A Pre-CQC medicines compliance audit helps care providers review medicines records, training evidence, competency, medication errors, storage, PRN medicines, policies and governance before inspection, with practical findings and action points.

A Pre-CQC medicines compliance audit helps care providers identify medicines management gaps before inspection. Medicines management is one of the highest-risk areas in adult social care, and CQC may look at records, staff competence, governance, medication errors, policies, PRN medicines, storage and how managers learn from concerns.

An audit cannot guarantee CQC compliance, a rating or an inspection outcome. Its value is in helping providers see what needs attention, prioritise action and strengthen evidence before inspectors ask for it.

AJR MedSafe Academy provides Pre-CQC medicines compliance audits for care providers led by Amelia Raby, a GPhC-registered Pharmacy Technician with more than 22 years of medicines experience.

What is a Pre-CQC medicines compliance audit?

A Pre-CQC medicines compliance audit is a structured review of a provider’s medicines systems. It may include records, policies, staff evidence, medicines storage, medication error learning and internal governance.

The audit can help answer:

  • Are medicines records accurate and complete?
  • Are MAR and eMAR gaps being reviewed?
  • Are PRN medicines supported by clear instructions?
  • Are refusals and non-administration escalated correctly?
  • Is staff medicines training up to date?
  • Is competency evidence available?
  • Are medication errors reviewed and acted on?
  • Are medicines policies clear and current?
  • Is storage, stock and disposal evidence consistent?
  • Are audit findings turned into action plans?

The aim is to provide practical findings that managers can use, not a generic checklist that creates more work without clarity.

What areas should be reviewed before CQC?

Before inspection, care providers should review the key areas that show how medicines are managed in practice.

1. MAR and eMAR records

Check whether records show clear administration, non-administration, refusals, PRN medicines, topical medicines, patches and time-critical medicines. If there are gaps, there should be evidence of manager review and follow-up.

AJR MedSafe also provides guidance on how to audit MAR and eMAR records.

2. Staff training and competency

Training certificates are helpful, but they should be supported by evidence that staff understand safe medicines practice. An individual Knowledge & Understanding Assessment can help managers evidence understanding after training, during annual review or following concerns.

3. PRN medicines

PRN medicines should have clear instructions. Staff should know when the medicine may be used, what dose applies, what to monitor, what to record and when to escalate.

4. Medication errors and near misses

Medication errors should be recorded, reviewed and used for learning. Managers should be able to show what action was taken and whether learning was shared with staff.

Where there has been a recent incident, AJR MedSafe provides medication error review and support.

5. Medicines storage, stock and disposal

Storage and stock processes should be clear, appropriate to the setting and supported by records where needed. This may include fridge records, controlled drugs records, stock checks, disposal records and actions after concerns.

6. Policies, procedures and governance

Policies should reflect current practice. Managers should be able to show how medicines audits are completed, how actions are followed up, and how staff are supported when concerns are identified.

What you receive after the audit

Depending on the agreed scope, a Pre-CQC medicines compliance audit may provide:

  • clear written findings
  • risk-rated recommendations
  • practical action points
  • priority areas for improvement
  • suggested training or competency actions
  • evidence to support internal governance
  • optional follow-up support

The aim is to give managers a clear route from findings to action, rather than a generic checklist that is difficult to use.

Training, knowledge assessment or audit: which do you need?

| If your service needs… | The best starting point may be… |
|—|—|
| Staff knowledge and confidence | Medicines management training |
| Evidence that staff have understood their training | Knowledge & Understanding Assessment |
| Review of records, policies, storage and governance | Pre-CQC medicines compliance audit |
| Learning after an incident or near miss | Medication error review and support |
| A joined-up improvement plan | Audit plus training or knowledge assessment follow-up |

Why use an external medicines audit?

Internal audits are important, but an external review can help managers see issues that may be missed through familiarity. An external Pharmacy Technician-led review can provide:

  • a fresh view of medicines records and systems
  • practical recommendations
  • risk-rated findings
  • action planning support
  • training and competency recommendations
  • clearer evidence for governance meetings

AJR MedSafe Academy’s audit is delivered by Amelia Raby, bringing specialist medicines knowledge and adult social care understanding into the review.

Expert insight from Amelia Raby

Amelia’s Pre-CQC audit work focuses on practical evidence. The key question is whether managers can show what is happening with medicines, where risks have been found, what action has been taken, and how staff have been supported to improve.

When should a provider request a Pre-CQC medicines audit?

A Pre-CQC medicines compliance audit may be useful if:

  • your service is expecting or preparing for inspection
  • MAR or eMAR records are inconsistent
  • there have been medication errors or near misses
  • staff confidence varies across the team
  • competency evidence is incomplete
  • PRN protocols need review
  • medicines policies do not reflect current practice
  • managers want external assurance before inspection
  • a previous inspection raised medicines concerns

The earlier an audit is completed, the more time managers have to act on findings.

How AJR MedSafe Academy can help

AJR MedSafe Academy supports care providers with:

  • Pre-CQC medicines compliance audits
  • MAR and eMAR review
  • staff training evidence review
  • competency assessment recommendations
  • medication error review
  • medicines governance support
  • practical action planning

You can read more about the Pre-CQC medicines compliance audit service or complete the audit request form.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Pre-CQC medicines compliance audit?

It is a structured review of medicines records, staff evidence, policies, storage, medication errors and medicines governance before inspection or after medicines concerns.

Does a Pre-CQC medicines audit guarantee compliance?

No. No audit can guarantee CQC compliance, a rating or an inspection outcome. It can help identify gaps, prioritise action and strengthen governance evidence.

When should a provider request an audit?

An audit may be useful before inspection, after medication errors, when MAR/eMAR records are inconsistent, when competency evidence is weak, or when managers want external assurance.

Can training be arranged after the audit?

Yes. If the audit identifies learning needs, AJR MedSafe Academy can support with medicines management training and Knowledge & Understanding Assessments.

Useful guidance for care providers

This article is for general information only. A Pre-CQC medicines compliance audit can help identify gaps and strengthen governance, but no audit can guarantee CQC compliance, a CQC rating or an inspection outcome.