CQC registration guide · England
CQC Registration for a Live-in Care Agency in England
Live-in care means a carer lives in the person’s home to provide ongoing support. If your agency employs or manages the carers and they provide personal care, you must register with CQC for personal care. Introductory agencies that only match self-employed carers with clients — and do not manage the care — are generally outside CQC regulation.
Written by Sheref Ergun, Founder of MyCareAudit · 20+ years in health & social care compliance · Last updated
Regulated activity
- Personal care
Who this guide is for
- New managed live-in care agencies
- Introductory agencies moving to a managed model
- Domiciliary agencies adding live-in services
What CQC will expect
Managed or introductory model
Be clear which model you operate. If you direct, supervise or employ the carers who deliver personal care, you carry out a regulated activity and must register.
Carer wellbeing and breaks
A plan for rest breaks, respite cover, supervision and support for carers living away from home, and for how you will monitor the quality of care remotely.
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.
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
- 1Decide on a managed model
- 2Set up an office base to manage the service
- 3Appoint a registered manager
- 4Plan carer recruitment, matching and respite cover
- 5Write your Statement of Purpose and policies
- 6Submit your CQC applications
- 7Prepare for the registration interview
Common pitfalls
- Unclear whether the agency manages the care or only introduces carers
- No plan for carer breaks and cover
- Weak remote oversight of care quality
- Employment status of carers not reflected in policies
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
Do live-in care agencies need to register with CQC?
Managed live-in care agencies that provide personal care must register. Introductory agencies that only introduce self-employed carers, without managing the care, generally do not.
What regulated activity does live-in care need?
Personal care. You register the location the service is managed from.
How much does registration support cost?
Our fixed-fee packages start at £1,995. CQC’s own annual fee is paid separately to CQC.
Related registration guides
CQC registration for domiciliary care
Register a home care agency that provides personal care in people’s own homes.
CQC registration for supported living
Register to provide personal care to people living in their own tenancies.
CQC registration for learning disability & autism
Register services for autistic people and people with a learning disability.
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.