Ask Sheila 
Sheila will try to answer as many of your English Social Care questions as possible, giving priority to frequently asked questions and questions regarding current events and trends.
Occupational therapist opening home
Can an Occupational Therapist open a care home ?
Dear Debbie,
There are a number of steps that need to be gone through to become a Registered Care Home Provider.
To operate a care home you have to be registered by the Care Quality Commission.
Your first point of call therefore should be to read their guidance about registration which you can find on these 2 web pages:
http://www.cqc.org.uk/content/what-registration
http://www.cqc.org.uk/content/apply-new-provider
If you also wanted to be the Registered Manager then you should also look at http://www.cqc.org.uk/content/apply-new-registered-manager
These pages set out the requirements needed for registration.
I am certain that your experience as an Occupational Therapist would be an important consideration in registering you as a provider.
Whether it would also fill the criteria for becoming a Registered Manager is less clear, so if you want to become the Registered Manager too you should look at the experience, knowledge and qualifications required and try to cross reference where you meet the criteria and look to fill the gaps.
Best wishes.
Sheila
What would you like to ask Sheila?
Sheila Scott OBE from National Care Association (NCA). Care is Sheila’s life; she possesses a strong command of the issues facing the care sector informed by her long career as a nursing professional, the owner and manager of a care business and as a leader in the care sector.
Sheila will try to answer as many of your questions as possible, giving priority to frequently asked questions and questions regarding current events and trends.
Please note that Sheila can not offer answers to matters requiring legal advice. If your matter concerns a specific service provider, please contact the CQC.
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