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CQC Care Home Registration Checklist 2026 — Documents, Policies and Supporting Evidence

Interactive checklist with 33 items. Check off each document as you prepare it. Your progress is saved automatically.

Sample Documents — Preview & Customise with MyCarePolicy

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Statement of Purpose

Schedule 3 — CQC Registration Regulations 2009

This Statement of Purpose is prepared in accordance with Schedule 3 of the Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009 (as amended 2012). It sets out the aims and objectives of the service, the regulated activities to be provided, and the range of care and support needs the service is designed to meet. The document identifies the registered provider, the Registered Manager, and the nom...

Business Continuity Plan

Regulation 17 — Good Governance

This Business Continuity Plan establishes the framework for maintaining service delivery during disruptive events. It addresses pandemic response, severe weather protocols, utility failure contingencies, loss of key personnel, IT system failure, and supply chain disruption. The plan defines the communication cascade — from initial alert through escalation to full emergency activation — and names d...

Emergency Plan

Regulation 12 — Safe Care and Treatment

This Emergency Plan provides the operational response framework for fires, floods, major incidents, and natural disasters affecting the service. It includes premises-specific evacuation procedures with designated assembly points, Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) for each person using the service, and night-time evacuation protocols when staffing levels are reduced. The plan details the ...

Fire Risk Assessment

Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

This Fire Risk Assessment has been prepared in accordance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 by a competent person. It identifies fire hazards, evaluates the risk to persons in or around the premises, and specifies the preventive and protective measures required. The assessment covers means of escape including alternative routes and refuge areas, fire detection and alarm systems, ...

Service User Guide

Regulation 9 — Person-Centred Care / Accessible Information Standard

This Service User Guide provides essential information for people who use the service and their families. Written in plain English and available in easy-read, large print, and translated formats as required by the Accessible Information Standard (DCB1605), it explains what services are provided, what services the organisation does not or cannot offer, and how needs are assessed before admission. P...

Staff Training Plan and Development Policy

Regulation 18 — Staffing / Skills for Care

This Staff Training Plan and Development Policy ensures all staff receive the training necessary to fulfil their roles safely and effectively. It reflects the service user profiles identified in the Statement of Purpose and covers mandatory training including safeguarding adults, moving and handling, infection prevention and control, fire safety, food hygiene, first aid, medication administration,...

Duty of Candour Policy

Regulation 20 — Duty of Candour

This Duty of Candour Policy implements the statutory duty under Regulation 20 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. It establishes the requirement to act in an open and transparent way with people who use the service when things go wrong. The policy defines a notifiable safety incident and sets out the process for notification — including face-to-face verb...

Person-Centred Care Planning Policy

Regulation 9 — Person-Centred Care

This Person-Centred Care Planning Policy ensures that every person using the service has an individualised care and support plan that reflects their assessed needs, preferences, and aspirations. The policy is grounded in Regulation 9 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. It describes the pre-admission assessment process, including how capacity to consent i...

Risk Management Policy

Regulation 12 — Safe Care and Treatment

This Risk Management Policy establishes a systematic approach to identifying, assessing, and managing risks across the service. It implements the requirements of Regulation 12 (Safe Care and Treatment) and integrates with the governance framework under Regulation 17. The policy covers individual risk assessments for people using the service, environmental risk assessments, and organisational risks...

Sample Care Contract

Regulation 19 — Fit and Proper Persons / Consumer Rights Act 2015

This Sample Care Contract template sets out the terms and conditions between the service provider and the person receiving care. It is designed to comply with the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and CQC registration requirements. The contract covers: the services to be provided as detailed in the individual care plan, fees and payment terms including the process for annual fee reviews, notice periods for...

Frequently Asked Questions

What documents do I need to register a care home with CQC in 2026?▼
You need a Statement of Purpose, core policies (complaints, consent, equality, governance, infection control, medicines management, recruitment, safeguarding), insurance certificates, a business plan with financial forecasts, fire and environment risk assessments, floor plans, gas and electricity certificates, legionella assessment, planning permission evidence, a service user guide, and a staff training plan. Additional specialist policies may be required depending on your service type.
How long does CQC care home registration take?▼
CQC aims to process straightforward applications within 12 weeks, but complex applications or those with missing documents can take significantly longer. Common delays include incomplete Statement of Purpose, missing planning permission, and inadequate financial evidence. Starting your document preparation early and using this checklist can help avoid delays.
What is the CQC Statement of Purpose and why is it important?▼
The Statement of Purpose is the most important document in your CQC registration application. It must describe your service in detail — who you care for, how you deliver care, your staffing model, aims and objectives, and the regulated activities you are applying for. CQC uses it to assess whether you understand what you are registering to provide. It must be specific to your service, not a generic template.
Do I need Positive Behaviour Support and Restraint policies for CQC registration?▼
If your care home will support autistic people or people with a learning disability, you must submit a Positive Behaviour Support Policy and a Restraint (Minimising Restrictive Practices) Policy with your application. These are mandatory for specialist services and must demonstrate a person-centred, least-restrictive approach aligned with CQC guidance on Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture.
What happens after I submit my CQC care home registration application?▼
After submission, CQC will review your documents, may request additional information, and will arrange a registration visit to your premises. They will interview the registered manager and may interview other key staff. CQC assesses whether you meet the fundamental standards and are fit to provide the regulated activities applied for. You must not begin operating until registration is granted.