As part of our ongoing work to rebuild effective regulation, we’re making changes to the registration process for homecare providers to help reduce delays and address the growing backlog of applications.
Since mid-February, our Registration team has been running a Homecare pilot programme aimed at improving the workflow process for applications from homecare providers.
It involved assessing supporting documentation at the start of the application process, which highlighted that a significant number of applications are currently being submitted with incomplete information. This means many cannot progress further, resulting in additional pressure on our teams and contributing to the growing backlog.
Homecare pilot part 2
From 1 July 2025, we will launch part 2 of the pilot. This will make our process for handling homecare registrations more efficient and consistent and will support applicants to submit complete and accurate applications.
We will now routinely return and reject applications that are not complete or accurate at the point of receipt, without the need for a full registration assessment of quality.
This will help us reduce delays and make the best use of our resources to continue clearing the backlog of applications over 10 weeks old.
By introducing a clearer process and pointing providers to the right information from the start, we aim to reduce the number of applications being returned and improve turnaround times. This will also improve the overall experience for both providers and the Registration team.
The processes
We will check applications in 2 stages.
Stage 1: initial checks
We check that:
- forms are complete, and the basic details are correct
- providers have sent the right supporting documents
If forms or documents are missing or incorrect, we will reject the application and email the provider to explain why.
Providers can correct and resubmit it, but this will count as a new application and will not keep its place in the queue.
If the application passes our initial checks, it will move to stage 2.
Stage 2: assessment
At this stage, we decide whether the application demonstrates that the care to be provided will meet the regulations.
As part of this process, we may need to:
- interview the provider and the registered manager either by telephone, online or face-to-face
- visit the premises.
We will review the evidence provided, make a decision on whether the application is approved or refused, and email the provider to advise the outcome. See our outcome of your application page.
We understand the registration process can be complex. To help explain it, we have updated our homecare registration guidance. If we reject an application, we direct the provider to this guidance to provide further help.
Who this affects
From 1 July 2025, this process will apply to:
- all new homecare applications received from this date
- any applications already submitted that have been in our system for less than 10 weeks.
If an application has been submitted that’s incomplete or incorrect, the provider can cancel and resubmit it by following this guidance.
It’s important to read the homecare registration guidance before making an application. Taking time to prepare a complete and accurate application will help avoid delays and support a smoother registration process.