CQC and Ofsted registration for new care providers, done properly.
We help founders set up Domiciliary Care, Supported Living, Children's Homes and 16+ Supported Accommodation, from the first plan to the registration visit and the years that follow.
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Registration file
Children's Home, Ofsted
- Discovery and Fact Finder (complete)
- Statement of Purpose and policies (complete)
- Application submitted (complete)
- Fit person interview preparation (current stage)
- Registration visit
Every document is checked against the rules you will be judged by
- Health and Social Care Act 2008
- CQC fundamental standards
- Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015
- Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023
- Ofsted SCCIF
- Care Standards Act 2000
- Regulated Activities Regulations 2014
Two regulators, one partner
Adult social care is regulated by CQC. Children's Homes and Supported Accommodation for 16 and 17 year olds are regulated by Ofsted. We support both.
Which registration do I need?
The answer depends on who you will support and where. Two questions will point you in the right direction.
Answer two questions and we will show which regulator you register with and the type of service.
You are likely to need
Domiciliary Care
Personal care delivered in people's own homes is regulated by CQC. Your office is the registered location.
You are likely to need
Supported Living
CQC regulates the personal care. The housing sits separately, so the line between landlord and care provider needs to be clear.
You are likely to need
Care Home
Accommodation together with personal or nursing care is registered with CQC as a care home.
You are likely to need
Nursing or Staffing Agency
Whether an agency needs CQC registration depends on how it operates. This is one to talk through with us before you apply.
You are likely to need
Children's Home
A home where children live and receive care must be registered with Ofsted before any child moves in.
You are likely to need
Domiciliary Care for children
Personal care for children in their family home is a CQC regulated activity rather than an Ofsted one.
You are likely to need
16+ Supported Accommodation
Accommodation with support for looked-after young people and care leavers aged 16 and 17 is registered with Ofsted. It must not include care.
You are likely to need
Children's Home
If young people under 18 will need care where they live, the setting has to be registered as a Children's Home.
A starting point, not a ruling. We confirm the right registration with you at the discovery call.
From first idea to registered service
Every registration follows the same six stages. Choose a stage to see what you do and what we do.
Stage 1 of 6
Discovery and Fact Finder
We learn about your plans, premises, people and funding, then set a registration strategy that fits them.
Your part
Share your plans, budget and any premises or manager you have in mind.
Our part
Complete the Fact Finder with you, confirm the right registration and agree the fee and timeline in writing.
Stage 2 of 6
Company and service setup
Business plan, workforce plan and structure that make sense to the regulator and to the commissioners you want to work with.
Your part
Confirm your company, insurance and banking arrangements.
Our part
Write your business and workforce plans and advise on structure, staffing and recruitment.
Stage 3 of 6
Your registration documents
Statement of Purpose, policies, guides and risk assessments written for your service, not lifted from a template.
Your part
Review each draft and tell us how your service will really run day to day.
Our part
Write the full document set and take you through every policy so you can explain it with confidence.
Stage 4 of 6
The application
You submit through your own CQC or Ofsted account. We complete it with you, section by section, so nothing is missed.
Your part
Create your account, complete your DBS checks and make the declarations.
Our part
Work through each section with you and check every answer against your documents.
Stage 5 of 6
Interview preparation
Mock fit person interviews for your Registered Manager and Nominated or Responsible Individual, with honest feedback.
Your part
Attend the mock interviews and practise the areas we flag.
Our part
Run realistic mock interviews and give written feedback on what to strengthen.
Stage 6 of 6
Visit and decision
We prepare you for the registration visit and help with every regulator query until a decision is made.
Your part
Host the registration visit and answer the inspector's questions.
Our part
Prepare you for the visit, help with every query and plan your next steps once the decision arrives.
The documents your application stands on
Inspectors can tell when a policy was written for someone else's service. Ours are written for yours, and we walk you through every one so you can talk about them with confidence.
Statement of Purpose
The document CQC and Ofsted read first. It has to match your premises, staffing and the people you will support.
Policies and procedures
A full set written around your service, from safeguarding and medicines to complaints and whistleblowing.
Business and workforce plans
Evidence that the service is financially sound and can be staffed safely from day one.
Location risk assessment
For Children's Homes, an assessment of the area around the property, as Ofsted requires.
Children's and young people's guides
Clear, accessible guides for the children and young people who will live in your setting, including easy-read versions.
Interview preparation pack
Likely questions, model evidence and feedback from mock interviews, so your leaders walk in prepared.
CQC and Ofsted make the decision. Our job is to make sure your application gives them every reason to say yes.
No consultant can guarantee registration. What we promise is the preparation: every document checked against the current regulations, every interview rehearsed, every regulator query answered on time.
Support once you are open
Registration is the start. These are the services our clients come back for.
Compliance and audits
Mock inspections, quality audits and action plans before the regulator visits.
Business strategy and growth
Commissioning, tenders, pricing and plans for a second or third service.
Training and workforce
Practical training for managers and staff, built around the current inspection framework.
Websites and IT
Websites, email and systems for care providers, set up to support your registration and referrals.
Questions we hear first
More answers on our FAQs page.
How long does CQC or Ofsted registration take?
CQC and Ofsted set their own timescales, and these change with demand. We give you current expectations at your discovery call, and we plan the work so that your side of the application is never the reason for a delay.
Can you guarantee my registration?
No, and you should be wary of anyone who does. Registration decisions belong to CQC and Ofsted. What we guarantee is the preparation: documents checked against the current regulations, interviews rehearsed, and regulator queries answered on time.
Do I need premises before I apply?
It depends on the service. For a Children's Home or 16+ Supported Accommodation, Ofsted assesses a specific property, and a Children's Home cannot be registered without the right planning permission. For Domiciliary Care, CQC registers the office you will run the service from. We look at your premises plans early so they do not hold you back later.
Do you work across the whole UK?
Our registration work is for services in England, where CQC and Ofsted are the regulators. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland each have their own regulator, so if you are planning a service there, speak to us first about what applies.
What does registration support cost?
We quote a fixed fee after your discovery call, once we know which registration you need and what is already in place. The fee is agreed in writing before any work starts. Regulator fees, DBS checks and similar third-party costs are paid separately.
Tell us what you are planning
Start with a discovery call. You will come away knowing which registration you need, what the process involves and what to do first.