What steps need to be taken when setting up private care for the elderly? | QCS

Hi Sheila, I have a five bedroom house and wanted to go into private care for the elderly, is it possible to start with only five? Do I need to be registered & what qualifications will I need?

Sheila Scott
Answered by Sheila Scott

 

Hi S,

 

You must register any premises where you intend to operate as a care home for older people with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

 

 

In the first instance you should read the section on registration on the CQC website including all the information you will be expected to submit as part of your application https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/adult-social-care#registration

 

 

You must also check building regulations to make sure that your building will be compliant with current standards.

 

 

You must check the Fire Prevention requirements for care homes https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-safety-risk-assessment-residential-care-premises

 

 

You will also need to read what the Health and Safety Executive says about care homes http://www.hse.gov.uk/healthservices/index.htm

 

 

From this you will see that there is a great deal of regulation to be complied with when opening a care home.

 

 

You do not say what experience you have of working in Adult Care Services but experience is an important part of working in social care.

 

 

I would expect that it would take a considerable amount of investment to prepare the building that you briefly describe to meet the required standards so it is essential that you check that there will be a need for the service that you wish to provide in the area where the building is. You should consider discussing this with the commissioning department at your local Council.

 

 

I am certainly not saying that you should not open a care home but I am saying you should thoroughly investigate what it would cost to convert your building in order for it to be registered as a care home and set that against the average weekly cost that is paid for care in the area where you intend to operate.

 

 

One final thought although you may not welcome it, I think you might look at how much it would cost to purchase a care home already in operation.

 

 

Please do come back to me if you require further information.

 

 

Sheila

 

About Sheila Scott

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. 3. Read more

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