Community Pharmacy Assurance Framework (CPAF) Hub
The CPAF was developed by NHS Primary Care Commissioning (PCC) as a toolkit to assist Primary Care Trusts in assessing compliance and quality under the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF). The first toolkit was published in September 2005 and updates have been carried out in collaboration with Community Pharmacy England, over the subsequent years.
Pharmacy owners will receive confirmation from NHSBSA when the 2026/27 CPAF screening questionnaire will be available for completion.
What is CPAF?
CPAF is made up of two parts:
- Pre-Visit Questionnaire: completed by the pharmacy owner in advance of a monitoring visit. This questionnaire covers key contractual and quality requirements. This questionnaire can be accessed HERE (2026/27 is not currently available)
- Monitoring Visit Tool: used by the commissioner during a visit to assess compliance with the CPCF Terms of Service.
Regulatory Requirements
In late 2020 new NHS regulations were laid to introduce changes to 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?
The Essential service specifications require the pharmacy to have appropriate SOPs for dispensing, repeat dispensing and support for self-care. 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:
- CPAF questionnaire is completed accurately and on time
- All SOPs are current, reviewed, and accessible
- Staff understand key procedures and can explain them confidently
- Service documentation is up to date
- Clinical records and governance evidence are organised
- 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 us
Community Pharmacy Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent is committed to:
- Providing guidance and clarification
- Supporting contractors in preparation for CPAF visits
- Raising feedback where concerns arise regarding proportionality or process
