Why IPC Remains a CQC Priority

Infection prevention and control has become one of the most scrutinised areas in care provision since the COVID-19 pandemic. The CQC now expects services to demonstrate not just reactive responses, but embedded, proactive IPC cultures. Providers who fail to evidence robust IPC governance consistently receive enforcement action — making regular IPC auditing essential.

The IPC Framework CQC Uses

CQC inspectors assess IPC under the 'Safe' key question, drawing on the Health and Social Care Act 2008 Code of Practice. The ten criteria within the Code of Practice form the backbone of any IPC audit. These cover:

Systems to manage and monitor IPC risks, including a designated IPC lead
Provision of suitable, accurate information on infections to service users, visitors, and staff
Ensuring appropriate antimicrobial use to reduce the risk of antimicrobial resistance
Provision of adequate isolation facilities where necessary
Adequate laboratory and diagnostic support
Implementation of evidence-based IPC policies
Effective hand hygiene practices across all staff
Design and maintenance of the environment to reduce infection risk
Appropriate decontamination of instruments and equipment
Cooperation with public health authorities and disease surveillance

Conducting an Effective IPC Audit

1. Environmental Walkthrough

Start every IPC audit with a visual inspection. Check communal areas, bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and clinical spaces. Look for adequate handwashing facilities, correct waste segregation (clinical vs domestic), clean surfaces, and appropriate PPE availability at point of care.

2. Hand Hygiene Compliance

Hand hygiene audits should be observational and unannounced. Use the WHO's Five Moments for Hand Hygiene framework to assess compliance. Document completion rates and feed results back to staff during supervision.

3. PPE Usage

Observe staff donning and doffing PPE correctly. Audit stock levels to ensure supplies never run low. Check that PPE stations are clearly signed, accessible, and stocked with gloves, aprons, masks, and eye protection where applicable.

4. Cleaning Schedules and Standards

Verify that cleaning schedules are signed, that enhanced cleaning regimes are in place for high-touch surfaces, and that appropriate cleaning products are used. Consider using ATP bioluminescence testing to objectively measure surface cleanliness.

5. Outbreak Preparedness

Review your outbreak management plan. Ensure staff know how to identify symptoms, when to escalate, and how to implement isolation procedures. Check you have adequate contingency PPE stock and that communication protocols with local public health teams are current.

Common IPC Audit Failures

No named IPC lead with allocated time for the role
Incomplete or unsigned cleaning schedules
Staff unable to describe correct hand hygiene technique when asked
Expired cleaning products or inappropriately diluted solutions
Failure to demonstrate learning from previous infection outbreaks
Laundry processes that don't segregate soiled and clean items

Turning IPC Audits Into Continuous Improvement

The most effective services treat IPC auditing as an ongoing process, not a quarterly tick-box exercise. Use digital audit tools to track trends, set automatic reminders for follow-up actions, and benchmark your performance over time. MyCareAudit's IPC audit templates are aligned with the latest CQC Code of Practice and include AI-powered gap analysis to highlight areas requiring immediate attention.