CQC Guidance for Homecare and Domiciliary Care

Homecare and domiciliary care

Review the personal care actually delivered, the legal provider responsible for it and the arrangements that keep people safe between visits. Registration preparation and ongoing assurance should reflect how the service operates in people's homes.

EnglandContent version: 1 November 2026Independent guidance

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Scope and registration considerations

CQC's application guidance includes additional information for homecare agencies providing personal care.
The role of the provider, workers and any introductory arrangement matters when analysing scope; a trading label does not decide registration.
Use the current adult-social-care assessment guidance and retain a separate view of draft framework changes.

Suggested evidence priorities

These are practical audit recommendations. They are not a claim that CQC requires an identical checklist from every provider.

Care plans, consent and changes in individual needs.
Visit scheduling, missed or late calls and escalation.
Recruitment, competence, supervision and lone-working arrangements.
Medicines support and information shared between staff.
Complaints, safeguarding decisions and action follow-up.

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Related guidance and next steps

Content version: 1 November 2026. Named expert review remains pending for public launch.