Community Pharmacy Assurance Framework (CPAF)

The Community Pharmacy Assurance Framework (CPAF) was developed by NHS Primary Care Commissioning (PCC) as a toolkit to support commissioners in assessing compliance and quality under the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF).

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

2026/27 CPAF Update

NHS England has confirmed that, the screening questionnaire / 10 screening questions will be available to complete on the MYS portal throughout July and, if required, the full CPAF questionnaire will be available to complete on the MYS portal throughout October 2026.

The screening questionnaire / 10 screening questions and full questionnaire will be published on the NHSBSA website in due course, so that pharmacy owners can consider their answers before submitting them in the online survey tool on the MYS portal.

What is CPAF?

CPAF is made up of three components:

1. CPAF Screening Questionnaire

Community pharmacies in England are asked to complete a screening questionnaire as part of the CPAF process. The process includes a short questionnaire, consisting of 10 questions.  Information collected from this questionnaire helps to identify whether a pharmacy needs visiting.

The results of the questionnaire and other information have been used by NHS England ICBs to identify which pharmacies should be:

• Considered for a contract monitoring visit.
• Asked to complete the full CPAF questionnaire.

Example CPAF Screening Questionnaire

If a pharmacy is considered for a visit, the full, comprehensive CPAF pre-visit questionnaire will be initiated. This is the second part of the process.

2. Pre-Visit Questionnaire

Completed by the pharmacy owner in advance of a monitoring visit. This questionnaire covers key contractual and quality requirements. The Full CPAF Questionnaire can be used:

• As a training tool.
• To allow continuous monitoring of compliance against the community pharmacy contract.

3. 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:

• 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 further information.

If you would like support reviewing your SOP framework or preparing for a monitoring visit, please contact Community Pharmacy West Yorkshire using email info@cpwy.org.

Support from Community Pharmacy West Yorkshire

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

CPAF – FAQs

Community Pharmacy West Yorkshire is committed to:

• 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 CPWY at info@cpwy.org.

Last Updated: 19th June 2026