Audit
If you are preparing for an inspection, bidding for a framework contract, or simply want peace of mind that your governance is watertight, ACI Training & Consultancy provides independent, sector specific compliance audits that are practical, fair and ready to action. Our audits are led by IRCA certified ISO 9001 lead auditors and senior clinicians, so you benefit from real world insight as well as rigorous standards. We work across Healthcare Agencies, Complex Care Providers, Care Homes, Domiciliary Care Providers, Education with a focus on Early Years, Dental practices, Doctors and GP practices, Private Hospitals, Aesthetics Clinics and Veterinary Clinics.
What our compliance audit covers
We tailor every audit to your service. Typical scope includes:
Core compliance and governance
Policies and procedures, leadership and accountability, risk management, incident reporting and learning, data protection and information governance, safeguarding for adults and children, and workforce checks including Right to Work and professional registrations.
Quality and safety in practice
Care records, consent, medicines management, infection prevention and control, premises and equipment, mandatory training, supervision and competency sign off, service user experience and complaints handling.
Sector specific frameworks and standards
Care services and clinical providers
CQC fundamental standards and the latest Quality Statements, inspection readiness and mock inspections.
NHS framework and agency compliance
For healthcare staffing agencies we audit against NHS temporary staffing framework requirements, perform mock or pre award audits, conduct gap analysis, and provide clear corrective action plans. We also offer regular maintenance audits so you can demonstrate continual compliance.
How we work and what you get
A simple, supportive process
- Scoping call:
We confirm your service type, locations, the standards to assess, and any specific risks or goals. - Evidence review:
Secure document review and sample selection in advance to minimise disruption on the day. - On site or remote audit:
Interviews, file reviews, observation and walkthroughs that mirror how regulators inspect. - Same day verbal feedback:
Clear, candid findings with practical advice you can act on immediately. - Written report and gap analysis:
A rated finding set, evidence references, and a prioritised action plan with accountable owners and timeframes. - Follow up support:
Coaching calls, policy refinements, and optional re checks so you can evidence improvement.
Deliverables designed for action
- Executive summary for board and owners
- Detailed findings mapped to your regulator or standard
- Gap analysis with RAG status and risk rating
- Templates and examples where helpful
- Improvement tracker for your internal audit programme
Who we support
Health and Social Care Agencies, including Complex Care
File and credential audits, clinical governance checks, pre award and maintenance audits for NHS framework readiness, and candidate file sign off. We review all relevant criteria of Framework and Contract Agreements, including references, occupational health evidence, training, appraisals, and escalation pathways. This includes a full policy and procedure check.
Care Homes and Domiciliary Care Providers
Full service audits aligned to the CQC single assessment framework, focusing on safety, effectiveness, responsiveness, leadership and caring. We test real practice as well as paper compliance to build an authentic picture of quality.
Why choose ACI Training & Consultancy
- Audits led by IRCA certified ISO 9001 lead auditors with relevant experience within the health and social care sector
- A friendly, collaborative style that encourages your team to participate
- Clear, plain English reports without jargon
- Same day feedback with a realistic route to green for full compliance
- Optional monthly or quarterly maintenance audits to evidence continuous improvement
- UK wide coverage and secure, efficient document handling
Audit formats that fit your needs
One off audit or mock inspection
A full review of your service with a gap analysis and improvement plan. Ideal for inspection readiness or a board assurance deep dive.
Pre award or bid readiness audit
Focused, time bound audits to demonstrate compliance for tenders and framework submissions, with rapid reporting and evidence indexing.
Maintenance audits
Monthly or quarterly spot checks on rotating samples to keep standards high and findings small. Perfect for multi site organisations.
Internal auditing support and training
We build your internal audit calendar, tools and templates, and upskill your team so they can sustain improvements confidently.
Results you can expect
- Fewer surprises on inspection and stronger ratings
- Reduced compliance risk and clearer accountability
- Faster close out of actions with ready to use templates
- Confident staff who understand what compliance looks like
- Credible evidence for commissioners, boards and regulators
Your Most Common Compliance Audit Questions, Answered
Do you offer mock inspections?
Yes. We mirror the inspection approach for your sector and provide a realistic rating view with a step by step improvement plan.
How fast can we get our audit report?
You receive same day verbal feedback and a written report with gap analysis shortly afterwards, so you can act without delay.
Can you audit multiple locations or services at once?
Absolutely. We can scope single or multi site audits and provide consolidated and location specific findings to suit governance needs.
Can you help with NHS framework or tender pre award audits for staffing agencies?
Yes. We perform pre award and maintenance audits and can transpose recent audits where appropriate, saving time and cost.
Do you provide ongoing maintenance audits and internal audit training?
Yes. Choose monthly or quarterly spot checks and, if helpful, we will train your team to run effective internal audits between visits.
Ready to get started?
Whether you need a single mock inspection, a framework pre award audit or a rolling maintenance programme, we will tailor the scope and make the process smooth. Speak to ACI Training & Consultancy to book your audit and get a clear, actionable plan that strengthens compliance and quality.
Frequently Asked Questions About Compliance Audits
What is included in a compliance audit from ACI Training & Consultancy?
A tailored review of policies, staff files, training and competencies, clinical records and care delivery, premises and equipment, information governance, safeguarding and sector specific standards, with same day feedback and a written gap analysis.
How do your mock inspections compare with an official visit?
We mirror how inspectors assess services for your sector, test evidence in practice and provide a realistic view of likely ratings and actions to improve.
What does an audit from ACI Training & Consultancy involve?
Our audit services review your organisation’s policies, procedures, and practices to ensure they meet current UK regulatory and compliance standards. We provide clear feedback and practical recommendations to help you identify risks and improve performance.
How can an audit help my organisation stay compliant?
An audit helps you identify gaps in compliance before they become issues, ensuring your organisation meets required standards. It also supports ongoing improvement, strengthens governance, and gives you confidence that your processes are aligned with best practice.
Do you help healthcare staffing agencies with NHS framework pre award audits?
Yes. We conduct pre award audits, evidence indexing and maintenance spot checks to keep you inspection ready and minimise repeat findings.
How often should we schedule maintenance audits?
Many providers choose monthly or quarterly spot checks. We will agree a rota that balances risk, resources and regulatory expectations.
What Our Customers Are Saying
We recently engaged ACI Training and Consultancy Ltd to conduct a pre-award audit for HealthTrust Europe’s Total Workforce Solutions III Framework. Having never been through this process before, I initially found it daunting, but ACI's team made the experience a lot less stressful. Their communication was excellent, and their guidance on what would be expected of us was clear and incredibly helpful. Thanks to ACI, we achieved a successful outcome, and I am extremely satisfied with both the service we received and the result of the audit. I would 100% recommend using ACI for your independent audit requirements. Special thanks to Kate and Darren, who were particularly helpful, although the whole team was a pleasure to work with.
We recently had the pleasure of working with Kate from ACI during our recent HTE audit, and I cannot recommend her highly enough. From the very beginning Kate and her team demonstrated an exceptional level of professionalism always ensuring our concerns and questions were heard and addressed in a timely manner. Kate’s attention to detail was truly impressive, uncovering insights that helped us not only meet compliance standards but will also improve our internal processes.
Thank you so much for your guidance and support during our recent pre-qualification audit, and for being available each time I called for assistance! Your regular updates and feedback were most welcome throughout the day, and considering we were working on five separate lots (which was confusing at times), you were patient and understanding. We are delighted with the final scores, and can’t thank you enough for your assistance.
Kate, Darren and the team have been amazing. We are a new nursing agency and have never applied for a framework tender before so we were apprehensive about what was required, particularly for the audit. They took the time to explain everything and responded to our emails almost immediately which was really reassuring especially when you are stressed. AC also support us as our partners for SEQOHS occupational health and mandatory training. If you are looking for a responsive professional team please contact Kate and the team at ACI.
The Audit with Kate at ACI Training Consultancy was a really positive experience and conducted in a professional manner. The auditor had a good understanding of the audit area and made some very useful comments and recommendations. She was supportive, helpful and accurate. I have worked with many auditors previously over the last 14 years in my career, but this time I was very impressed throughout the audit from the planning stage through to the final feedback and report, because the auditor was at all times professional, thorough, knowledgeable and took time to provide detailed explanations where required. Our thanks to the auditor for making the audit as bearable as possible, was a pleasure to work with!
