Audit template
Falls Management
Analyses falls, contributing factors, post-fall action and whether prevention measures work. This template runs monthly in MyCareCompliance and carries 9 mapped checks across 9 CQC quality statements.
Last reviewed: September 2026. This guidance reflects CQC information available at the date above — always refer to cqc.org.uk for current regulatory requirements.
What the audit covers
Every question in the Falls Management is mapped to a CQC quality statement and the underlying regulation, so a failed check tells you exactly which part of the single assessment framework is at risk. This is an optional template you can switch on when it applies to your service.
- Runs monthly — optional template
- Part of the Service users & care quality audit category
- Maps to 4 regulations: Regulation 12 — Safe care and treatment, Regulation 17 — Good governance, Regulation 18 — Staffing, Regulation 9 — Person-centred care
- Failed checks become tracked improvement actions with an owner, due date and evidence
The 9 checks
Involving people to manage risks
Safe — 1 check- Regulation 12 — Safe care and treatmentFalls Management
Are comprehensive falls risk assessments completed for all people using the service prior to or at the commencement of care?
What we look for: Sample 5 care files of new service users or those known to be at risk. Check that a validated falls risk assessment was completed. A fail is if the assessment is missing, incomplete, or not dated.
Evidence: Initial assessments, falls risk assessment tools (e.g., FRAT), daily notes
Learning culture
Safe — 1 check- Regulation 17 — Good governanceFalls Management
Are falls incidents accurately reported, recorded, and escalated to management and families without delay?
What we look for: Cross-reference daily notes mentioning a fall with the central incident log. Good looks like prompt reporting to the office, family, and relevant professionals. Fail if falls are mentioned in daily logs but no incident report is filed.
Evidence: Accident/incident logs, daily records, communication logs with next of kin
Safe and effective staffing
Safe — 1 check- Regulation 18 — StaffingFalls Management
Are care workers trained and assessed as competent in falls prevention, post-fall protocols, and safe moving and handling?
What we look for: Sample 5 staff files. Check for up-to-date practical training in moving and handling and falls response. Fail if training is expired, only e-learning without practical assessment (where required), or post-fall protocol knowledge is lacking during spot checks.
Evidence: Training matrix, moving and handling practical certificates, spot check records
Safe environments
Safe — 1 check- Regulation 12 — Safe care and treatmentFalls Management
Are environmental risks related to falls within the service user's home assessed and regularly reviewed?
What we look for: Check environmental assessments for hazards like loose rugs, poor lighting, or clutter. Good practice includes discussing removal of hazards with the person or their family. Fail if hazards are noted but no action or discussion is recorded.
Evidence: Environmental risk assessments, spot check records, home safety checklists
Safe systems, pathways and transitions
Safe — 1 check- Regulation 12 — Safe care and treatmentFalls Management
Is there evidence that staff follow the correct immediate post-fall protocol when a person falls?
What we look for: Review 3 recent falls incidents. Check that staff checked for injury, did not move the person inappropriately, and sought medical advice (e.g., 111/999) if head injury or suspected fracture occurred. Fail if staff inappropriately lifted a service user without clearance.
Evidence: Incident reports, daily logs, post-fall checklists, call logs to 111/999
Assessing needs
Effective — 1 check- Regulation 9 — Person-centred careFalls Management
Are risk assessments and care plans reviewed and updated following a fall?
What we look for: Check records of people who have recently fallen. Within 24-48 hours, their falls risk assessment and care plan should be reviewed to see if changes are needed (e.g., more visits, different equipment). Fail if no post-fall review is evident.
Evidence: Updated care plans, updated risk assessments, review meeting minutes
How staff, teams and services work together
Effective — 1 check- Regulation 12 — Safe care and treatmentFalls Management
Does the service make timely referrals to external healthcare professionals (e.g., OT, Falls Team, GP) when falls risk increases?
What we look for: Review files for individuals with recurrent falls. Check for proactive engagement with local falls teams, OTs for equipment, or GPs for medication reviews. Fail if recurrent falls occur and the service takes no action to involve community health teams.
Evidence: Referral forms, communication logs, MDT meeting notes, GP correspondence
Person-centred care
Responsive — 1 check- Regulation 9 — Person-centred careFalls Management
Do care plans contain clear, person-centred interventions to mitigate identified falls risks in the person's home?
What we look for: Review care plans for those with a high falls risk. Good looks like specific instructions (e.g., 'ensure mobility aid is within reach', 'prompt to wear prescribed footwear'). Generic statements like 'be careful' constitute a fail.
Evidence: Care plans, moving and handling plans, risk mitigation plans
Learning, improvement and innovation
Well-led — 1 check- Regulation 17 — Good governanceFalls Management
Is there consistent management oversight, including trend analysis of falls, to drive continuous improvement?
What we look for: Review the manager's monthly or quarterly quality audits. Good looks like analysis of falls by time, location, staff member, and service user to identify trends and implement service-wide improvements. Fail if no thematic analysis is conducted.
Evidence: Monthly falls analysis reports, clinical governance minutes, lessons learned logs
See it running for your service
Book a free demonstration and we will run the Falls Management against scenarios from a service like yours, or start your 7-day trial and try it yourself.
See it with your own service
Book a free demonstration and we will walk through the platform using scenarios from a service like yours.