The inspection team: adult social care services

Page last updated: 12 May 2022
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Adult social care inspection teams are led by a CQC inspector. They will often include an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has experienced care personally or has experience of caring for someone who has received a particular type of care. They provide feedback to the inspector on what they have found on inspection, which helps the inspectors to make their judgements.

The inspector leading the inspection will either be the CQC relationship holder for that service or another inspector or inspection manager with appropriate knowledge of that service.

The size and membership of the inspection team is based on the individual requirements and circumstances of the inspection, including the size and complexity of the service, levels of risk, and whether enforcement action is being taken or is anticipated. An inspection can be supported in any or all of the following ways:

  • a larger inspection team
  • team members with specific skills, such as dementia specialists (Specialist Advisors), pharmacy inspectors or interpreters
  • more time being spent at the service.