Types of inspection
Comprehensive inspections
This is when we inspect all of a provider’s services across all five key questions at a location. The inspection will normally be unannounced (unless a short notice inspection applies) and will be carried out for a minimum of one day, although this may be longer depending on the type and size of services being inspected. Inspections that last longer than one day may not necessarily take place on consecutive days.
For independent mental health services that provide a number of services, and where we have already rated, it may be more proportionate to carry out an inspection of only some, rather than all, services. This is because we have already rated them and they are often providing NHS-contracted services, therefore our approach will be consistent with our approach to NHS trusts that provide mental health services.
Focused inspections
We carry out focused inspections either in response to specific information that we have received or to follow up findings from a previous inspection. We may also carry out a focused inspection when we have taken enforcement action.
They broadly follow the same process as a comprehensive inspection but, as we do not usually look at all five key questions, they are smaller in scale.
After a focused inspection, the overall rating for a location can change at any time using key question ratings from the focused inspection as well as the remaining key question ratings from the last comprehensive inspection.
Focused inspections will normally be unannounced and do not include a provider information request.
Inspecting complex providers
Where possible, we align our inspection process to minimise the complexity and increase efficiency for providers that deliver services across more than one sector, for example an independent doctor providing primary care dental services. We will use teams of specialists to inspect each of the services.