CQC requires registered providers to keep premises and equipment clean under Regulation 15, and to assess and control the risk of infection under Regulation 12. Both sit under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, and CQC can prosecute a Regulation 12 breach that exposes people to a significant risk of harm.
Regulation 15: premises and equipment
Regulation 15 requires that all premises and equipment used are clean, secure, suitable for purpose, properly used, properly maintained and appropriately located, and that the registered person maintains standards of hygiene appropriate to their use. The guidance on cleanliness expects providers to use appropriate cleaning methods and agents, operate an appropriate cleaning schedule, monitor cleanliness, act on shortfalls without delay, and ensure cleaning staff are trained.
Regulation 12: infection prevention and control
Regulation 12 covers safe care and treatment, and at 12(2)(h) it requires the registered person to assess the risk of, and prevent, detect and control the spread of, infections — including healthcare-associated infections. This is the infection-prevention duty, and cleaning is central to meeting it. It is reinforced by the IPC Code of Practice, whose criteria include providing and maintaining a clean environment that facilitates infection prevention.
Where CQC can and cannot prosecute
The two regulations are enforced differently. CQC cannot prosecute for a breach of Regulation 15 alone, though it can take other regulatory action and must refuse registration if compliance cannot be satisfied. But CQC can prosecute for a breach of Regulation 12 where the failure results in avoidable harm or exposes a person to a significant risk of harm — and no Warning Notice is required first. That makes infection-control cleaning a genuine enforcement risk, not a box-tick.
What good cleaning evidence looks like
Meeting both regulations depends on being able to show what was cleaned, when and to what standard. That means an appropriate cleaning schedule, trained staff, colour-coded equipment, COSHH assessments, and monitoring and audit records. Our CQC cleaning evidence guide sets out the documentary trail inspectors look for.
How Optus Glean UK supports CQC compliance
On CQC-registered premises we clean to the NHS National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness 2025 and provide the evidence Regulations 12 and 15 expect: schedules, colour-coding records, COSHH data, and audit results. Operatives hold Enhanced checks — DBS-checked (Disclosure Scotland / AccessNI in Scotland and Northern Ireland) — and are trained to our infection-prevention standard before their first shift.
CQC cleaning regulations at a glance
| Regulation | What it requires | Enforcement |
|---|---|---|
| Regulation 15 (Premises and equipment) | Premises and equipment clean, secure, suitable, properly used, maintained and located; appropriate cleaning schedule and trained staff | CQC cannot prosecute for Reg 15 alone; can take other action and refuse registration |
| Regulation 12 (Safe care and treatment) | Assess, prevent, detect and control the spread of infection, including healthcare-associated infections | CQC can prosecute where failure causes avoidable harm or significant risk; no Warning Notice needed first |