Since its introduction in 2005, CPAF has been periodically updated in collaboration with Community Pharmacy England to reflect contractual and regulatory changes.

What is CPAF?

CPAF is made up of two components:

1. Pre-Visit Questionnaire

Completed by the pharmacy owner in advance of a monitoring visit. This questionnaire covers key contractual and quality requirements.

The pre visit questionnaire (2025/ 26)can be accessed HERE

2. Monitoring Visit Tool

Used by the commissioner during a visit to assess compliance with the CPCF Terms of Service.

Regulatory Requirements

In late 2020, amendments to NHS regulations strengthened the Terms of Service for pharmacy owners.

Pharmacy owners are now required, upon request, to provide NHS England with any information that may be requested during an inspection. This includes:

• Completed CPAF screening or full questionnaires
• Supporting documentation
• Access to relevant electronic information

Completion and submission of CPAF documentation is therefore a contractual requirement when formally requested.

What This Means for Pharmacy Owners

• CPAF remains part of routine contractual assurance.
• Questionnaires must be completed accurately and returned within the requested timeframe.
• Supporting documentation should be readily accessible.
• LPC support is available should you require clarification or preparation guidance.

What Does “Monitoring Compliance” Mean?

Monitoring compliance does not require NHS England to conduct a detailed review or line-by-line assessment of your SOP documents.

The purpose of monitoring is simply to determine whether:

• Appropriate SOPs are in place
• Staff understand and follow them in practice

It is not the role of NHS England to determine what is operationally “correct” for each individual pharmacy, nor to prescribe specific content within SOPs. Pharmacies differ in layout, staffing models and workflow and SOPs should reflect local operational realities.

How Compliance Is Typically Assessed

During a monitoring visit, NHS England may:

• Ask to see evidence that SOPs are in place
• Confirm that they are accessible to relevant staff
• Ask appropriate members of the pharmacy team questions to assess understanding and application

Inspectors will not usually conduct a detailed examination of the written content.

This approach avoids unnecessary scrutiny of operational detail and recognises that pharmacy owners are responsible for designing procedures that are appropriate for their specific setting.

CPAF Preparation Checklist

Before a visit, ensure:

1. CPAF questionnaire is completed accurately and on time
2. All SOPs are current, reviewed, and accessible
3. Staff understand key procedures and can explain them confidently
4. Service documentation is up to date
5. Clinical records and governance evidence are organised
6. Evidence of required training is available

We also recommend you visit the CPE website for for further information.

If you would like support reviewing your SOP framework or preparing for a monitoring visit, please contact either Chief Officer – sandie.keall@nhs.net or a member of Community Pharmacy Tees Valley Committee who will be happy to support.

Support from Community Pharmacy Tees Valley

We recognise that assurance processes can feel burdensome alongside ongoing service delivery pressures. We have therefore produced a FAQs which can be accessed Common-Questions- CPAF.

• Providing guidance and clarification
• Supporting contractors in preparation for CPAF visits
• Raising feedback where concerns arise regarding proportionality or process

If you have received notification of a CPAF visit or require support, please contact Chief Officer:  Sandie Keall:   sandie.keall@nhs.net.