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How to Register a Domiciliary Care Agency with CQC — Complete Guide 2026
28 March 2026 • 20 min read | Last reviewed: September 2026 — application fee corrected to reflect current CQC guidance | Reviewed September 2026 — updated for current CQC new provider registration requirements
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To register a domiciliary care agency in England, first determine which regulated activities your service will provide, establish the legal entity and service location, appoint a suitable registered manager where required, prepare the Statement of Purpose and mandatory supporting documents, complete the CQC provider and manager applications, and submit a complete and internally consistent registration pack. CQC regulates health and adult social care services in England — Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have different regulators. In 2026, completeness at submission is critical: CQC checks new provider applications and supporting documents before progressing them to assessment and rejects incomplete applications.
Starting a home care agency in England requires CQC registration. This guide covers everything: business setup, fees, required documents, registered manager qualifications, the fit person interview, and realistic timelines.
£0
Application fee
8-12 weeks
Typical timeline
15+
Documents required
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:
This guide concerns registering a domiciliary care service with CQC in England.
| Nation | Care regulator |
|---|---|
| England | Care Quality Commission (CQC) |
| Scotland | Care Inspectorate |
| Wales | Care Inspectorate Wales |
| Northern Ireland | Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) |
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:
Budget approximately £1,000-2,500 per year for comprehensive cover, depending on your size and services.
- 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
Step 3: Choose Your Regulated Activities
CQC regulates specific activities, not service types. Most domiciliary care agencies register for:
Note: Companionship, shopping, cleaning, or meal preparation alone do not require CQC registration — only when combined with personal care.
- 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)
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.
Annual Fee (Ongoing)
£700 - £2,000+
Based on number of service users. A new agency with few users pays the lower end.
| 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 |
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:
Required competencies:
If you are the owner and also the Registered Manager, you apply for both roles. The fee covers both.
- 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
- • Safeguarding adults and children
- • Medication management
- • Mental Capacity Act and DoLS
- • Complaints handling
- • Quality assurance and governance
- • Staff recruitment and supervision
Step 6: Required Documents
CQC requires comprehensive documentation. Incomplete applications are now rejected (not queued), so prepare everything before submitting.
Core Documents (All Providers):
Statement of Purpose
Business plan with financial projections
Evidence of financial viability
Safeguarding policy
Complaints procedure
Recruitment and selection policy (including DBS)
Staff training and development plan
Risk assessment procedures
Medication management policy
Mental Capacity Act / DoLS policy
Infection prevention and control policy
Data protection / GDPR policy
Health and safety policy
Equality and diversity policy
Whistleblowing policy
Domiciliary Care Specific:
Service user assessment process
Care planning documentation templates
Lone worker policy
Travel and transport procedures
Key holding and access policy
Missing person / welfare check procedures
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:
Common interview topics:
- 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
- • 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:
Preparation (documents, policies) 4-8 weeks
Application submission 1 day
CQC initial review 2-4 weeks
Fit person interview 2-4 weeks
Decision 2-4 weeks
Total 10-20 weeks
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
Incomplete applications — CQC now rejects rather than queues. Prepare everything first.
Generic policies — Templates must be customised to your specific service.
Underestimating the fit person interview — This is rigorous. Prepare thoroughly.
Starting care before registration — This is illegal and can result in prosecution.
No registered manager — You cannot operate without one. Plan for cover/succession.
Costs Summary
CQC application fee £0 (no application fee)
Insurance (annual) £1,000 - £2,500
ICO registration (annual) £40 - £60
DBS checks (per person) £40 - £60
CQC annual fee £700 - £2,000+
Estimated startup costs £3,500 - £6,000+
Need Help with Your Registration Documents?
ReporticaAI produces CQC-compliant policies, statements of purpose, and registration documents tailored to your domiciliary care service. Save weeks of preparation time.
Start Your Registration Pack (£99) Statement of Purpose Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I register a domiciliary care agency with CQC?
Define the service and regulated activities, establish the provider and location, identify a suitable registered manager where required, prepare the Statement of Purpose and mandatory supporting documents, complete the provider and manager applications, check the entire pack for completeness and consistency, and submit it to CQC for registration assessment.
Q: Does CQC regulate domiciliary care throughout the UK?
No. CQC regulates health and adult social care in England. Scotland is regulated by the Care Inspectorate, Wales by Care Inspectorate Wales, and Northern Ireland by the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority. This guide concerns CQC registration in England.
Q: Does every domiciliary care agency need CQC registration?
CQC registration depends on whether the service carries on a regulated activity. A common regulated activity for domiciliary care providers is personal care, but providers should determine their registration requirements from the activities they actually intend to carry on rather than assuming that every form of home support is regulated in the same way.
Q: Do I need a registered manager for a domiciliary care agency?
Providers must check the registered-manager requirements applying to their legal entity and regulated activities. Where a registered manager is required, the manager applies for registration and must satisfy the applicable fitness requirements.
Q: What documents do I need for CQC domiciliary care registration?
The exact supporting documents depend on the provider type and activities being registered. All provider applicants require core supporting information including a Statement of Purpose, while CQC's current registration guidance specifies additional documents according to the application. Applicants should use the current CQC supporting-document requirements rather than relying on an old checklist.
Q: Can I use policy templates for my CQC application?
You can use templates as a starting point, but CQC specifically warns applicants to make sure third-party templates suit their service type. Every policy submitted should describe the service you are actually proposing to operate and be consistent with the rest of the application.
Q: What happens if my CQC application is incomplete?
CQC's current guidance states that incomplete new-provider applications will be rejected. Applicants should therefore check that the required forms, supporting documents, and information are complete before submission.
Q: Can my Statement of Purpose contradict my business plan or policies?
It should not. The registration documents should describe the same service. Provider identity, locations, regulated activities, service-user groups, staffing assumptions, management responsibilities, and other repeated information should be cross-checked across the complete application.
Q: Can I provide personal care before CQC registration is granted?
You must not carry on a regulated activity that requires registration unless the appropriate registration is in place. Providers should establish whether their proposed activities require CQC registration before beginning regulated service delivery.
Q: How should I prepare for CQC registration in 2026?
Work from CQC's current registration guidance, determine the correct regulated activities and provider structure, prepare service-specific supporting documents, check the Statement of Purpose carefully, and audit the complete application for missing requirements and contradictions before submitting.
Check Your Domiciliary Care Registration Pack Before Submission
A complete domiciliary care application involves multiple documents describing the same proposed service. Errors can arise when those documents are prepared separately — for example, where the Statement of Purpose, policies, staffing information, or other registration evidence contains conflicting information.
Reportica Auditor checks CQC registration documents individually and across the registration pack, helping identify missing requirements and cross-document inconsistencies before submission.
Audit Your CQC Registration Pack → https://auditor.reporticaai.co.uk
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a fee to apply for CQC registration as a domiciliary care agency?
No. CQC does not charge an upfront application fee for domiciliary care registration. Annual fees apply once you are registered, based on the number of service users you support. Check cqc.org.uk for current fee schedules.
How long does CQC domiciliary care registration take?
CQC aims to process straightforward applications within 10 weeks, but realistically expect 10 to 20 weeks from submission to decision, including the fit person interview. Incomplete applications are returned rather than queued, adding significant delays.
Do I need to be a qualified nurse to register a domiciliary care agency?
No. The registered manager must hold or be working towards a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care. Nursing qualifications are not required for personal care services unless the agency provides nursing or clinical care.
Can I start providing care while my CQC application is being processed?
No. Providing regulated activities without CQC registration is a criminal offence under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and can result in prosecution.
What happens if my CQC application is rejected?
CQC will issue a Notice of Proposal to Refuse Registration. You have 28 days to make representations. If refused, you can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal. Use this period to identify and address the specific reasons for rejection before resubmitting. Reportica Auditor can help identify document gaps before initial submission at auditor.reporticaai.co.uk .
Related Guides
How to Start a Care Home in England
Complete registration guide for residential care
How to Prepare for a CQC Inspection
What to expect and how to prepare
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