https://club.hcqc.co.uk/c/self-audits/edit-lesson/sections/517638/lessons/2799011
When things go wrong in healthcare, patients and families deserve openness and honesty. The Duty of Candour (Regulation 20) makes this a legal requirement, ensuring that providers are transparent when mistakes or unintended harm occur.
This is not only a legal responsibility but also a vital part of building and maintaining trust. Patients value honesty and are more likely to retain confidence in services when organisations admit mistakes and show clear plans to learn from them.
Why This Audit Was Created
This week’s audit focuses on how effectively the practice complies with the Duty of Candour, in line with:
- Regulation 20: Duty of candour
- Regulation 17: Good governance
- Regulation 13: Safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatment
The audit supports practices in reviewing how they record, report, and respond to incidents, and how learning is embedded into governance.
Why It Matters
- Patient trust: Openness in difficult moments demonstrates respect and compassion.
- Legal compliance: Duty of Candour is a statutory requirement — failure to comply risks enforcement action.
- Learning culture: Being open about mistakes helps teams learn and prevent recurrence.
- Safeguarding: Transparency ensures that harmful practices are not hidden but addressed openly.
What Good Practice Looks Like
- Patients (and families) are informed quickly and clearly when something goes wrong.
- Staff receive training and support on how to carry out Duty of Candour conversations.
- Incidents are documented and monitored within governance systems.
- Practices can show how learning from incidents has improved care.
Final Thoughts
The Duty of Candour is about more than compliance — it is about creating a culture where honesty is the default, even when it’s difficult. By embedding this, practices can build stronger relationships with patients, strengthen governance, and demonstrate true accountability.
This audit provides assurance that processes are robust, staff are confident, and patients are always treated with respect and openness.
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