OrCore Compliance

Starting a home care agency in England: drafting your CQC policies

If you are starting a home care business in England, registering with CQC is part of getting ready. OrCore Compliance helps with one piece of that: writing your CQC policies from how you actually work.

CQC says you need to register with it if you plan to provide a regulated activity in England. If you plan to offer services in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland too, CQC says you may have to register with the relevant regulator there as well (CQC: Register as a provider).

CQC describes the regulated activity of personal care on its own scope of registration pages. OrCore doesn't say which regulated activities your service involves.

What it takes from you

A typical home care business answers about 618 questions, mostly in your own words. Allow around six to eight hours in total, spread over several sittings if you like. You get a resume code, so you can stop at any time and carry on later on any device.

If you're not sure of an answer yet, type "skip" to leave it for later. A few questions are asked of every provider and can't be skipped.

What OrCore doesn't cover

OrCore doesn't tell you how to set up or run your business. For advice about your own service, please speak to a qualified specialist of your choice.

How OrCore Compliance works

1. You answer fixed questions about your business on a screen. Most questions ask you to describe what you do in your own words.
2. Your answers fill OrCore's master policies, so the drafts describe your service in your own terms.
3. You read each draft policy, change anything that isn't right, and sign it off as your own. Nothing is final until you have.

A typical home care business answers about 618 questions. The exact number depends on your service, because questions that don't apply to you are left out. Allow around six to eight hours in total. Most people spread it over several sittings.