How should a business prepare for a Department of Health site inspection to ensure it passes smoothly?

A premises inspection is one of the most critical steps in the licence assessment process, and thorough preparation is essential. First, all hardware and facilities must be in place and operational, including all functional areas, temperature and humidity monitoring systems, security systems and pest-control equipment. Second, all documents and records must be complete, organised and readily accessible. These include company registration documents; qualification evidence for the Person-in-Charge and key personnel; all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs); temperature and humidity records; cleaning records; pest-control records; and staff training records. Third, provide pre-inspection training to all relevant staff to ensure that they understand their responsibilities, relevant SOPs and the premises layout, and can answer inspectors’ questions clearly and accurately. Finally, conduct a comprehensive internal self-inspection, simulating a Department of Health inspection to identify and correct all potential issues.