How Much Does a CQC Mock Inspection Cost? Published Prices for 2026
Dated, sourced prices from the providers that publish them, what pushes the price up, what the fee should include and what it costs to do it yourself.
Published prices for an external CQC mock inspection run from about £995 for a remote review to £3,000 plus VAT or more for a full on-site inspection, with most one to two day on-site options between £1,400 and £2,835. The price depends mainly on the size of the service, how many days are on site and whether a written report and action plan are included. A mock inspection you run yourself costs staff time only. Prices below were read from each provider’s own page on 24 October 2026 and will change.
This page is for registered managers, nominated individuals and owners of care homes and home care agencies in England who are deciding whether to pay for an outside mock inspection and what a fair price looks like. Most providers do not publish prices, so we have listed only the ones that do, with the date we read them, and kept GP practice figures separate because they come from a different market. These are published starting prices, not quotes, and we have not used or tested any of these services.
If you would rather run one yourself, see our free mock inspection template and scoring sheet, which covers all 34 quality statements.
Key takeaways
- Published external prices start at about £995 (remote) and run to £3,000 plus VAT or more (full on-site). One to two days on site is typically £1,400 to £2,835.
- Size of service, depth, days on site, on-site versus remote and who does the inspection drive the price.
- Always ask for the scope in writing: key questions covered, days on site, interviews, written report, rating opinion, action plan and follow-up.
- Check whether the quote includes VAT and travel. Published prices differ on this.
- You can run a structured internal mock inspection for the cost of staff time. An outside review adds independence.
- CQC does not sell or run mock inspections: it carries out real assessments and rates services.
In this guide
- What providers publish (read 24 October 2026)
- Price guides and estimates from other sources
- What makes a mock inspection cost more or less
- What the fee should include
- The cost of doing it yourself
- External, remote, in-house or a mix
- When is paying for one worth it?
- Does CQC do mock inspections?
- How to get quotes you can compare
- Sources and how this was checked
- Frequently asked questions
What providers publish (read 24 October 2026)
These providers state a price on their own website. We have not included providers that only say “request a quote”.
| Provider | What the page says is included | Published price | VAT as published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cura Compliance | Remote mock inspection against the Single Assessment Framework with a written report, a predicted rating and a prioritised action plan | £995 | Not stated |
| Swift Management Services | Mock inspection (it prefers unannounced) with a service improvement plan | From £1,400, depending on size of the establishment | Including VAT |
| Care4Quality | One-day on-site snapshot covering core quality statements. Report with five key question findings and an action plan within 7 to 10 working days | £1,930 | Not stated |
| Care4Quality | Two-day on-site assessment against all quality statements, including people’s lived experience | £2,835 | Not stated |
| CQC Consultant (cqcconsultant.co.uk) | Review of compliance evidence, governance and inspection readiness | From £2,000. Remedial action plan £1,000 per failed domain | Excluding VAT |
| The UK Care Consultants | On-site mock inspection, governance framework check, gap analysis, written report with scoring and action plan, feedback session | From £3,000 | Plus VAT |
Sources: Cura Compliance, Swift Management Services, Care4Quality, CQC Consultant fees and The UK Care Consultants, all read on 24 October 2026. “Not stated” means the page did not say whether VAT is included, so confirm before comparing.
Price guides and estimates from other sources
Two providers publish ranges rather than prices. Treat them as estimates, and note the first is aimed at GP practices and uses 2024 figures.
| Source | Range given | Note |
|---|---|---|
| DKJ Support Services | Remote or “mini” review £500 to £600 plus VAT. One-day on-site £800 to £1,800. Comprehensive review £1,600 to £3,000. Large or multi-day £4,000 to £5,000 or more | Written for GP practices, PCNs and clinics. Says figures reflect market rates in England as of 2024 |
| Caring for Care (training provider) | Full mock inspection typically £1,599 to £3,000 plus VAT. Basic service from £599. Small care home one day about £800 to £1,800. Large care home two days £2,500 to £5,000 | Aimed at care homes and home care. A guide to cost factors, not a price list |
Sources: DKJ Support Services and Caring for Care, read on 24 October 2026.
What makes a mock inspection cost more or less
Providers and the cost guides above name the same drivers.
| Driver | Effect on price |
|---|---|
| Size of the service | More beds, clients, staff, records and sites mean more time. Caring for Care puts a small care home in the low thousands and a large one several times higher |
| Depth and scope | Core quality statements for one day cost less than all quality statements over two days. A focused review of one key question costs less again |
| On site or remote | Remote reviews (Cura at £995, DKJ from £500) cost less but cannot observe care or the environment |
| Who carries it out | Providers using former CQC inspectors or clinical specialists may charge more |
| Announced or unannounced | Unannounced visits can cost more to arrange |
| Your current rating and risk | A Requires Improvement or Inadequate service may need more time. Providers quote differently for services recovering from enforcement action |
| Report and follow-up | Whether a written report, action plan, call-back or re-visit is included or an add-on |
| Travel and VAT | Some prices include them and some do not |
What the fee should include
Use this as a checklist when you compare quotes. It is our suggestion, based on what the published packages above list.
- Scope: which key questions and quality statements are covered, and which are not.
- Days on site (or hours, for a remote review), and how many staff and people using the service are spoken to.
- Record and evidence sampling: care records, medicines records, recruitment files, training, audits, governance meetings.
- A written report and when you will get it (published examples say 7 to 10 working days), with findings by key question.
- A rating opinion or score, and how it was reached. Ask whether it follows CQC’s published scoring method.
- A prioritised action plan with timescales.
- Feedback session, and whether staff are briefed on what to expect.
- Follow-up: a call, a re-visit or discounted second visit.
- VAT, travel and expenses stated in the quote.
The cost of doing it yourself
An internal mock inspection has no fee, but it is not free: it uses the time of a manager and of the reviewer, and the quality depends on how independent that reviewer is. A manager from another service, a quality lead or a trusted colleague scores more honestly than the person who runs the area being checked.
Our free mock inspection template gives you the structure: a set-up sheet, all 34 quality statements with what to check and evidence to see, CQC-style 1 to 4 scoring, a walk-round list, a records sampling guide and an action plan, in Excel and Word. For ongoing checks between mock inspections, the free CQC audit pack covers 12 routine audits.
External, remote, in-house or a mix
| Option | Typical cost | Independence | Realism | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Remote external review | From about £500 to £1,000 | High | Lower: documents and interviews only | A quick check, a follow-up, small services with a Good rating |
| One-day on-site external | About £1,400 to £2,000 published | High | Good for core areas | One home or agency with a visit expected |
| Two-day on-site external | About £2,835 to £3,000 plus VAT published | High | Closest to a real assessment | Larger or complex services, or after a poor rating |
| In-house with a template | Staff time | Depends on who reviews | Depends on how strictly you score | Regular checks and finding gaps early |
| Mix: in-house quarterly, outside once a year | Staff time plus one external fee | Good | Good | Most services that want both |
The cost bands are the published prices and ranges above. They are not quotes.
When is paying for one worth it?
- Before an expected assessment, especially if your rating is old. CQC lists ratings over six years old as an adult social care priority; see how often CQC inspects.
- After a poor rating or enforcement action, to test whether the improvements will stand up.
- After a change of registered manager or provider, when you need a fresh, independent baseline.
- When internal scoring is not trusted because the same people run and review the service.
It is less likely to be worth the fee if your last internal mock inspection was recent and honest, your evidence is organised and you have no major changes. An outside review does not change your rating and is not a CQC assessment.
Does CQC do mock inspections?
CQC carries out real assessments and publishes ratings and reports. It does not run mock inspections or sell them. Mock inspections are run by providers themselves or sold by private consultants and training companies, and they have no official status. CQC also says it does not endorse any product or supplier. For how CQC decides when to assess and what it looks at, see how often CQC inspects and what evidence CQC looks for.
How to get quotes you can compare
- Write one brief and send it to every provider: service type, number of beds or clients, number of sites, current rating and date, known weak areas, and whether you want a one-off or ongoing support.
- Ask for at least three quotes in writing, stating days on site, deliverables, VAT, travel and what is not included.
- Ask who will do the inspection, their background and whether they have worked in your type of service (care home, home care and supported living differ).
- Ask for a sample report or a redacted example, and when you will receive yours.
- Ask what happens after the report: whether a call-back or second visit is included.
- Compare on deliverables and independence, not only on price.
Sources and how this was checked
- Provider pages listed above, read on 24 October 2026. We recorded prices and VAT wording exactly as published.
- CQC: How often we assess (page last updated 12 November 2025).
Prices are starting or published prices, change often and are not quotes. We have not used these services, do not rank them and have no commercial relationship with them.
Turn mock inspection findings into tracked actions
Whoever runs your mock inspection, CQCLogic keeps the findings as actions with owners, deadlines and evidence, so they do not get lost and you can show what changed. It tracks your work; it does not run mock inspections or submit anything to CQC. See a sample improvement plan, view pricing or get started free.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a CQC mock inspection cost?
Published prices read on 24 October 2026 run from £995 for a remote review (Cura Compliance) to £1,930 for one day on site and £2,835 for two days (Care4Quality), from £1,400 including VAT (Swift Management), from £2,000 excluding VAT (CQC Consultant) and from £3,000 plus VAT (The UK Care Consultants). A mock inspection you run yourself costs staff time only.
How much does a CQC mock inspection cost for a care home?
Providers that quote for care homes publish about £1,400 to £3,000 for one to two days on site, depending on size and scope. Caring for Care estimates £800 to £1,800 for a one-day review of a small home and £2,500 to £5,000 for two days at a large one. Ask for a written scope and whether VAT is included.
How much does a mock inspection cost for a home care agency?
Remote and focused reviews are common for home care. A remote review is published from £995 (Cura Compliance) and Caring for Care estimates £700 to £2,000 for a virtual or focused inspection of an agency. Prices depend on the number of clients, staff and the scope.
Do CQC do mock inspections?
No. CQC carries out real assessments and publishes ratings. Mock inspections are run by providers or sold by private consultants and have no official status.
What is included in a mock inspection?
Typically a visit or remote session, a review of records and governance evidence, interviews with staff and people using the service, a written report by key question, a rating opinion and an action plan. Check each quote, because follow-up and the written report are sometimes extras.
Is a mock inspection worth the money?
It can be, if you use it to find and fix gaps before CQC arrives and you get an independent view. It is most useful before an expected assessment, after a poor rating or after a change of manager. It does not change your rating.
How long does a mock inspection take?
Published packages are one or two days on site, or a shorter remote session. Reports are typically delivered within a few days to two weeks.
Can I do a mock inspection myself for free?
Yes. Use a structured template, an independent reviewer, evidence you can actually see and CQC-style scoring. Our free mock inspection template covers all 34 quality statements with a scoring sheet and action plan.
What are the three types of CQC inspection?
CQC describes unannounced and announced visits, and its assessments as planned or responsive. Most inspections of care homes are unannounced and announced visits are more common for home care and supported living. See how often CQC inspects for the detail.
How much does CQC registration cost?
CQC charges statutory fees that depend on the type and scale of service. Consultancy for registration is separate: published prices include £1,200 plus VAT for registration support (CQC Experts) and £2,500 fixed fee (CQC Consultants). See our guide to CQC consultants for the full list.