How the MIPR Process Works: A Step-by-Step Guide

Demonstrate your care service’s quality with C-CAF’s MIPR. Independently reviewed, CQC-aligned, and public quality score verified, MIPR reports provide a public, trusted score to showcase continuous improvement and transparency.

Stage 1: Mock Inspection & Draft Report

A C-CAF accredited consultant carries out a mock inspection and produces a draft report. The report is checked using SMART Care Intel, ensuring it aligns with CQC standards and evidence. The provider reviews the draft for factual accuracy before peer review begins.

Stage 2: Two-Stage Peer Review

The draft report undergoes two-stage peer review by the C-CAF Panel to ensure it meets professional standards and is capable of publication. Only reports scoring Good or Outstanding progress to final approval.

Stage 3: Public Directory Publication

Once approved, the report is assigned a verified, reflecting its overall quality based on the peer review assessment. With the provider’s consent, this score and the full report can be published publicly, creating a clear, transparent, and credible display of the service’s quality.

Methodology: The Integrity of the Inspection Process

This review area assesses whether the consultant’s mock inspection was conducted in a rigorous and systematic way, aligning with professional standards and best practice.

Assessment Criteria:

Comprehensiveness: Does the report demonstrate that all relevant areas of the service were reviewed, in line with the CQC's Quality Statements? Is the scope defined and clear?
Evidence-Based Findings: Are the report's findings directly linked to specific, verifiable evidence? Is a good balance of evidence from different sources (e.g., observations, documentation, staff and resident interviews) presented?
Risk Identification: Does the report effectively identify and clearly articulate both potential and actual risks to the service, people, and staff?
Actionable Feedback: Is the feedback provided in the report practical and actionable? Does it provide clear recommendations and next steps for the care provider to follow?
Proportionality: Are the findings and recommendations proportionate to the level of risk and non-compliance identified?

Terminology: The Clarity and Professionalism of the Language

This review area assesses the quality of the language used in the report. Clear and precise communication is essential for the care provider to understand and act on the findings.

Assessment Criteria:

Clarity and Conciseness: Is the report easy to read and understand? Is the language direct, avoiding unnecessary jargon or ambiguity?
CQC Alignment: Does the report use terminology and a style of writing consistent with the CQC's own reports? Is it easy to see how the findings would translate into a CQC rating?
Professional Tone: Is the tone of the report professional, constructive, and objective? Does it provide feedback in a non-judgmental way?
Accuracy: Are there any grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, or typographical errors that would detract from the professionalism of the report?

Characteristics: The Overall Quality of the Report

This review area assesses the overarching quality of the report, its structure, and its value to the care provider.

Assessment Criteria:

Structure and Flow: Is the report well-structured, with a logical flow from findings to recommendations? Does it include a clear executive summary and a detailed breakdown of findings for each Quality Statement?
Objectivity and Impartiality: Does the report demonstrate a high level of objectivity? Is it free from personal bias or unsubstantiated claims?
Value to the Care Provider: Is the report a valuable and effective tool for a care provider to use for internal improvement, to communicate with stakeholders, and/or to demonstrate progress?

Transparency: Is the methodology used for the mock inspection clearly explained within the report?

Get Started with MIPR

Find out how the MIPR process can support your organisation:

Find a C-CAF Accredited Consultant: Arrange your mock inspection today.

Contact Us: Speak with our team for guidance on MIPR and the public directory.

What Public Directory Means

The public directory gives providers a visible, independently verified mark of quality that can be shared publicly.

Public Confidence: Service users, families, and stakeholders can see a provider’s verified quality score.

Benchmarking: Providers can compare their score with sector averages or previous inspections to measure progress.

Transparency: The public directory makes the outcomes of mock inspections visible, helping demonstrate a commitment to improvement.

Trust and Reputation: A verified score signals to regulators and commissioners that the provider takes quality seriously.

Benefits of MIPR

Quality Assured: Every report is independently reviewed and verified by C-CAF.

CQC-Aligned: Reports mirror CQC language, structure, and standards.

Publicly Verified: provides a visible, trusted mark of inspection quality.

Actionable Feedback: Recommendations are clear and practical.

Risk Management: Early peer review identifies issues before they become compliance concerns.

Who Benefits

Care Providers – Gain assurance that their inspections are thorough, credible, and benchmarked.

Consultants – Receive professional validation and recognition for their reports.

Service Users & Families – Access transparent information on care quality.

Regulators & Commissioners – See independently verified reports demonstrating a provider’s commitment to continuous improvement.

Raising the Bar for Mock Inspections

MIPR sets a national standard for mock inspection quality. Combining expert consultancy, independent peer review, and Public Directory transparency, C-CAF ensures every MIPR report is credible, actionable, and publicly verifiable - helping providers demonstrate excellence with confidence.