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Certificate from Local Authority Building Control (LABC) or Approved Inspector Building Control (AIBC) confirming building work is complete and safe. CQC cannot register or arrange a site visit for premises needing building regulations approval without it.

Applies when: only if your application includes locations that require building regulations approval

CQC source · “From 5 May 2026, you must send this document with your provider application if it includes locations that require building regulations approval.”

Title deeds, tenancy agreement or licence agreement valid at application, showing legal permission to operate the service from the location and its suitability; plus signed and dated landlord or mortgage provider permission naming the service type if the premises are not fully owned. Virtual offices and PO boxes are not accepted.

CQC source · “We need to confirm you have legal permission to use your premises. This helps us make sure your location is suitable for the service you want to provide.”

Signed statement on the CQC template (2018 DPA version) from a professionally qualified accountancy company or an FCA-regulated bank or financial services firm, giving business and applicant details, the financial specialist's details and accreditation, and their opinion on financial viability. Not signable by a friend or relative.

Applies when: not required if you are a corporate provider, an NHS trust, a care home, a home care (domiciliary care) agency, or a supported living service (SLS)

CQC source · “This confirms you have the finances to provide your service and keep it running, as set out in your statement of purpose.”

One document specific to the service: a public liability certificate or quote (no employees), a combined public and employer liability certificate or quote, or (non home care/SLS applicants only) the CQC liability insurance supporting information form where the two covers are separate or there is no insurance yet. Quotes must be within their expiry date.

CQC source · “All providers must have insurance and suitable indemnity arrangements. These must cover potential liabilities arising from death, injury, or other causes, loss ...”

HLTH's spreadsheet supporting the business plan and financial viability position.

HLTH's FactFinder form: the minimum set of facts needed before the data-capture call. The call verifies it; it does not replace it.

Where the office is rented, written permission from the landlord to run the service from the premises.

Governance structure showing nominated individual, registered manager and staff lines.

Full employment history CV, relevant qualifications, two references, photo ID, right to work.

On-request document. Do not send with the application; keep ready in case CQC requests it. Failure to provide on request may delay the application.

CQC source · “Sample care contract”

On-request document. Do not send with the application; keep ready in case CQC requests it. Failure to provide on request may delay the application.

CQC source · “Staffing structure and rotas”

Home care agencies and supported living services applying for the regulated activity of personal care must complete the additional personal care form.

CQC source · “You must also complete the additional form for personal care providers. Download it from our provider forms page.”

Everyone completes the main form. It has space for 1 location, 1 nominated individual and 2 partners; extra forms are needed beyond that.

CQC source · “Everyone needs to complete the main form. You will need to complete additional forms if you: have more than one location”

Where a registered manager is needed, the new registered manager application form is sent together with the provider application. The manager must evidence fitness, qualifications, full work history from age 16 with gaps over 4 weeks explained, a CQC-countersigned Enhanced DBS issued within 12 months, GP and last employer contacts, and copies of qualifications and training.

Applies when: only where the provider application needs a registered manager (organisation or partnership, or an individual not running the day-to-day activity)

CQC source · “To register, you will need: contact details for your GP and last employer, a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) certificate issued in the past 12 months”

Conditional: only if the provider has more than one location. One form per extra location beyond the first. Confirm whether it applies before treating it as required.

Applies when: only if you have more than one location

CQC source · “If you have more than one location, you can complete this form for each extra location.”

Conditional: only if the provider has more than one nominated individual. One form per nominated individual beyond the first. Confirm whether it applies before treating it as required.

Applies when: only if you have more than one nominated individual

CQC source · “If you have more than one nominated individual, you can complete this form for each extra person.”

Conditional: only if the provider is a partnership with more than two partners. One form per partner beyond two. Confirm whether it applies before treating it as required.

Applies when: only if you have more than two partners

CQC source · “If you have more than two partners, you can complete this form for each extra partner.”

Business plan showing financial stability and management: summary, company background and management experience, service details, pricing structure (home care/SLS), market research, SWOT, staff responsibilities, company and ownership structure, and a monthly 12-month income and expense forecast.

CQC source · “Services that need to send this document with their application: Ambulance services (from 17 August), Home care (domiciliary care) agencies, Supported living se...”

Legally required document per Schedule 3 of the CQC (Registration) Regulations 2009: aims and objectives, each location's address, description, service types, service user bands, regulated activities and registered manager, and each registered manager's contact details, notice address, locations and time split, regulated activities and job shares.

Applies when: If you plan to be a specialist service, you must show how you have considered the needs of autistic people and people with a learning disability, including what you have done to make sure people can access and use your statement of purpose.

CQC source · “A Statement of Purpose is a legally required document that includes information about you and the care services you provide.”

On-request document. Do not send with the application; keep ready in case CQC requests it. Failure to provide on request may delay the application.

CQC source · “List of risk assessments”

Supporting documents must be sent together with the application forms and any related registered manager applications, by email to hsca_applications@cqc.org.uk. Missing or incorrect items cause rejection and a resubmission counts as a new application.

CQC source · “We must receive all your documents at the same time. If anything is missing or incorrect, we will reject your application and you'll need to resubmit.”

The consultant call that verifies the fact finder and fills the provider record. Recording plus transcript attached to the card.

Once registered: create the company in HLTH Manage, invite users, assign e-learning. Registration is the front door to the ongoing product.

HLTH's email submission template to hsca_applications@cqc.org.uk with the pack attached; split across emails with 'Provider name New Provider application 1/2' subjects when over 25MB.

Must show how people can complain, how complaints are processed step by step with timescales, how outcomes are communicated and escalated, how learning is captured, and how complaints about the registered manager (or a combined NI/RM) are handled fairly.

Applies when: If you plan to be a specialist service, you must show how you have considered the needs of autistic people and people with a learning disability, including what you have done to make sure people can access and use your policy.

CQC source · “Your policy must explain: how people can make a complaint, how you'll process complaints, how you'll use complaints to improve your service”

Must show how and when consent is sought, what happens on refusal or withdrawal, informed consent, advocacy, DoLS or Community DoL, involvement of attorneys and deputies, and how the Mental Capacity Act 2005 duties and five principles are met including capacity assessment.

Applies when: If you plan to be a specialist service, you must show how you have considered the needs of autistic people and people with a learning disability, including what you have done to make sure people can access and use your policy.

CQC source · “Your consent policy helps us check you understand how to get consent from people who use your service when providing care or treatment.”

Must explain reasonable adjustments (including accessible technology), how staff respect personal, cultural, social and religious needs, information sharing and recording, how bullying and harassment are addressed, and compliance with AIS, Equality Act, Human Rights Act, GDPR and DPA.

Applies when: If you plan to be a specialist service, you must show how you have considered the needs of autistic people and people with a learning disability, including what you have done to make sure people can access and use your policy.

CQC source · “how you will make reasonable adjustments so that people with a disability can access and use services on an equal basis to others”

Must set out how good governance is achieved, leader and staff responsibilities, accountability, an accurate organisational structure chart, quality and safety monitoring and audits, risk management, records management for service users, staff and management, and feedback systems.

Applies when: If you plan to be a specialist service, you must show how you have considered the needs of autistic people and people with a learning disability, including what you have done to make sure people can access and use your policy.

CQC source · “We also want to see an organisational structure chart that accurately reflects your business and roles.”

Must explain infection risk identification, monitoring and systems, hand hygiene, PPE, transmission-based precautions, waste, cleaning and decontamination (including laundry and uniforms where relevant), staff vaccination and overseas immunisation, tailored to the service's people.

Applies when: If you plan to be a specialist service, you must show how you have considered the needs of autistic people and people with a learning disability, including what you have done to make sure people can access and use your policy.

CQC source · “Your infection prevention and control policy helps us check you can effectively manage infection risks and meet your legal obligations.”

Must show safe, service-appropriate procedures covering assessment of medication needs, consent and capacity, levels of assistance, covert/PRN/controlled drugs/sharps/gases, delegated tasks, administration, storage, errors, supplies, refusals and disposal, staff training and competence, escalation, MAR governance, records and NICE guidance.

Applies when: If you plan to be a specialist service, you must show how you have considered the needs of autistic people and people with a learning disability, including what you have done to make sure people can access and use your policy.

CQC source · “Your medicines policy needs to demonstrate that there are appropriate procedures for the safe and effective management of medicines and associated equipment.”

Must show fair, lawful recruitment: stages, checks at each stage, references, employment history verification, why previous employment ended, volunteers and apprentices, recruitment complaints, overseas worker sponsorship and policy, and compliance with Regulation 19, Equality Act, GDPR and DPA.

Applies when: If you plan to be a specialist service, you must show how you have considered the needs of autistic people and people with a learning disability, including what you have done to make sure people can access and use your policy.

CQC source · “Your policy must show how you’ll meet the requirements of regulation 19: Fit and proper persons employed.”

Must cover types and signs of abuse, reporting process, approach to restraint, prevention measures, named safeguarding lead with emergency and out-of-hours contacts, a reporting flow chart, impartial handling of allegations against management, what happens after a report, consent during investigations, and the local authority safeguarding team for the service's region.

Applies when: If you plan to be a specialist service, you must show how you have considered the needs of autistic people and people with a learning disability, including what you have done to make sure people can access and use your policy.

CQC source · “Your policy must show how you’ll meet the requirements of Regulation 13: Safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatment.”

On-request document. Do not send with the application; keep ready in case CQC requests it. Failure to provide on request may delay the application.

CQC source · “Do not send these documents with your application. Keep them ready in case we request them. If you cannot provide them when asked, your application may be delay...”

On-request document. Do not send with the application; keep ready in case CQC requests it. Failure to provide on request may delay the application.

CQC source · “Freedom to speak up / Whistleblowing / Confidential reporting policy”

On-request document. Do not send with the application; keep ready in case CQC requests it. Failure to provide on request may delay the application.

CQC source · “Person centred care planning policy (PCCPP)”

On-request document. Do not send with the application; keep ready in case CQC requests it. Failure to provide on request may delay the application.

CQC source · “Reportable incidents policy”

On-request document. Do not send with the application; keep ready in case CQC requests it. Failure to provide on request may delay the application.

CQC source · “Risk management policy”

Copies of all service user guides, specific to the business and suitable for its users, reflecting the service user bands: what services are and are not provided, needs assessment, charging, call monitoring, complaints, safeguarding, contractual terms and contact details. Specialist services must make guides accessible.

CQC source · “You must send us copies of any service user guides you have in place. If your guides do not include enough detail your application may not be successful.”

Training plan aligned to the statement of purpose and service user bands: induction, mandatory training, training per job role including managers, specialist training, providers, refresher frequency and overseas worker support. Social care services map to Care Certificate standards; ambulance services evidence restraint training for MHA transport.

Applies when: online primary care: only if you plan to employ staff at a location where regulated activities are carried on or managed from (on request)

CQC source · “Services that need to send this document with their application: Ambulance services (from 17 August), Care homes, Home care (domiciliary care) agencies, Support...”

Accessible version of the service user guide; expected for adult social care applications.

HLTH's five quality statement documents mapped to the CQC key questions. Generic set plus clinic and online GP variants.

Blank register showing the recording system is in place from day one.

On-request document. Do not send with the application; keep ready in case CQC requests it. Failure to provide on request may delay the application.

CQC source · “Sample care plan”

Where the nominated individual differs from the registered manager. External gate.

Enhanced DBS countersigned by CQC for the registered manager. External gate, typically 6 to 10 weeks. Starts on day one, never at the end.