Hi Sheila,

I’m wanting to start my own support services company to support adults with a learning disabilities and I’m trying to become known in the community. E.g. with the local council to increase my chances of becoming a provider for service users but I’m finding it difficult. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Answered by Sheila Scott

Dear Elizabeth,

Thank you for your question.

I presume that you have undertaken some market research to decide whether or not such a service is required in your area.

I also expect that  you will have decided whether or not you need to register with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

There is guidance on this on CQC’s website in a document entitled the Scope of Registration. You can find that document here.

You need to approach the Learning Disabilities Team in your local Council and have a meeting with them to ascertain whether or not the services you are planning on delivering are the type of service that the council commissions.

If they are then you need to discover how they contract with providers and how you could become an approved provider.

There may be some opportunity to provide services privately locally and again you need to look at what the advertising opportunities are i.e. local newspaper, a website, Facebook or twitter to begin with.

The most important thing is to ascertain whether or not the services you are intending to provide are required in the area.

Best wishes.

Sheila