PAT testing for care homes and CQC inspections
Where PAT fits in CQC expectations
CQC does not mandate "PAT testing" by name, but Regulation 12 (Safe care and treatment) requires you to maintain equipment safely and protect people from unsafe care. Portable appliances — kitchen equipment, laundry machines, resident room TVs and lamps, hoists with plug-in chargers — fall squarely within that duty.
Inspectors assessing the Safe key question look for evidence that equipment is maintained, risks are managed, and records exist. A current PAT register and certificate is the standard way care providers demonstrate that for portable electrical equipment.
What to include in your testing scope
Kitchen and laundry: commercial-grade appliances take heavy use and should be on your core register. Resident areas: bedside lamps, televisions, hairdryers where supplied by the home. Office and admin equipment: computers, chargers, extension leads in nurse stations. Exclude resident-owned personal items unless your policy includes them — agree scope with your registered manager before the visit.
Scheduling around residents
Testing should minimise disruption — early starts, quiet periods, and floor-by-floor plans work best. Failed items must be removed from service immediately and recorded with remediation status. Retest intervals are typically annual for most care settings, with risk-based review for harsh environments like laundry rooms.
Records inspectors expect
Keep an itemised register with appliance ID, location, test date, result, and next due date. Store certificates where your area manager and registered manager can retrieve them quickly — digitally is fine if access is reliable. Multi-home groups benefit from one dashboard showing compliance status per home.
Quick answers
Will CQC ask to see PAT records?
Inspectors may request maintenance evidence for equipment people use daily. Having current PAT records ready avoids scrambling during a visit and demonstrates proactive safety management.
How often should care home appliances be tested?
Annual testing is typical for most care environments. Laundry, kitchen, and frequently moved items may need shorter intervals under your risk assessment.
Can one visit cover multiple care homes?
Yes — grouping homes on a route reduces cost per site. Each home still receives its own certificate and register.
Relevant services & areas
Booking or compliance questions for your premises? These pages go deeper on what we test locally.
By sector
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