HomeCQC Registration Checklist

CQC Registration Checklist for UK Home Care Agencies

Your complete guide to registering a home care service in England. Sourced from cqc.org.uk, statutory references included, and written for founders preparing their first application.

Last reviewed 17 May 2026

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Why CQC registration matters

Anyone providing personal care as a regulated activity in England must be registered with the Care Quality Commission. It is an offence under section 10 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 to carry on a regulated activity without registration.

The statutory framework that governs your application is set out across three pieces of legislation: the Health and Social Care Act 2008, the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, and the Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009. CQC assesses every application against these regulations and against its 5 key questions.

This checklist walks through what you need to have in place before you apply, how the application itself is structured, and the most common reasons applications are returned.

CQC's official application journey

CQC structures the homecare registration process into four phases. Each links to the relevant guidance on cqc.org.uk.

1

Before you apply

Get the prerequisites in place: business setup, policies, Registered Manager, DBS, and supporting documents.

2

How to apply

Complete the application online via CQC's portal, upload supporting documents, and pay the application fee.

3

After you apply

CQC reviews your application, conducts an interview with the proposed Registered Manager and nominated individual, then issues a decision.

4

Examples

CQC publishes sample applications to help you understand what good looks like.

The six-area prep checklist

Use this to audit your readiness before opening the CQC application portal. Each area maps to specific sections of CQC's assessment.

1. Business Setup

  • Business structure decided and registered (sole trader, partnership, limited company)
  • Registered with HMRC and Companies House where applicable
  • Business bank account opened
  • Public Liability and Employers' Liability insurance in place
  • Proof of business address that CQC can use for service of legal documents

2. Documents & Policies

  • Statement of Purpose, required under Regulation 12 and Schedule 3 of the 2009 Registration Regulations
  • Service User Guide describing what the service offers
  • Full suite of operational policies and procedures (typically 40 or more for a home care service)
  • Risk assessments covering operations, premises, lone working, and service delivery
  • Data Protection and GDPR policy plus ICO registration

3. Staffing & Training

  • Recruitment policy and process in place
  • Enhanced DBS checks for all staff providing care, countersigned by CQC, dated within the last 12 months
  • Right to work checks and references for every staff member
  • Mandatory training: Care Certificate, safeguarding, manual handling, medication, first aid
  • Supervision and appraisal system aligned with Skills for Care guidance
  • Registered Manager identified, with Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care or equivalent

4. Care Provision

  • Person-centred care planning templates with linked risk assessments
  • Medication management policy and Medication Administration Records (MAR)
  • Safeguarding policy with a named safeguarding lead
  • Infection prevention and control procedures
  • Complaints policy and a clear response process

5. Governance & Quality

  • Quality assurance system with audits, reviews, and action plans
  • Incident reporting system, including statutory notifications to CQC
  • Regular audits across care plans, medication, infection control, and safeguarding
  • Feedback collection from people who use the service and staff
  • Continuous improvement plan with clear KPIs

6. CQC Application

  • Online application completed via CQC's portal
  • Supporting documents uploaded (Statement of Purpose, financial information, Registered Manager evidence)
  • Application fee paid (varies by service type and size, set out on cqc.org.uk)
  • Registered Manager named and qualified
  • Prepared for the CQC interview that follows submission

The 11 sections of the CQC application

The actual application form is structured into 11 sections. Knowing the structure upfront helps you prepare the right documents in the right order.

  1. 1.Application as an organisation, individual, or partnership
  2. 2.Information about you or your partnership
  3. 3.Partnership-specific information (where relevant)
  4. 4.Financial information
  5. 5.The regulated activities you want to provide
  6. 6.The locations you want to provide regulated activities at or from
  7. 7.How you will provide your service against the 5 key questions
  8. 8.Checklist of information that must be available on request
  9. 9.Members of a partnership condition
  10. 10.Supporting notes
  11. 11.Application declaration and final checklist

CQC's 5 key questions

Section 7 of the application asks you to demonstrate how your service will meet each of these. CQC assesses every registered service against the same framework.

1

Safe

How do you protect people from avoidable harm and abuse?

2

Effective

Does the service deliver care, treatment, and support that achieves good outcomes?

3

Caring

Do staff treat people with kindness, respect, and compassion?

4

Responsive

Are services organised so they meet people's needs?

5

Well-led

Is leadership, management, and governance fostering a culture of high-quality, person-centred care?

Fees and timelines

CQC publishes its current fee schedule on cqc.org.uk. Application fees vary by service type and by the number of people the service will support, and there is an annual ongoing fee in addition to the initial application fee.

CQC guidance refers to the process taking 'a few months'. In practice, agencies should plan for 8 to 16 weeks from submission, longer if the application is returned for amendments. Most applications are returned at least once, so build a 3 to 6 month buffer beyond your planned submission date.

You cannot deliver personal care while your application is pending. It is a criminal offence under section 10 of the 2008 Act to carry on a regulated activity without registration.

Common reasons applications are returned

CQC will return an application if it isn't ready for assessment. Each return typically adds 4 to 8 weeks. The most common issues:

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to register with CQC to run a home care agency in England?
Yes. Anyone providing personal care as a regulated activity in England must be registered with the Care Quality Commission. It is an offence under section 10 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 to carry on a regulated activity without registration.
How long does CQC registration take?
CQC guidance refers to the process taking 'a few months', but in practice agencies should plan for 8 to 16 weeks from submission, longer if the application is returned for amendments. Build a 3 to 6 month buffer into your launch plan.
What is a Registered Manager?
A Registered Manager is the named individual responsible for the day-to-day running of the regulated activity. Every home care service must have one, and the manager applies separately to CQC alongside the provider application. Most successful candidates hold a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care or equivalent qualifications and experience.
What does a CQC-countersigned DBS mean?
Enhanced DBS checks for care staff must be requested through CQC, not directly from the DBS service. CQC countersigns the application as the registered body, which allows the check to include barred list information relevant to regulated activity. A DBS check obtained another way will not be accepted.
How much does CQC registration cost?
CQC publishes its fee schedule on cqc.org.uk. Fees vary by service type and the number of people the service will support. There is an annual ongoing fee in addition to the initial application fee.
Can I apply as a provider before having a Registered Manager?
You can begin the provider application, but registration will not be granted without a Registered Manager in place and registered with CQC. Most providers prepare both applications in parallel to avoid delays.
What is a Statement of Purpose?
The Statement of Purpose is a regulatory document required under Regulation 12 and Schedule 3 of the 2009 Registration Regulations. It describes the service's aims and objectives, the kinds of services provided, the people the service is intended for, and how the service will be delivered. CQC reviews it carefully, and generic or boilerplate versions are a common reason for applications being returned.
What are CQC's 5 key questions?
CQC assesses services against five questions: Is it safe, is it effective, is it caring, is it responsive to people's needs, and is it well-led. Section 7 of the application asks you to describe how your service will meet each of these.
Why are CQC applications usually returned?
Common reasons include a generic Statement of Purpose, gaps in Registered Manager qualifications or experience, DBS checks that weren't CQC-countersigned, missing nominated individual sections, and inconsistencies across application documents. Each return typically adds 4 to 8 weeks.
Do I need a Level 5 Diploma to be a Registered Manager?
CQC does not strictly require the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care, but it is the standard expected by most applications. Equivalent qualifications and significant management experience in regulated care can be accepted. Without either, applications are more likely to be returned.
What is a regulated activity?
Regulated activities are the categories of health and social care defined in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. For home care agencies, the relevant activity is 'personal care', which covers help with washing, dressing, eating, and similar tasks delivered in a person's own home.
Do I need physical premises to register a home care agency?
You need a registered office address where CQC can serve legal documents and contact you, but you do not need clinical premises since care is delivered in service users' homes. The address can be a home office or a serviced office, provided it meets the requirements set out in the application.
Can I provide care while my application is pending?
No. It is a criminal offence to provide regulated activity without CQC registration. Some applicants take on supporting roles such as staff training or business setup during the application period, but you cannot deliver personal care until registration is granted.
What happens after I submit my application?
CQC reviews the application for completeness, then assesses whether it demonstrates how the service will meet regulations. A registration inspector will usually conduct an interview with the proposed Registered Manager and the nominated individual. If satisfied, CQC issues the registration. If not, they can refuse, return for amendments, or grant with conditions.
Why does CQC registration take so long?
CQC has a significant backlog of applications. Each goes through a completeness check, assessment against the 2014 Regulated Activities Regulations, an interview with the proposed Registered Manager and nominated individual, then a final decision. Application volume has grown faster than CQC's capacity, leading to delays of 4 to 8 months for many providers.
When will I get my first CQC inspection?
CQC's stated framework is to inspect newly registered services within 6 to 12 months of starting to provide regulated activity. In practice the wait is often longer due to CQC's inspection backlog. Some agencies wait 18 to 24 months for their first inspection.
When will my service get a CQC rating?
Your service is only rated after a comprehensive inspection. Until then, your CQC profile shows the service as registered but unrated. New services commonly display as 'Newly registered' or 'Rating not yet awarded' for the first 12 to 24 months of operation.
What does 'Rating not yet awarded' mean for families?
It means the service is registered with CQC and meets regulatory requirements to operate, but hasn't yet had its first full inspection visit. Families often take longer to trust unrated services, which makes proactive quality signals (a strong Statement of Purpose, transparent policies, positive testimonials, and an active CareAH listing) particularly important in the first 12 to 18 months.
What can I do to be ready for my first CQC inspection?
Once registered, focus on building a robust audit trail across the 5 key questions. Many agencies use AI inspection readiness tools that map daily records (care notes, MARs, audits) against CQC's Key Lines of Enquiry. CareAH offers a free AI Inspection Readiness tool for UK home care agencies on the platform.

Get on the pre-registration list

We'll let you know the moment your CQC location ID activates on CQC's public register, so you can claim your free CareAH listing on day one. This is automated, so no need to chase us. CQC's registration timeline (typically 4 to 8 months) is set by CQC, not us.

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Once you're CQC registered, families can find you

CareAH is England's first transactional home care marketplace. Free listings for CQC-registered agencies, family enquiries by postcode, GPS-verified visit tracking, and Stripe payments. Plus our free AI Inspection Readiness software for UK home care agencies helps you prepare for your first CQC inspection.

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