Which policies does CQC require to register a home care agency?

Sent with the application: from every provider

• Complaints policy Policy
• Consent policy and procedures Policy
• Equality, diversity and human rights policy Policy
• Governance and quality assurance policies Policy
• Infection prevention and control policy Policy
• Medicines management policy Policy
• Recruitment policy and procedures Policy
• Safeguarding policy and procedures Policy

Plus a building control final certificate if your premises needed building regulations approval. Source: documents everyone must send.

Sent with the application: home care and supported living extras

• Statement of purpose Template
• Service user guide Template
• Staff training plan Template
• Business plan and financial forecast Template (outline)
• Evidence of legal occupancy You supply
• Public and employers liability insurance You supply

You must also complete CQC's additional information form for providers of personal care, which includes your market research showing local demand.

Keep ready: CQC may ask during assessment

CQC's words: "Do not send these documents with your application. Keep them ready in case we request them. If you cannot provide them when asked, your application may be delayed."

• Duty of candour policy Policy
• Whistleblowing / freedom to speak up policy Policy
• Person-centred care planning policy Policy
• Reportable incidents policy Policy
• Risk management policy and list of risk assessments Policy + template
• Sample care contract and sample care plan Template
• Staffing structure and rotas Template

Specialist services only

• Positive behaviour support policy Policy
• Restraint policy Policy

What "policy" means to CQC

Every one of these must carry your business name, the person responsible, a created date, a review date, and up-to-date references with working links. CQC says a residential care template will not work for a home care application. The review dates and working links guide covers what that means in practice.

Use the free checker to turn this into a tick list for your own application, with the forms and DBS checks included.

Who this is not for. Residential care homes, nurses agencies, clinics and anything outside England: their lists differ.

Questions