England · CQC registration · Free checklist
CQC registration checklist for a home care agency
Every step and document for registering a home care agency with CQC, in the order you need them, each linked to CQC’s guidance or the law. Answer six questions to tailor it, tick steps off and email it to yourself.
- Rule-verified 30 September 2026
- 27 steps, each sourced
- Free, no account
Quick answer
To provide personal care in people’s homes in England you must register with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) before you start; doing it without registration is a criminal offence. You need an office in England, a registered manager unless you are a sole trader managing the service yourself, CQC-countersigned enhanced DBS checks, your staff recruited, and a full set of documents.
You email everything to CQC in one go. Since 1 July 2025, CQC rejects homecare applications that are not complete or accurate when they arrive, so the checklist below is worth working through before you send anything.
Tailor your checklist
Six quick questions
Your answers stay in this browser. The checklist below updates as you answer.
You probably do not need to register with CQC
CQC says you do not need to register if you only provide housing support or social support, such as help with shopping, with no tasks that count as personal care. That changes as soon as you help anyone with personal care: then registration is required, and providing it without registration is a criminal offence. Change your first answer to see the checklist.
CQC, Scope of registration: personal careSpecialist learning disability and autism services need more
CQC asks for a positive behaviour support policy, a restraint policy and an extra form, and assesses you against its Right support, right care, right culture guidance. Those steps are included below.
Your checklist
Showing the steps for a new limited company providing personal care. Answer the questions above to tailor it.
Before you apply
CQC, What each document must include: Statement of purposeStatement of purpose →
2009 Regulations, reg. 5(1)Registered manager requirements →
CQC homecare registration, Before you applyRegistered manager requirements →
CQC homecare registration, Examples of personal care applications
GOV.UK, Explanatory memorandum to the statement of changes to the Immigration RulesSponsor licence guide →
Your documents
Send your application
Once you are registered
Email me this checklist
We send the checklist with your answers and a link back to it. Nothing else unless you tick the box.
CareRulebook
Every document on the checklist, from one set of answers
CareRulebook’s CQC registration pack builds your statement of purpose, business plan, policies, service user guide and training plan from your answers about your agency, so they describe the same service and pass CQC’s completeness check.
- Every document CQC asks for with a homecare application
- Your business name, owner and dates on every document
- Service user bands matched across every document
- Editable Word and PDF
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to register a home care agency with CQC?
An office in England, a registered manager (unless you are a sole trader managing the service yourself), CQC-countersigned enhanced DBS checks, your staff recruited, and a full set of documents: statement of purpose, business plan and 12-month forecast, eight core policies, service user guide, staff training plan, insurance evidence, evidence of legal occupancy and the additional form for personal care providers. You email everything to CQC in one go.
Is there a fee to apply for CQC registration?
No. There is no separate application fee. Once registered, a homecare agency pays an annual fee of £239 per location plus £54.305 for each person using the service.
What happens if my CQC application is incomplete?
Since 1 July 2025 CQC rejects homecare applications that are not complete or accurate when they arrive. You can correct and resend, but it counts as a new application and loses its place in the queue.
Do I need to register if I only help with shopping or housework?
Not if you only provide housing support or social support with no personal care tasks. Once you help anyone with personal care, you must register before you start.
Is this checklist free?
Yes. It is free to use and to email to yourself. It is guidance, not legal advice, so check each step against the source it links to.
Get your CQC registration pack at launch
Leave your email and we will send your CQC pack preview as soon as it is ready.
No spam. One email when your guide's pack launches, and rule-change alerts if you want them. How we use your email.
Keep reading
England
How to start a home care agency in England
The full guide behind this checklist.
England
Your CQC statement of purpose
What it must contain and how CQC checks it.
England
CQC business plan and forecast
The eight sections and a free forecast template.
England
Can you use policy templates for CQC?
CQC’s refused and registered examples.
Sources
- Health and Social Care Act 2008, section 10 · legislation.gov.uk · retrieved 30 September 2026
- Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 · legislation.gov.uk · retrieved 30 September 2026
- Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009 · legislation.gov.uk · retrieved 30 September 2026
- Registering a homecare agency (personal care) · Care Quality Commission · retrieved 30 September 2026
- A better registration process for new homecare applications · Care Quality Commission · retrieved 30 September 2026
- Supporting documents for new provider registration applications · Care Quality Commission · retrieved 30 September 2026
- CQC fees: community social care · Care Quality Commission · retrieved 30 September 2026
- DBS checks for CQC registration · Care Quality Commission · retrieved 30 September 2026
- Register as a provider · Care Quality Commission · retrieved 30 September 2026
- Check a job applicant's right to work · GOV.UK · retrieved 30 September 2026