Regulation 6(3)(a)
Good character
The matters in Part 2 of Schedule 4 must be considered: whether the person has a criminal conviction, and whether they have been struck off a register of health care or social work professionals (regulation 6(4)).
England · CQC registration · Regulation 6
CQC nominated individual: requirements and responsibilities
If your home care agency is a company, you must name a nominated individual: the person who supervises the management of the service for the company. Here is who needs one, what the law requires of them, how CQC’s application form handles it, and whether your registered manager can do both jobs.
- Rule-verified 30 September 2026
- Quoted from regulation 6 and CQC’s form
- Myths checked against CQC guidance
Quick answer
Regulation 6 of the 2014 Regulations "This regulation applies where the service provider is a body other than a partnership." So a limited company, charity or community interest company must tell CQC the name of a nominated individual: someone "(a)employed as a director, manager or secretary of the body, and (b)responsible for supervising the management of the carrying on of the regulated activity by the body." Sole traders and partnerships do not name one.
The company must take all reasonable steps to make sure that person is of good character, has the qualifications, competence, skills and experience to supervise the service, is fit to do it, and can supply the Schedule 3 information about themselves. On the application, they need an enhanced DBS certificate: CQC says "The law requires you to have this, and if you have not done so we will have to return your application".
In a small agency, one person can often do both jobs. CQC says "In certain circumstances, registered managers can act as nominated individuals, normally where the organisation is small."
Who needs a nominated individual
It depends on your legal form. Regulation 6 applies to a provider that is "a body other than a partnership" Reg. 6(1).
| Legal form | Nominated individual? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Limited company (or other body corporate) | Yes | Names a nominated individual for each regulated activity, and also needs a registered manager. |
| Charitable company, CIO or community interest company | Yes | These are bodies too, so the same rule applies. |
| Partnership | No | Regulation 6 does not apply to partnerships. A partnership still needs a registered manager. |
| Sole trader | No | An individual is not a body. The individual is the registered provider. |
CQC also says "One person can act as nominated individual for more than one regulated activity." A homecare agency that registers only for personal care needs one nominated individual.
What the law requires of the nominated individual
The duty sits with the company. Regulation 6(3) says the registered person "must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the nominated individual" meets four tests. Reg. 6(3)
Regulation 6(3)(b)
Qualifications, competence, skills and experience
Enough to properly supervise the management of the service. CQC’s refused homecare example turned partly on the founder’s lack of supervisory experience.
Regulation 6(3)(c)
Health
Able, after reasonable adjustments, to properly supervise the management of the service.
Regulation 6(3)(d)
Schedule 3 information
Able to supply, or make available, the Schedule 3 information: proof of identity with a recent photo, the DBS certificate, evidence of conduct in previous care work and why it ended, qualifications, a full employment history with gaps explained, and relevant health information.
The regulations do not name a qualification for the nominated individual, unlike the experience CQC expects of a registered manager. Being able to supervise the management of a care service is the test, and CQC can ask you to show how you checked.
The nominated individual on your CQC application
Section 1.9 of CQC’s provider application form covers nominated individuals. CQC returns the application if it is missing: "If you don’t identify a nominated individual for each regulated activity, we will return your application."
- 1
List the regulated activities each nominated individual covers
For homecare this is normally personal care only. Every activity in the application needs one. CQC
- 2
Put the main nominated individual first
CQC sends its notices to the first person listed. CQC
- 3
Give their details and any professional registration
Name, date of birth, business address, email and phone; a professional body and registration number if they have one. CQC
- 4
Confirm they meet the fitness tests
A yes/no box: good character, fit, qualified, skilled and experienced, and able to supply the Schedule 3 information. CQC
- 5
Confirm the enhanced DBS
Give the certificate number and date. Without it, CQC returns the application. CQC
- 6
Answer the personal care form
Since 2026, CQC’s extra form for personal care asks what checks you carried out on the nominated individual, how they are recorded and how they were obtained impartially. CQC
If the nominated individual is also your registered manager, their DBS must meet CQC’s rules for managers as well: a CQC-countersigned enhanced DBS, and "Applications with expired DBS checks (over 12 months old) will be rejected without further review." CQC
CareRulebook
Your nominated individual, in the right places
CareRulebook asks your legal form first. Companies name a nominated individual once, and the pack puts them on the cover and in the statement of purpose, business plan, governance, safeguarding, whistleblowing, duty of candour and staffing structure.
- Every document CQC asks for with a homecare application
- Your business name, the person responsible and dates on every document
- Editable Word and PDF
Nominated individual vs registered manager
They are different roles. The registered manager is registered with CQC in their own right and is in charge of running the service day to day. The nominated individual is not registered; they act for the company and supervise how the service is managed.
In a small agency the founder often holds both. CQC says "In certain circumstances, registered managers can act as nominated individuals, normally where the organisation is small." In both homecare applications CQC publishes as examples, one person was the only director, the nominated individual and the proposed registered manager. If that is you, you answer for the business and for the care in the same registration interview.
One person in both roles means nobody else checks the manager’s work. Your documents should say who does: for example, who receives complaints about the manager, and who you escalate to if a safeguarding concern involves you.
After registration: changing the nominated individual
Regulation 15 of the 2009 Registration Regulations requires you to notify CQC in writing, as soon as reasonably practicable, of "a change of nominated individual" Reg. 15(1)(e)(iii). The new person must meet the same tests, so have their DBS and Schedule 3 information ready before they take over.
Myths about the nominated individual
Does the nominated individual have to be a director?
No. The nominated individual can be employed by the company as a director, manager or secretary, as long as they are responsible for supervising the management of the service.
"(a)employed as a director, manager or secretary of the body, and"
Do you need a different person as nominated individual and registered manager?
No. CQC says registered managers can act as nominated individuals in certain circumstances, normally where the organisation is small. Both of CQC’s published homecare examples had one person in both roles.
"In certain circumstances, registered managers can act as nominated individuals, normally where the organisation is small."
Will CQC contact you to fix gaps in your application?
No. Not for homecare since 1 July 2025. CQC rejects the application and emails you why. A corrected resubmission counts as a new application and loses its place in the queue.
"You can correct and resend it, but this will count as a new application and will not keep its place in the queue."
Can your manager get the experience they need after CQC registers you?
No. CQC will not register a service where key people plan to get the training and experience they need after registration.
"We will not register services where key people plan to get the training and experience they need after they are registered."
Frequently asked questions
What is a CQC nominated individual?
The person a company tells CQC about who is employed as a director, manager or secretary and is responsible for supervising the management of the regulated activity. It comes from regulation 6 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.
Does a sole trader or partnership need a nominated individual?
No. Regulation 6 applies where the service provider is a body other than a partnership, such as a limited company. A sole trader is the registered provider in person, and the partners are the provider in a partnership.
Can the registered manager also be the nominated individual?
Yes, in some cases. CQC’s application guidance says registered managers can act as nominated individuals in certain circumstances, normally where the organisation is small. In both of CQC’s published homecare examples, one person was the only director, the nominated individual and the proposed registered manager.
Does the nominated individual need a DBS check?
Yes, an enhanced DBS certificate. CQC’s application guidance says the law requires it and CQC will return the application without it. The form asks for the certificate number and date. If the nominated individual is also the registered manager, CQC’s DBS rules for managers apply too: a CQC-countersigned enhanced DBS, no more than 12 months old.
What qualifications does a nominated individual need?
The regulations do not name a qualification. The provider must take all reasonable steps to make sure the nominated individual has the necessary qualifications, competence, skills and experience to properly supervise the management of the service, and is of good character and fit to do it.
What are the nominated individual’s responsibilities?
Supervising the management of the service for the company. In practice this means making sure the registered manager is supported and held to account, that the company has the systems the regulations require, and that CQC is told about changes. The company remains the registered provider, and the legal duties sit with it.
How do I change the nominated individual?
Tell CQC in writing as soon as reasonably practicable. The 2009 Registration Regulations list a change of nominated individual as something the provider must notify.
Can one person be nominated individual for more than one activity?
Yes. CQC says one person can act as nominated individual for more than one regulated activity. A homecare agency that registers only for personal care needs one.
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Sources
- 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
- Applying as a new provider: guidance · Care Quality Commission · retrieved 30 September 2026
- 2026 additional form for providers of personal care · Care Quality Commission · retrieved 30 September 2026
- New provider registration application form (V12) · Care Quality Commission · retrieved 30 September 2026
- DBS checks for CQC registration · Care Quality Commission · retrieved 30 September 2026