When proposing to open, or currently running any service related to care, one of the questions that will crop up very early on, is 'should and will I need to register with the CQC?'. Whether operating as an individual, a partnership or an organisation, a provider will need to register with the CQC if undertaking any regulated activities.
Providing a regulated activity without first registering and thus being regulated by the CQC can carry substantial penalties, including fines and bans from being able to provide the service (in serious and repeat cases, even a custodial sentence).
Regulated Activities
Any service where a 'regulated activity' is being carried on will need to register with the CQC. Which leads us nicely to the next question, just what is a regulated activity? The CQC provide guidance on what constitutes a regulated activity within their 'Scope of registration'.
The CQC lists the regulated activities on it's website, and include;
Personal care
Accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care
Accommodation for persons who require treatment for substance misuse
Treatment of disease, disorder or injury
Assessment or medical treatment for people detained under the Mental Health Act 1983
Surgical procedures
Diagnostic and screening procedures
Management of supply of blood and blood-derived products
Transport services, triage and medical advice provided remotely
Maternity and midwifery services
Termination of pregnancies
Services in slimming clinics
Nursing care
Family planning services
Insofar as home care and supported living services are concerned, the most common regulated activity by far will be 'Personal Care'. This includes supporting or completely handling (physical assistance), as well as prompting and supervision of activities such as dressing, bathing/ washing, oral care, toileting, eating and drinking and even skin care.
If any of these activities are being carried out, the service will almost certainly need to register with the CQC. I say almost certainly rather than certainly as there are exemptions to requirement to register with the CQC, and if unsure it's always worth double checking with them, being open and explicit around what activities your service is looking to provide. Such exemptions may include for example looking after someone on a 'private' basis (i.e. looking after a friend/ family member/ family friend).
There are (many) occasions whereby a provider will be providing more than one regulated activity. In this case you must register each regulated activity you would be carrying on. In some cases these will overlap. As an example, if you are registered to provide 'treatment of disease disorder or injury' and personal or nursing care is being provided as part of this, then you would not need to additionally register for personal care. Again, if unsure, it never hurts to make a quick call to the CQC to clarify.
I've included a guide, which is a representation of whether the service you are looking at opening, or currently running will need to register with the CQC through the link below, which is a good starting point;
To get more information about how Astoria Care Consultancy can help with the CQC registration process, please click the learn more button below.
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