Free guides for domiciliary care managers and agency owners. Inspection preparation, policy guides, registration help and compliance advice.
A complete list of every document CQC requires before they will register your domiciliary care agency - and what each one needs to include.
Registration · 8 min read · 14 March 2026
Not all policies are equal. These are the ten that CQC inspectors go to first - and exactly what each one needs to say.
Policy Guides · 9 min read · 14 March 2026
The CQC notification email arrives. Here is exactly what to do in the days before the inspection - from a Registered Manager who has been through it.
Inspection Prep · 10 min read · 14 March 2026
Section 42, the six principles, Making Safeguarding Personal - exactly what CQC expects to find in your safeguarding policy and why each element matters.
Policy Guides · 9 min read · 14 March 2026
Everything you need to know about setting up a domiciliary care agency in England - from business registration to CQC application to taking your first client.
Registration · 14 min read · 14 March 2026
Six things your medication policy must cover - and the questions CQC inspectors ask care workers to test whether your policy matches your practice.
Policy Guides · 8 min read · 14 March 2026
CQC changed how it inspects. The Single Assessment Framework replaced the old KLOE system - here is what changed, what stayed the same, and what it means for your policies.
CQC Compliance · 8 min read · 14 March 2026
Every domiciliary care worker works alone in someone's home. Here is what your lone working policy must include - and the risks most agencies underestimate.
Policy Guides · 7 min read · 14 March 2026
Outstanding is not about having perfect policies. It is about demonstrating exceptional outcomes. Here is what distinguishes Outstanding agencies from Good ones.
Inspection Prep · 9 min read · 14 March 2026
The Care Act 2014 is the legal foundation of adult social care in England. Here is what it actually says, what it requires of your agency, and where most managers have gaps.
CQC Compliance · 10 min read · 14 March 2026
A full breakdown of every fee involved in registering a domiciliary care agency with CQC in 2026, from application fees to annual charges and hidden costs most people miss.
Registration · 5 min read · 1 March 2026
A practical guide to what happens after a CQC inspection results in Requires Improvement or Inadequate ratings, the enforcement actions CQC can take, and how to recover.
Inspection · 6 min read · 2 March 2026
The Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces significant changes affecting domiciliary care agencies. Here is what you need to update in your contracts, policies, and working practices.
Employment Law · 6 min read · 3 March 2026
As a CQC registered manager, you are personally accountable for specific documents. This guide lists every one of them and explains what CQC expects from you.
Management · 6 min read · 4 March 2026
A realistic timeline for CQC registration in 2026, covering preparation, application processing, interviews, and the common delays that catch applicants off guard.
Registration · 5 min read · 5 March 2026
Your Statement of Purpose is the single most important document in your CQC registration. This guide explains exactly what it must contain and why CQC treats it as your service's reference point.
Registration · 5 min read · 6 March 2026
A comprehensive guide to writing a moving and handling policy for domiciliary care that meets CQC requirements, references the correct legislation, and protects both staff and service users.
Policies · 6 min read · 7 March 2026
Regulation 20 requires domiciliary care agencies to be open and transparent when things go wrong. This guide explains exactly what the duty of candour requires and how to comply.
Compliance · 5 min read · 8 March 2026
CQC requires every domiciliary care agency to have a complaints policy that meets Regulation 16. This guide explains what it must include, how complaints should be handled, and what inspectors check.
Policies · 5 min read · 9 March 2026
A business continuity plan ensures your domiciliary care agency can keep delivering safe care when things go wrong. This guide covers what to include, what CQC expects, and how to test your plan.
Policies · 6 min read · 10 March 2026
A CQC registration pack bundles all the policies, procedures, and documents you need to apply for CQC registration. This guide explains what is typically included, whether you need one, and what to watch out for.
Registration · 5 min read · 11 March 2026
Infection prevention and control remains one of CQC's top priorities. This guide covers what your IPC policy must include in 2026, the legislation it must reference, and how inspectors assess compliance.
Policies · 6 min read · 12 March 2026
Every domiciliary care worker is a lone worker. This guide explains how to write a lone working policy that protects your staff, satisfies CQC, and covers the specific risks of working in people's homes.
Policies · 5 min read · 13 March 2026
Zero hours contracts have been the default staffing model in domiciliary care for years. New legislation in 2026 changes what agencies can and cannot do. This guide covers the practical implications.
Employment Law · 5 min read · 14 March 2026
DBS checks are a legal requirement for everyone working in domiciliary care. This guide covers which level of check you need, the process, portability, the update service, and common mistakes agencies make.
Recruitment · 6 min read · 15 March 2026
CQC's Single Assessment Framework changes how services are assessed. This guide explains the new approach, the quality statements, the evidence categories, and what it means for your policies.
Compliance · 6 min read · 16 March 2026
Only a small percentage of domiciliary care agencies achieve Outstanding. This guide explains what CQC looks for at each key question and how to move from Good to Outstanding.
Inspection · 6 min read · 17 March 2026
Statutory Sick Pay is changing in April 2026. This guide covers what is different, how it affects domiciliary care agencies, and what you need to update in your policies and payroll systems.
Employment Law · 5 min read · 18 March 2026
Local authority contracts provide steady income and referral pipelines. This guide covers the tendering process, what commissioners look for, and how to position your agency to win.
Business · 6 min read · 19 March 2026
A practical checklist of 50 things every domiciliary care agency should have ready before a CQC inspection. Organised by key question, covering documents, records, and evidence CQC inspectors routinely check.
Inspection · 7 min read · 20 March 2026
The fit person interview is the final hurdle before CQC grants your registration. Here is what the assessor asks, what they are looking for, and how to prepare.
Registration · 12 min read · 14 April 2026