid add-on | Run internal audits, track findings, version control, pre-built templates and workflows | Not published |
| Access Care Compliance audit tool | Paid | Audit tool, mock inspections, online action plans, surveys, mobile app | Annual cost per carer or per bed; no amounts published |
| CQCLogic audit schedule tracker | Paid (in the monthly plan) | 12 pre-loaded audits with frequency, regulation and quality statement; completions and findings, re-audit dates, PDF export and actions sent to the governance action list | From £119 a month plus a £239 one-time improvement plan (£179 a month and £349 for services rated Inadequate); includes task tracking and the evidence pack |
For a wider comparison of compliance platforms see CQC compliance software compared.
What a good audit tool must do
- Link each check to a regulation or quality statement.
- Give sampling and observation prompts, not only yes/no questions.
- Score consistently and show a rating you can compare over time.
- Turn each finding into an action with an owner, a deadline and evidence.
- Schedule re-audits and flag what is overdue.
- Report trends so governance meetings can see whether things are improving.
- Let you add your own audits for your own service.
Spreadsheet or software?
- Stay with the free pack if you run one or two small services, have a reliable owner for each audit and few overdue actions.
- Move to software if actions keep being missed, evidence is scattered, you run several services or you need to show the provider a clear picture without compiling it by hand.
- Trial with a real audit before committing: run one, raise actions, assign them and see whether the tool makes the follow-through easier.
What about KLOE audit tools?
Many audit tools still call themselves KLOE audit tools. KLOEs (key lines of enquiry) were the basis of CQC’s earlier approach. The single assessment framework replaced them with quality statements, and CQC has published draft frameworks for 2026 that would bring key lines of enquiry back and remove scoring, but they are not in force. A KLOE-based audit is still useful if it maps to the regulations and evidence, but check that the tool has been updated. See CQC’s new assessment framework for 2026 and what are CQC KLOEs.
Where CQCLogic fits
CQCLogic includes an audit schedule tracker that comes pre-loaded with 12 audits, each with a frequency, linked regulation and quality statement. It logs completions and findings, sets re-audit dates, exports to PDF and can send audit actions into the governance action list. Actions can then be assigned with deadlines and evidence uploads. It does not replace clinical or environmental audit expertise (for example a fire risk assessor), and it tracks your audits; it does not submit anything to CQC. The free pack on this page works without it.
Sources and how this was checked
- CQC: Assessment framework and CQC: Regulation 17, Good governance.
- Tool pages read on 24 October 2026: Care Audit Tool, InspectReady, Safe Workplace home care audit tool, Skills for Care inspection toolkit, QCS, Radar Healthcare and Access Care Compliance.
The checks, evidence prompts, frequencies and scoring bands in the pack are our own suggestions. They are not CQC requirements or legal advice and do not predict a CQC assessment. We do not rank other tools and have no commercial relationship with them.
Track audit actions without a spreadsheet
CQCLogic’s audit schedule tracker is pre-loaded with the same 12 audits, logs findings and sends actions to a tracked list with owners, deadlines and evidence. It tracks your work; it does not submit anything to CQC. See a sample improvement plan, view pricing or get started free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a CQC audit tool?
Any tool used to check a service against CQC requirements, such as a template, spreadsheet, self-assessment or audit software. CQC does not publish an official one or prescribe a specific tool.
Is there a free CQC audit tool?
Yes. This page has a free audit pack in Excel and Word with 12 audits and 117 checks. Skills for Care also publishes a free inspection toolkit, and some vendors offer free tools and templates, including a free home care audit tool from Safe Workplace.
What audits need to be done in a care home?
There is no fixed list, but Regulation 17 requires you to assess, monitor and improve quality and safety. A practical core is medication, care plans and risk assessments, infection prevention and control, health and safety and premises, safeguarding, supervision, training, complaints, DoLS and MCA, recruitment, business continuity and equality and diversity. That is the set in our free pack.
What are the five pillars of CQC?
The five key questions CQC asks of every service: is it safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. They are also called the five standards.
What should a CQC audit tool include?
Clear criteria linked to regulations, sampling and observation prompts, scoring, actions with owners and deadlines, evidence, re-audit scheduling and trend reporting.
How do I score an audit?
Record Yes, Partly, No or N/A for each check. Score = (Yes + half of Partly) divided by (Yes + Partly + No). Our suggested bands are Green 90% or more, Amber 70% to 89% and Red below 70%, and any serious No should be acted on straight away.
How often should you audit?
CQC sets no schedule. Our suggestions are monthly for medication, care plans, infection control and training, quarterly for health and safety, safeguarding, supervision, complaints, DoLS and MCA and recruitment, and every six months for business continuity and equality and diversity. Increase the frequency where you find problems.
Does CQC approve audit software?
No. CQC says it does not endorse any particular product or supplier. Choose a tool on how well it supports Regulation 17.
How much does CQC audit software cost?
Where prices are published: Care Audit Tool £75 a month (home care) or £150 a month (care home), InspectReady £49 a month for a single home, and CQCLogic from £119 a month plus a £239 one-time plan (£179 a month and £349 if rated Inadequate). QCS, Radar and Access publish no amounts.
Are KLOE audit tools still valid?
KLOEs were replaced by quality statements in CQC’s current framework, and CQC has drafted a return to key lines of enquiry for 2026 that is not yet in force. A KLOE-based tool is still useful if it maps to the regulations and evidence and has been updated.
Do I need software to audit?
No. Templates and spreadsheets work for small services. Software helps when you need reliable follow-through, evidence and reporting across a service or group.
What are the 5 pillars of CQC?
CQC’s own guidance calls them the five key questions rather than pillars: is the service safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. Audits are easiest to organise around them, and each audit in our free pack is mapped to the regulations and quality statements it supports. See our CQC compliance guide for how the key questions differ from the 14 fundamental standards.