CQC Registration Checklist for Care Homes: Everything You Need

Premises requirements

Before CQC will register your care home, your premises must meet a range of regulatory requirements. These are not just about aesthetics — they directly affect whether your residents will be safe and well cared for.

Key premises requirements include: minimum bedroom sizes (12m² for new builds, 10m² for existing buildings); accessible bathrooms with thermostatic valves set to a maximum of 43°C; emergency pull cords in all bathrooms; adequate fire safety arrangements including fire doors, emergency lighting, and a completed fire risk assessment; call bell or nurse call system throughout; and suitable medicines storage with a dedicated, lockable space.

Document requirements

You will need a comprehensive library of policies and procedures before you can register. At minimum, you need: a Statement of Purpose; a safeguarding adults policy; a medicines management policy; an infection prevention and control policy; a complaints policy; a health and safety policy; a recruitment and DBS policy; and evidence of key legal documents including companies house registration, public liability insurance, and an ICO data protection registration.

Staffing requirements

You need a proposed staffing structure that CQC considers adequate for the size and nature of your service. You should be able to demonstrate how you will ensure safe staffing levels at all times, including at nights and weekends and during periods of sickness. All staff must be recruited through a safe recruitment process including enhanced DBS checks against the adult barred list before they begin work.

Using RegisterCQC

RegisterCQC provides a complete, service-type-specific checklist of everything a care home needs before applying for CQC registration. Our platform tracks your progress across premises, documents, and application stages, and flags what's missing. Trusted by care providers across England, it's the most comprehensive pre-registration tool available.