How to register with the Care Inspectorate Wales

Planning to start-up a homecare business in Wales? Awesome! 🎉 You’re going to make a big difference to people in your community.

Domiciliary care is a regulated activity in Wales, which means that you will need to register your business with the Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) / Arolygiaeth Gofal Cymru. Below is a quick guide to how to register your homecare business in Wales, but remember to always check with the Care Inspectorate Wales for the most up-to-date guidance.

Jump to:

1. Before you apply
2. Gather your evidence
3. Submit your application
4. What happens next

1. Before you apply

Check whether you need to register

Homecare, referred to as ‘domiciliary support services’ in Wales, is a regulated activity, meaning you must register with the Care Inspectorate Wales to legally provide that service.

A domiciliary support service is defined as providing care and support to people who are unable to provide it for themselves because of a vulnerability or need, and is provided to people where they live at home.

• ‘Care’ means help with the day-to-day tasks needed to stay well, such as eating, washing and taking medication.

• ‘Support’ means counselling, advice or other help with the regular routines of life, such as shopping and cleaning.

Understand your responsibilities

Make sure you are familiar with all of the relevant legislation, guidance and National Minimum Standards for homecare in Wales. In particular, look at:

• Statutory Guidance - what the requirements are to run a domiciliary support service in Wales

• Guide to Registration - a detailed overview of what you need to do in order to register a domiciliary support service in Wales

Have the right qualifications

To manage a homecare business in Wales, you will need to have a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care Services in Wales and Northern Ireland (either adult social care or children and young people, depending on the specialism of your service). You must also be registered as a social care manager with Social Care Wales.

Prepare your policies and procedures

Document how you intend for your business to operate, so that it meets the needs of the people it will be supporting. This includes insurance for your domiciliary care business.

2. Gather your evidence

You will need to prepare the following documentation about your planned homecare business. You’ll need to upload all of this as part of your application to the Care Inspectorate Wales.

• Statement of Purpose - describes your vision for your service and how you will meet the needs of the people you will care for

• DBS checks - you and your team will need to have current DBS certificates (a background check for criminal activity)

• Floor plans - not required for domiciliary care, but needed if you will be providing some sort of accommodation within your service (e.g. supported living)

• Bank reference - to prove the financial viability of your business

• Business plan - for the first two years of the proposed service

• Projected cash flow - detailed information about what your expected costs and income are likely to be

• Annual accounts - for the last 2 years (if you have them)

• Company structure - showing an organisation chart, directors and legal structures

• Medical reference - for Responsible Individuals (RIs)
  

3. Submit your application

Applications to register a homecare business in Wales are done online via CIW Online. Create an account and then start filling out the application and attaching your evidence.

The application form has three sections:

• Information about the service provider - i.e. your company structure and director(s)

• Information about the service - including location, details about who will use your service, plus your statement of purpose

• Information about your Responsible Individual (RI) - details about their experience and credentials

You’ll also be asked to upload the various pieces of evidence you have prepared.

4. What happens next?

Once you have submitted your application, the Care Inspectorate Wales will review it and carry out what’s known as a quality assessment. The things they will check for are:

• Does the application form contain all of the required information?

• Does the person applying qualify as a ‘fit and proper person’?

• Is the designated Responsible Individual (RI) suitable?

• Will the service comply with all regulations and relevant legislation?

As part of the quality assessment, the Care Inspectorate may want to interview your RI or visit your premises. It’ll take no longer than 14 weeks to make a decision on your application, unless they need any additional information from you.

Hopefully, that’s your new homecare business registered and you can start supporting people in your local community in Wales. We wish you the best of luck! ✨

Find out more about how Nursebuddy helps new homecare providers.