Supported living is an increasingly popular option for property investment in the care sector. However, many investors and landlords are puzzled by the regulatory requirements surrounding these properties.
What is the CQC?
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is an independent body that regulates health and social care services in England. Its job is to ensure that healthcare providers deliver safe and high-quality services, looking out for the well-being of people receiving nursing or personal care in their homes or care settings.
The CQC monitors, inspects, and regulates lots of different organisations to make sure they adhere to the required standards of care. This includes care homes and supporting housing for a range of service users with different needs:
- The elderly
- People with disabilities
- Adults with learning disabilities
- People with mental health-related issues
- Vulnerable people
- Those with a history of homelessness
- Those struggling with substance abuse and addiction
What framework does the CQC assess against?
The CQC has created a set of fundamental standards that represent the minimum level of care providers must never fall below. These standards cover person-centred care, dignity and respect, safety, and good governance, which are all essential in supported living environments.
The CQC uses a four-tier rating system to audit these services: outstanding, good, requires improvement, and inadequate. These ratings provide transparency about the quality of care in supported living settings.
During inspections, the CQC focuses on five key areas, often referred to as the 5 Standards:
- Is the service safe?
- Is it effective?
- Is it caring?
- Is it responsive to people’s needs?
- Is it well-led
The CQC has the authority to take action against supported living providers that fail to meet these standards. This can include issuing warnings, restricting services, or, in severe cases, closing down facilities that pose risks to individuals in supported living arrangements.
The Benefits of Registering with the CQC
| Meeting legal requirements | It assures adults with access to these services that safety standards and quality are met. It also ensures that the relevant insurance is in place to protect against potential risks. |
| Quality improvement | Quality is consistently monitored, with ongoing improvements focused on health, risk, and satisfaction. |
| Building trust and reputation | The commitment to continuing to supply effective adult care builds trust with the adults who require the services and their loved ones. |
| Identifying areas for improvement | Feedback and inspection reports from the CQC help the providers to see the areas that require improvements. |
| Access to funding and contracts | CQC registration benefits providers by offering funding. It supports new members in building and showcasing their skills, knowledge, and values, allowing them to demonstrate their ability to deliver safe, effective, and high-quality care. |
Why do supported living providers need to be CQC registered?
If personal care is provided as part of supported living and extra care housing, that specific aspect of care would need CQC registration. So, while the housing component of supported living doesn’t require registration, any organisation providing personal care to residents would need to register that care service. This ensures proper oversight of the care being delivered in a supported living setting.
Those providing supported living need to be CQC registered when they are delivering regulated activities, particularly personal care that helps with daily tasks like washing, dressing and eating, as outlined in the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
The CQC Registration Process
When do organisations and individuals apply for CQC registration?
Organisations (and individuals) must apply for CQC registration when they start providing a regulated service.
Providers must make sure they are registered before delivering any regulated activities, as operating without one is illegal and can result in serious consequences. In some cases, the staff members providing care may also need to be registered. They must adhere to the regulations, ensuring the carer is aware of and compliant with established standards. If any existing supported housing with care makes significant changes to their services, they will also need to record those changes.
The most efficient method is to complete the application process online through the CQC provider portal, or applications along with the necessary supporting documents can be submitted via email or post.
What is needed to register with CQC?
To register with the CQC, care providers must prepare several essential documents and meet specific criteria:
- Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Checks: A DBS check is used to investigate if potential or existing employees have a criminal record. This is necessary for all staff working with vulnerable groups or children for the safety of those receiving care.
- Statement of Purpose: This document outlines the business plan and the service’s aims and objectives, detailing what the organisation intends to provide.
- Supporting Documents: The following supporting documents are also typically required:
- Risk Assessments and Emergency Plans
- Financial Viability Statements
- Medicines Management Policy and Procedures
- Organisational and Staffing Structure
- Quality Assurance Policy
- Recruitment Policy
- Safeguarding Policy and Procedures
Providers should make sure that all of these documents are complete and ready to submit with their application. The CQC can return applications if any required information is missing or incomplete, so it’s in your best interest to thoroughly review their guidance and discuss your plans with them before submitting your application to save time and effort in the registration process.
How long does it take to register with the CQC?
Generally, once you submit your application, the CQC aims to get back to you within 10 weeks. However, the whole process can take longer based on several things:
- Gathering all the necessary documents, like background checks and policies, can take several weeks.
- If your application is complete and well-prepared, it can speed up the process.
- How quickly you respond to questions or requests can also affect how long it takes.
- If the CQC needs to conduct a site visit, the timing of that visit can influence the overall timeline.
- If your service is more complex, it may take longer to review your application.
- The number of applications they are handling at the time you apply can also impact processing times.
Managing Your Investments with Yield Investing
At Yield Investing, we offer many ways to help you start a new investment, as we work within both the supported living and social housing sectors.
We handle the day-to-day operations, such as tenant screening, maintenance, rent collection, and care providers, to ensure our investors have a hands-off investment approach. This management service can be a game-changer for investors looking for a hassle-free investment experience, allowing you to sit back and enjoy the rental income.
At Yield Investing, we specialise in helping investors discover high-yielding UK property investments that align with their financial aspirations and give back to social care services.
If you’re ready to explore the possibilities of UK property investment, don’t hesitate to contact us today. Our expert team is here to guide you on your journey toward financial prosperity in the UK property market.
