When opening a home care business or franchise, one of the most important steps you must take is ensuring your business is legally compliant from the beginning. Central to this is CQC registration. Whether you plan to run a home care franchise, a supported living service, or another regulated healthcare business, you cannot legally provide personal care services without being registered.
In this guide, we’ll explain what the CQC registration process is, who needs to register, the step-by-step process, and the qualifications and legal requirements business and franchise owners need to consider before opening their doors.
Who are the CQC?
The CQC, or Care Quality Commission, is an independent regulator in England responsible for assessing businesses and organisations that provide health and social care services. Its primary role is to ensure high standards of care across the country, keeping service users, which Bridgewater refers to as ‘clients’, safe, protected, and well cared for. Care compliance with the CQC means following the regulations and standards it sets.
What is CQC registration?
CQC registration is the legal process of applying to provide regulated care activities in England. It ensures that individuals and organisations have the right systems, staff, and safeguards in place before offering services to the public.
Registration checks whether:
- The provider and registered manager are ‘fit and proper persons’
- Staff are trained, vetted, and qualified to deliver care
- Governance policies and procedures comply with regulations
- The service meets the requirements of the Health and Social Care Act 2008
Without this registration, you cannot legally provide regulated services (personal care), including washing, bathing and medicine management.
Choosing to franchise with Bridgewater gives you access to expert guidance on each of these points. Their team ensures that your application is thorough and that your business is structured correctly from the start, reducing the stress of the registration process.
Who needs to register with the CQC?
Any individual or organisation providing regulated health or social care in England must register with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Registration is linked to the specific regulated activity being carried out and the legal entity responsible, rather than the type of service or the profession of the staff.
What counts as a regulated activity?
Regulated activities are defined under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. They cover services that involve or are connected with the provision of health or social care, and providers must register for each activity they deliver. Examples include:
- Personal care, such as assistance with washing, dressing, or eating
- Nursing care, including specialist nursing support
- Accommodation with nursing or personal care, such as care homes or supported living
- Treatment of disease, disorder, or injury, including physiotherapy, minor surgeries, and medical interventions
- Diagnostic and screening procedures, including blood tests, imaging, and health assessments
Providers are only registered for the activities they actually deliver. If new activities are introduced later, the registration must be updated to reflect these changes.
Who needs to register?
The responsible legal entity must register, which can be:
- Individuals, such as sole traders, delivering care personally
- Partnerships, where the partnership itself registers, and partners are named
- Organisations, including companies, charities, NHS trusts, and local authorities
- Franchises and joint ventures, with each legal entity registering separately
Even complex arrangements like hosting, renting facilities, subcontracting, and federated primary care require registration by the provider delivering the regulated activity.
Each location or branch may need separate registration if multiple sites are operated.
Some services or activities may be exempt from registration, for example, certain support services, volunteer-only services, or services regulated by other bodies like Ofsted for children.
Why do you need to register?
Registering with the CQC is mandatory. Providing care without it is a criminal offence and can lead to fines, prosecution, or closure.
Beyond legal compliance, registration builds trust with clients and commissioners, opens access to contracts, and demonstrates professionalism. Franchising with Bridgewater adds extra support, brand recognition, and operational frameworks to help establish credibility from day one.
Step-by-Step guide to registration
Registering with the CQC can feel overwhelming, but understanding the process and breaking it into stages makes it much easier.
1. Understand legal and regulatory obligations
Before applying, providers must determine the legal entity responsible for delivering care, whether an individual, partnership, or organisation. It’s essential to understand which activities require registration and ensure that all aspects of the service comply with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and CQC regulations.
Providers should also establish management roles, including appointing a registered manager where required. Governance systems should be set up from the outset to meet regulatory standards.
With Bridgewater, franchisees are supported by an experienced compliance team, including a Brand Compliance Manager with over 20 years in the care industry. We help ensure your business structure, management roles, and governance systems meet all regulatory standards from day one.
2. Gather Key Documents
A strong application relies on having the right documentation in place. You should make sure to prepare:
- A Statement of Purpose outlining the aims, objectives, and services offered
- DBS checks for key personnel, including the registered manager
- Policies and procedures covering safeguarding, infection control, complaints, and other operational standards
- Evidence of staff qualifications and experience to demonstrate competency and compliance
- Proof of payment of the CQC application fee
Keeping copies of all documents is recommended for future reference and audits.
At Bridgewater, we provide fully developed policies and procedures, vetted by an ex-CQC inspector, so franchisees can be confident their documents meet all regulatory requirements. This support reduces the risk of errors and ensures the application is complete and professional.
3. Complete and Submit Your Application
The application requires detailed information about your organisation and services. Important elements include:
- Basic business details, including leadership and organisational structure
- A clear outline of the regulated activities being offered
- Confirmation that the service meets all CQC standards and legal requirements
- Proof of staff vetting and compliance processes
Once submitted, the CQC acknowledges receipt and may request additional information. The CQC may carry out preliminary validation checks, and some services may require a site visit to verify compliance before progressing.
The review process can take several weeks to a few months, depending on the complexity of the service. After review, the CQC will formally approve the application and issue a registration certificate, allowing the provider to legally operate.
At Bridgewater, we guide franchisees through the entire application process, offering a structured training programme and checking submissions to ensure accuracy and compliance. This helps to avoid delays and sets your business up for a smooth approval.
4. Prepare for CQC Review and Interview
After your application is accepted for review, the CQC may arrange interviews with the registered manager and nominated individual. This stage assesses your knowledge of regulations and the way your service will operate safely and effectively.
You should be ready to discuss:
- How your service will manage its regulated activities
- Recruitment and vetting systems for staff
- Procedures for handling complaints and ensuring quality care
- Plans to maintain standards and comply with regulations after registration
This stage is crucial for showing that your service is well-prepared and meets all regulatory requirements.
At Bridgewater, we help franchisees prepare for these reviews by offering coaching and mock inspections, giving practical experience and confidence so you can demonstrate compliance effectively.
5. Maintain Compliance After Registration
Approval is only the beginning. Providers must continue to meet CQC standards and be ready for inspections.
Ongoing responsibilities include:
- Regularly reviewing policies and procedures to ensure they are up to date.
- Providing staff with ongoing training and professional development.
- Conducting audits and managing risks to maintain service quality.
Inspections may not happen immediately, but continuing to follow CQC standards from the start ensures your service remains compliant and prepared for any review.
Here at Bridgewater, we continue to support franchisees post-registration with regular audits, updates on regulatory changes, and on-site mock inspections. Our systems and guidance help ensure that businesses maintain compliance and strive for the highest possible inspection ratings.
How Bridgewater helps with registration
Partnering with Bridgewater gives you a proven framework and expert guidance, allowing you to focus on delivering safe, high-quality care. From CQC registration to ongoing compliance, our support covers every stage, giving you confidence and peace of mind.
Not only do we support you with CQC registration, compliance, training, and ongoing audits, but we also offer a range of additional resources to help your business succeed:
- Bespoke IT and care management systems to streamline staff scheduling, client records, and policy management
- Mentoring from experienced leaders, including hands-on guidance from the founder during the first 12 months
- Guidance on recruiting and retaining skilled staff, even if you have no prior care experience
- Regular workshops and training sessions, including updates on regulatory changes and professional development
- Policies and procedures vetted by an ex-CQC inspector to ensure accuracy and regulatory compliance
- Support to build credibility and grow your business, helping attract clients, skilled staff, and local authority or NHS contracts
Interested in finding out more? Contact us today by making an enquiry on our contact form, or call 01942 215 888.
