What is QCS Start?
Starting a care service can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. Whether you’re working out how to register with CQC, how to start a care agency or how to open a care home, QCS Start walks you through every step.
QCS Start helps you prepare for CQC registration with confidence, bringing together the guidance, policies and procedures regulators expect to see in one place. Instead of spending hours figuring out what you need, you can focus on building a safe, compliant service that’s ready to grow.
From your CQC provider application form through to registration and beyond, QCS helps you build strong foundations for better care from day one.
Book a personalised demoEvery Step Done Right
Build Your Business Plan
Create a business plan with easy-to-use templates designed to help you meet regulatory expectations from the start.
Start with Trusted Policies
Access expert-maintained care and medication policies to help you build a compliant service from day one.
Keep Training on Track
Track staff training and mandatory requirements in one place, so you’re always prepared for registration and beyond.
Access QCS Anywhere
Manage policies, guidance and compliance tasks on the go with the QCS mobile app.
Connect with Trusted Experts
Access our trusted partner network for specialist advice and support as you build your care service.
Know What Comes Next
Follow clear, step-by-step guidance through the registration process, right through to your registration interview.
See How Providers Got Started with QCS
Thousands of providers see QCS as part of their team from the very beginning. Hear how QCS Start helped them prepare for registration, build strong foundations and get their services up and running with trusted guidance every step of the way. Then discover how QCS continues to support them long after registration.
See How Easy Starting Can BeEverything You Need to Get Registration Right
Access expert-maintained policies designed to help you meet regulatory requirements and build your service on strong foundations.
Explore curated reading lists that point you to the guidance you need, when you need it, without hours of searching.
Access practical templates, guides and tools created to support you through registration and beyond.
Upload your own documents alongside QCS guidance, so your registration information is organised and easy to access.
Track training and compliance in one place, helping you prepare your team from day one.
Understand the key questions regulators focus on, so you can evidence your readiness and approach your registration with confidence.
FAQs
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QCS Start gives you everything you need to prepare for CQC registration in one place. You’ll have access to expert-maintained policies and procedures that align with CQC registration requirements, helping you build the documentation your service needs from the very beginning.
You’ll also get practical templates, tools and step-by-step guidance to help you complete your application and understand what’s expected throughout the registration process. It means less time searching for answers and more time focusing on building your care service. Once you’re registered, our mock CQC inspection tools help you stay inspection ready.
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Absolutely. QCS Start is designed for providers at the very beginning of their journey. We help you understand the CQC application process and typical CQC registration timescales, including what’s needed for your business and the qualifications required for your Registered Manager.
Many of our customers start with little more than a business plan. From setting up their company to appointing a Registered Manager and applying for CQC registration, QCS Start gives them the guidance, tools and support to move forward with confidence.
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Yes. QCS Start is designed specifically for new and smaller care providers. It includes more than 200 expert-maintained policies and procedures covering everything from HR and safeguarding to quality assurance, giving you the foundations to build your service.
You’ll also receive ongoing policy updates as regulations change, helping you stay compliant without the extra admin. It’s a cost-effective way to get started, without the complexity or cost of larger compliance solutions.
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To open a care home in the UK you need to register with the CQC as a provider, appoint a suitable Registered Manager, and show you can meet the fundamental standards for safe premises, staffing and governance. Whether you are starting a residential care home from scratch, registering a care home with CQC for the first time or buying a care home business, QCS Start gives you the policies, templates and step-by-step guidance to evidence each requirement.
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You do not need formal qualifications to own a care agency, but your Registered Manager will usually need a recognised management qualification in adult care, such as the Level 5 Diploma, along with relevant experience. When starting a care agency, it also helps to budget early for CQC registration fees, insurance, recruitment and training, as the cost to start a care agency in the UK varies with the size of your service. If you are researching how to set up a care agency or how to start a home care business, QCS Start helps new domiciliary care providers prepare their registration, policies and training from day one, so you can become a registered care provider with confidence.