Is CQC Registration for Domiciliary Care UK-Wide?
No. CQC regulates health and adult social care services in England.
The UK has separate regulatory systems:
| Nation | Care regulator |
|---|---|
| England | Care Quality Commission (CQC) |
| Scotland | Care Inspectorate |
| Wales | Care Inspectorate Wales |
| Northern Ireland | Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) |
This guide concerns registering a domiciliary care service with CQC in England.
CQC Domiciliary Care Registration: The 2026 Roadmap
| Stage | What you need to establish |
|---|---|
| 1. Define the service | What care you will provide, who will receive it, and where the service will operate |
| 2. Identify regulated activities | Determine which activities your proposed service will carry on and therefore require registration |
| 3. Establish the provider | Confirm the legal entity applying for registration and the locations from which regulated activities will be managed |
| 4. Identify the registered manager | Determine whether a registered manager is required and ensure the proposed manager can demonstrate the necessary fitness, qualifications, competence, skills, and experience |
| 5. Prepare the Statement of Purpose | Accurately describe the provider, aims and objectives, locations, service-user needs, regulated activities, and registered-manager arrangements |
| 6. Prepare supporting documents | Assemble the documents CQC requires for the provider type and regulated activities being applied for |
| 7. Cross-check the application | Make sure repeated information about the service, locations, staffing, activities, governance, and management is consistent across the complete pack |
| 8. Submit the complete application | Submit the provider application, manager application where required, and all mandatory supporting documents |
| 9. CQC initial checks | CQC checks whether the application and required supporting information are complete before progressing the application |
| 10. Registration assessment | CQC assesses the application and may request further information and conduct interviews as part of deciding whether the provider and manager meet registration requirements |
Why the Initial Completeness Check Matters
CQC's current new-provider guidance makes clear that incomplete applications will be rejected.
This means registration preparation is not simply about completing the application form. The provider must submit the required supporting documents and ensure that they relate to the actual service being registered.
CQC also warns applicants using third-party policy templates to make sure they are relevant to the type of service being registered. For example, documentation written for residential care should not be submitted unchanged for a home-care service.
What is a Domiciliary Care Agency?
A domiciliary care agency (also called home care agency) provides personal care to people in their own homes. This includes help with washing, dressing, eating, medication, and daily living activities. In England, anyone providing regulated activities must register with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Step 1: Business Setup (Before CQC Application)
Before applying to CQC, you need a legally established business:
- Legal structure — Sole trader, partnership, or limited company (most choose Ltd for liability protection)
- Business bank account — Separate from personal finances
- Registered business address — Can be a home office, but must be suitable for storing records
- ICO registration — Data protection registration (£40-60/year)
Step 2: Insurance Requirements
CQC expects adequate insurance cover. You will need:
- Employers' liability insurance — Legally required if you employ staff (minimum £5m)
- Public liability insurance — Covers claims from service users or public (typically £5-10m)
- Professional indemnity insurance — Covers negligence claims
Budget approximately £1,000-2,500 per year for comprehensive cover, depending on your size and services.
Step 3: Choose Your Regulated Activities
CQC regulates specific activities, not service types. Most domiciliary care agencies register for:
- Personal care — Physical assistance with washing, dressing, toileting, eating/drinking, mobility. This is required for most home care.
- Treatment of disease, disorder or injury — Only if providing nursing or clinical care (e.g., wound care, injections)
Note: Companionship, shopping, cleaning, or meal preparation alone do not require CQC registration — only when combined with personal care.
Step 4: CQC Registration Fees
CQC registration for domiciliary care does not carry an upfront application fee. Once registered, providers pay an annual fee based on the number of service users. Annual fees for community social care providers are reviewed each year by CQC.
| Fee Type | Amount | When Due |
|---|---|---|
| CQC application fee | £0 — no application fee | N/A |
| Annual fee (up to 22 service users) | Varies — check cqc.org.uk | On registration and annually |
| Annual fee (larger services) | Higher — based on service user numbers | Annually |
| ICO registration | £40–60 | Annually |
| DBS checks (per person) | £40–60 | Per application |
Annual Fee (Ongoing)
£700 - £2,000+
Based on number of service users. A new agency with few users pays the lower end.
Step 5: Registered Manager Requirements
Every domiciliary care agency must have a Registered Manager — a named individual responsible for day-to-day compliance. CQC assesses them separately.
Qualifications:
- Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care (or equivalent, or working towards within agreed timeframe)
- Management experience in a regulated care setting
- Enhanced DBS check with adults barred list
Required competencies:
- • Safeguarding adults and children
- • Medication management
- • Mental Capacity Act and DoLS
- • Complaints handling
- • Quality assurance and governance
- • Staff recruitment and supervision
If you are the owner and also the Registered Manager, you apply for both roles. The fee covers both.
Step 6: Required Documents
CQC requires comprehensive documentation. Incomplete applications are now rejected (not queued), so prepare everything before submitting.
Core Documents (All Providers):
Domiciliary Care Specific:
Step 7: The Fit Person Interview
CQC will interview the proposed Registered Manager (and sometimes the Nominated Individual/owner) to assess fitness to manage a regulated service.
What to expect:
- Format — Usually phone or video call, sometimes in-person office visit
- Duration — 1-2 hours
- Structure — Questions aligned to 5 key questions: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, Well-led
Common interview topics:
- • How would you handle a safeguarding concern?
- • Describe your approach to medication management
- • How will you ensure staff are competent?
- • What quality assurance systems will you use?
- • How would you respond to a complaint?
- • How will you promote person-centred care?
Step 8: Timeline
CQC aims to process applications within 10 weeks, but realistically expect:
2026 update: CQC now requires more complete applications upfront. Incomplete submissions are rejected rather than queued, which actually speeds things up if you prepare properly.
Step 9: Staff Recruitment Requirements
Before you start providing care, you need compliant recruitment processes:
- Enhanced DBS checks with adults barred list for all care staff
- Two written references (one from most recent employer)
- Right to work checks
- Health declaration
- Proof of qualifications
- Full employment history with gaps explained
Step 10: Post-Registration Obligations
Once registered, ongoing compliance includes:
- Display your CQC rating — Must be visible at your premises and on your website
- Notify CQC of changes — Manager changes, address changes, incidents, safeguarding concerns
- Pay annual fees — Due each year, based on service user numbers
- Maintain compliance — CQC can inspect at any time
- Submit Provider Information Return (PIR) — Annual data submission
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Costs Summary
Need Help with Your Registration Documents?
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