CQC registration guide · England
How to Register a Care Home with CQC in England
A residential care home provides accommodation together with personal care. Because you are responsible for the building as well as the care, CQC looks closely at your premises, fire safety, infection control and staffing levels as well as your management and policies.
Written by Sheref Ergun, Founder of MyCareAudit · 20+ years in health & social care compliance · Last updated
Regulated activity
- Accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care
Who this guide is for
- Investors and operators opening a new care home
- Buyers taking over an existing home (a new provider must register)
- Providers converting a property into a care home
What CQC will expect
Statement of Purpose
A legally required document setting out your aims and objectives, the regulated activities you will carry out, the people you will support and where the service is delivered from. CQC reads it closely and it must match everything else in your application.
Suitable premises
The building must be safe, suitable and properly maintained (Regulation 15), with evidence such as a fire risk assessment, gas and electrical safety certificates, legionella checks and an infection prevention and control plan.
Staffing levels
A staffing plan showing enough suitably trained staff on every shift, including nights, based on the needs of the people you will support.
Registered manager
Each regulated activity normally needs a registered manager. They apply to CQC separately, need an enhanced DBS check and must show they understand the regulations, safeguarding and how they will run the service day to day.
Fit and proper people
Directors and the nominated individual must meet the fit and proper person requirements, and your recruitment process must show how you will check that every member of staff is suitable (Regulation 19).
Policies and governance
CQC expects working policies (safeguarding, medicines, complaints, infection control, recruitment and more) and a clear plan for monitoring quality and improving the service (Regulation 17, good governance).
Startup steps
- 1Secure the property and check planning use class
- 2Complete fire, gas, electrical and water safety checks
- 3Appoint a registered manager
- 4Write your Statement of Purpose and service user guide
- 5Build your staffing model and recruitment plan
- 6Submit your CQC applications
- 7Prepare for the registration interview and premises visit
Common pitfalls
- Premises certificates missing or out of date when CQC asks
- Buying a home and assuming the seller’s registration transfers — it does not
- Night staffing plan that doesn’t match the needs described
- Statement of Purpose that lists service user bands the home isn’t equipped for
Two ways to get started
Done-with-you registration
From £1,995
Fixed-fee packages covering your applications, Statement of Purpose and policies. 50% deposit or 10% off paying in full.
Compare packagesDo-it-yourself with software
£59/month
Pre-CQC Starter: registration document pack, care records for up to 5 people and a readiness audit. Move to Solo (£87/month) once registered.
See the Starter planCQC's own annual registration fee is set by CQC and paid directly to CQC.
Frequently asked questions
What regulated activity does a care home register for?
A residential care home registers for accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care. A home that also provides nursing will usually need to register for treatment of disease, disorder or injury as well.
If I buy a care home, can I use the existing registration?
No. CQC registration belongs to the provider, not the building. A new owner must apply for their own registration, and timing the sale around CQC approval needs careful planning.
Will CQC visit the care home before registering it?
CQC may visit the premises as part of assessing your application, and will want evidence that the building is safe and suitable.
Related registration guides
CQC registration for nursing homes
Register a care home with nursing, including the clinical regulated activities.
CQC registration for learning disability & autism
Register services for autistic people and people with a learning disability.
CQC registration for supported living
Register to provide personal care to people living in their own tenancies.
Local CQC registration support
Not sure where to start?
Book a free call and we'll tell you which regulated activities you need and what your application should include.