Is it possible to become a registered manager in a care establishment if I have had a previous conviction?

Answered by Abi Spence

Thank you for your question. This is not an easy question to answer, as it will depend on information you supply to CQC which demonstrates how you meet the regulations.

CQC will want to be assured in accordance the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (regulated activities) Regulations 2014 Regulation 7 that you are:

• Of good character.
• Able to properly perform tasks that are intrinsic to the role.
• Have the necessary qualifications, competence, skills, and experience to manage the regulated activity.
• Have supplied them with documents that confirm your suitability

Linked to this you will need to provide information relating to Schedule 3  and Part 2 of schedule 4 which helps CQC make their assessment of this.

Your conviction, if spent, is not in itself a barrier to registration, but whether the CQC assess you of being of good character.

CQC says: ‘When assessing whether a registered manager is of good character, providers must follow robust processes to make sure that they gather all available information to confirm that the individual is of good character, and have regard to the matters outlined in Schedule 4, Part 2 of the regulations. It is not possible to outline every character trait an individual should have, but we would expect to see that the processes followed take account of honesty, trustworthiness, reliability, and respectfulness’

Your provider should have undertaken a risk assessment and documented their decision to employ you as manager. This will be helpful to share with CQC.

All that is left is to advise you to be honest and open. How your life has changed since the conviction? Consider how you meet the requirements and make sure you are ready to answer those questions.