Preparing for CQC Supported Living Registration.

In a previous blog, we identified how to prepare for Care Quality Commission (CQC) homecare registration. Notably, although supported living and homecare registrations are broadly similar, usually being for the provision of personal care, the requirements for supported living registration are quite different for those for homecare.

In this blog we will take a look at the requirements for supported living registration as they stand and why you should consider using Bettal policies and procedures to help you with the registration process.

Core policies and procedures

All supported living registrations must contain the following policies (all of which are available for Bettal subscribers):

• Consent policy and procedures
• Equality, diversity and human rights policy and procedures
• Good Governance policy and procedures
• Infection control policy and procedures
• Medicines management policy and procedures
• Recruitment policy and procedures
• Safeguarding policy and procedures

It is important to note that the policies are subject to strict criteria all of which must be met in order for the registration to proceed. The above policies MUST be submitted with the initial application process.

As well as the above policies the CQC also requires the following documents during the supported living registration process:

• Financial viability statement – Bettal have one of these in template form, as do the CQC on the registration page.
• Information commissioner’s office registration certificate.
• Public and employer liability insurance quote or certificate – caution, this needs to show the name of the business, the location address, the quote must be within its expiry date when you submit your application and be for at least £5m for each.
• Statement of purpose – use the template (which is undated) from the website and ensure you amalgamate the different document into one SoP.

As for all applications you will also need to submit the core applications:
• The Application for Registration as a New Provider of regulated Activities form, currently the January 2025 version – although this is subject to change, so it is always worth checking the registration webpages.
• The Application for Registration as a Manager of regulated Activity/Activities form is currently the May 2025 version – as above check the CQC registration pages before completing to ensure you are using the latest version. Ensure the proposed manager meets the requirements of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, namely that they:
– Are of good character.
– Are able to properly perform tasks that are intrinsic to their role.
– Have the necessary qualifications, competence, skills and experience to manage the regulated activity.

It is uncertain as to whether the CQC require the additional form for providers of personal care with supported living documentation at this time.

Additional documents

Once your application has passed stage one of the process, the CQC inspector will ask you to submit some additional documents. At Bettal, we advise that you have these ready because the turn round time required is often short. Of course if you are a Bettal subscriber, the policies, sample care contract and staff training matrix are ready for you, taking the stress out of this stage of the process. These documents are:
• A business plan. There is no guidance for this, however we provide a potential guide below.
• Learning disability form – it is very important in many respects that you complete this before any other element of the application process.
• Mental capacity and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) policies.
• Organisational structure – this is a simple diagram of the management structure with lines of responsibility.
• Quality assurance policy.
• Sample care contract.
• Sample care plan – this is to show that the care planning is holistic and person-centred and should show how service users and those important to them are involved in the process
• Staff training matrix.
• Staffing structure – roles and responsibilities of care staff (e.g. carers, nurses, support workers).

Of course if you are a Bettal subscriber, the policies, sample care contract and staff training matrix are ready for you, taking the stress out of this stage of the process. These documents are:

The business plan
While the CQC provide no business plan format, at Bettal we advise, based on the requirements for homecare registration that the plan contains…

Executive Summary
• Brief overview of your service and the content of the plan.

Mission and vision statements
• Summary of your goals and values.
• Use the aims and objectives from the SoP.

Service Description
• Type of supported living service
o Service user ages and bands, e.g. adults with learning disabilities, mental health needs.
• Regulated activities, usually just personal care, state what this is and why it is being offered.

Market Analysis
• Local demand for supported living services – including any local plan, data from the census about growing need and discussions with commissioners.
• Competitor overview – who is doing what nearby.
• Gaps in provision and how your service fills them- your reason for creating this service.

Operational Plan
• Day-to-day running of the service – who does what, what might happen as you grow.
• Staffing structure and shift patterns.
• How care plans will be created.
• How and who undertakes risk assessments and planning.

Governance and Management
• Organisational structure – see earlier and ensure use the same structure.
• Roles and responsibilities – use those defined earlier.
• Quality assurance systems – how you will monitor care, e.g. audits.
• Compliance with CQC’s five key questions: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, Well-led.

Staffing Plan
• Recruitment strategy – where staff will come from.
• Training and development – refer to your training matrix.
• Supervision and appraisal – see the Skills for Care guidance on this.
• Staff qualifications and experience – include staff training (minimum care certificate).

Financial Plan
• Start-up costs and funding sources, for example director loans.
• Projected income (e.g. from local authority contracts or private clients).
• Operating expenses.
• Cash flow forecasts with break-even analysis – we suggest 2 years’ worth.

Risk Management
• Identification of key risks – e.g. staffing shortages, safeguarding concerns, no or low service user numbers.
• Business continuity plan.

Summary

In this blog we have taken a look at what a prospective supported living provider needs to gather together to make a CQC registration application. We have seen that the CQC requirements have changed since July, so prospective applicant need to read the guidance on their website.

Bettal has a well tried and tested suite of policies and procedures which are designed to support potential providers with the registration process.

If you would like to know more, browse our website or get in touch:

Email: info@bettal.co.uk
Telephone: 01697741411

Peter Ellis MA MSc BSc(Hons) RN
Consultant
Bettal Quality Consultancy