How to Register a Domiciliary Care Agency with CQC — Complete Guide 2026

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 charges fees at two stages:

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