Regulations for service providers and managers: relevant guidance

Page last updated: 4 April 2023
Categories
Organisations we regulate

We publish these links to help service providers understand how to achieve good or outstanding care. The links to nationally agreed quality standards are particularly important. We have included the key regulation(s) to which the guidance applies, although some may also be relevant in other areas. The links are correct at the time of publishing and we will review them regularly. Please help us to keep this list up-to-date by reporting any broken links you find using the link on the right of this page.

Buildings/premises and equipment

Related guidance Applies to (reg no)
For all services
Pressure systems (Health and Safety Executive) HSCA 15
Provision and use of work equipment regulations (Health and Safety Executive) HSCA 12, 15
Safe premises (Health and Safety Executive) HSCA 12, 15, 17
PAT - Portable appliance testing FAQs (Health and Safety Executive) HSCA 12, 15, 17
Managing medical devices HSCA 12, 15
Gas safety toolbox (Health and Safety Executive) HSCA 12, 15, 17
Electrical safety at work (Health and Safety Executive) HSCA 12, 15, 17
Electrical safety and you (Health and Safety Executive) HSCA 12, 15, 17
Central alerting system HSCA 12
DH health building notes (Department of Health) HSCA 12, 15, 17
Lighting at work (Health and Safety Executive) HSCA 12, 15, 17
Health Building Note 00-10 Part D: Windows and associated hardware (Department of Health) HSCA 12
For acute healthcare services
Health technical memoranda series - including Policies and principles of healthcare engineering (HTM 00) (Department of Health, 2014) HSCA 12, 15, 17
Policies and principles of healthcare engineering (HTM 00) (Department of Health, 2014) HSCA 12, 15, 17
Medical gases pipeline systems - Health technical memorandum 02-01 (Department of Health) HSCA 15
A risk based methodology for establishing and managing backlog maintenance (Department of Health, 2004) HSCA 15
Health technical memoranda series (Department of Health) HSCA 12, 15, 17
For adult social care services
DSDC Good practice guidelines on lighting (Stirling Dementia Service Development Centre) HSCA 12, 15, 17
Domestic gas health and safety (Health and Safety Executive) HSCA 12, 15, 17
Stirling Dementia Service Development Centre (DSDC) HSCA 12, 15, 17
For primary medical services
Health technical memoranda series - including Policies and principles of healthcare engineering (HTM 00) (Department of Health, 2014) HSCA 12, 15, 17
Policies and principles of healthcare engineering (HTM 00) (Department of Health, 2014) HSCA 12, 15, 17
Medical gases pipeline systems - Health technical memorandum 02-01 (Department of Health) HSCA 15
A risk based methodology for establishing and managing backlog maintenance (Department of Health, 2004) HSCA 15
Health technical memoranda series (Department of Health) HSCA 12, 15, 17

Caldicott

Care, treatment and support

Related guidance Applies to (reg no)
For all services
Common core principles for self-care (Skills for Care) HSCA 12
NHS choice framework 2014/15 HSCA 9
Compassion in practice nursing, midwifery and care staff: Our vision and strategy HSCA 10
For acute healthcare services
The management of pressure ulcers in primary and secondary care: A clinical practice guideline (Royal College of Nursing, 2005) HSCA 12
Pressure ulcers: prevention and management of pressure ulcers (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) HSCA 12
NICE interventional procedures guidance (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) HSCA 11
For adult social care services
The management of pressure ulcers in primary and secondary care: A clinical practice guideline (Royal College of Nursing, 2005) HSCA 12
Pressure ulcers: prevention and management of pressure ulcers (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) HSCA 12
Life Story Network resources HSCA 9, 10
Maximising the potential of reablement – SCIE guide 49 – PDF (Social Care Institute for Excellence, March 2013) HSCA 9, 10, 18
Maximising the potential of reablement – SCIE guide 49 (Social Care Institute for Excellence, March 2013) HSCA 9, 10, 18
Making the move to delivering reablement: At a glance summary 56 – PDF (Social Care Institute for Excellence, March 2012) HSCA 9, 10, 18
Making the move to delivering reablement: At a glance summary 56 (Social Care Institute for Excellence, March 2012) HSCA 9, 10, 18
A Better Life for older people with high support needs: the role of social care (May 2014, Social Care Institute for Excellence) HSCA 9
Preventing loneliness and social isolation among older people: At a glance summary 60 (Social Care Institute for Excellence, May 2012) HSCA 9, 10
Preventing loneliness and social isolation among older people: At a glance summary 60 – PDF (Social Care Institute for Excellence, May 2012) HSCA 9, 10
GP services for older people: a guide for care home managers – SCIE guide 52 – PDF (Social Care Institute for Excellence, December 2013) HSCA 9, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18
GP services for older people: a guide for care home managers – SCIE guide 52 (Social Care Institute for Excellence, December 2013) HSCA 9, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18
Adult social care outcomes framework 2015/16 (Department of Health) HSCA 9, 17
A Better Life for older people with high support needs: At a glance summary 65 (Social Care Insitute for Excellence, May 2014) HSCA 9
A Better Life for older people with high support needs: At a glance summary 65 - PDF (Social Care Insitute for Excellence, May 2014) HSCA 9
Living well through activity in care homes: the toolkit (College of Occupational Therapists) HSCA 9, 10
For mental health services
NICE interventional procedures guidance (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) HSCA 11

Challenging behaviour

Related guidance Applies to (reg no)
For all services
A core principles commissioning tool for the development of local specifications for services supporting children, young people, adults and older people with learning disabilities and/or autism who display or are at risk of displaying behaviour that challenges HSCA 13
Services for people with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour or mental health needs – Mansell report: revised edition (Department of Health) HSCA 13
Services for people with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour or mental health needs – Mansell report: revised edition (Department of Health) HSCA 13
For acute healthcare services
Meeting needs and reducing distress: guidance on the prevention and management of clinically related challenging behaviour in NHS settings (NHS Protect, 2013) HSCA 13
Violence: The short-term management of disturbed/violent behaviour in in-patient psychiatric settings and emergency departments (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) HSCA 13
For adult social care services
People whose behaviour challenges (Skills for Care) HSCA 13
For mental health services
Meeting needs and reducing distress: guidance on the prevention and management of clinically related challenging behaviour in NHS settings (NHS Protect, 2013) HSCA 13
Violence: The short-term management of disturbed/violent behaviour in in-patient psychiatric settings and emergency departments (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) HSCA 13

Disclosure and Barring (DBS)

Related guidance Applies to (reg no)
For all services
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks guidance (Care Quality Commission) HSCA 5, 18, 19
Disclosure and Barring identity checking guidelines HSCA 5, 18, 19
Disclosure and Barring HSCA 5, 18, 19

Fees

Related guidance Applies to (reg no)
For all services
Guidance on unfair contract terms (Office of Fair Trading) HSCA 19
For adult social care services
Guidance on unfair terms in care homes contracts (Office of Fair Trading) HSCA 19

Infection control/cleanliness

Related guidance Applies to (reg no)
For all services
The revised healthcare cleaning manual (National Patient Safety Agency, 2009) HSCA 12, 15
Infection: Prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections in primary and community care - NICE guideline CG139 (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, March 2012) HSCA 12, 15
NICE Quality Standard 61: Infection prevention and control (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, April 2014) HSCA 12, 15
Health building note 00-09: Infection control in the built environment (Department of Health, 2013) HSCA 12, 15
Wipe it out (Royal College of Nursing) HSCA 12, 15
Decontamination guidelines (British Society of Gastroenterology) HSCA 12, 15
The Health and Social Care Act 2008: Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance (Department of Health) HSCA 12, 15
For acute healthcare services
PAS 5748:2014 Specification for the planning, application, measurement and review of cleanliness services in hospitals HSCA 15
Prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections: Quality improvement guide HSCA 12, 15
Codes of practice (The Human Tissue Authority) HSCA 11, 17
For adult social care services
Infection prevention and control in care homes: Information resource (Department Head) HSCA 12, 15
National specifications for cleanliness: care homes (National Patient Safety Agency) HSCA 12, 15
For mental health services
PAS 5748:2014 Specification for the planning, application, measurement and review of cleanliness services in hospitals HSCA 15
For primary medical services
Prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections: Quality improvement guide HSCA 12, 15
Codes of practice (The Human Tissue Authority) HSCA 11, 17

Mental capacity

Related guidance Applies to (reg no)
For all services
Mental Capacity Act 2005 Code of Practice HSCA 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 20
Mental Capacity Act resources (Social Care Institute for Excellence) HSCA 9, 10, 11, 17

Nutrition and hydration

Related guidance Applies to (reg no)
For all services
Nutrition and hydration (Royal College of Nursing) HSCA 14
Diet, nutrition and obesity (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) HSCA 14
For acute healthcare services
Nutrition support in adults (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) HSCA 14
Nutrition for specific groups (Royal College of Nursing) HSCA 14
The nutrition and hydration digest: Improving outcomes through food and beverage services (British Dietetic Association) HSCA 14
Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) explanatory booklet HSCA 14
BAPEN: Malnutrition universal screening tool HSCA 14
Patient-led assessments of the care environment (PLACE): Organisational questions (NHS England) HSCA 14
10 key characteristics – food quality guidance (Council of Europe) HSCA 14
The Hospital Food Standards Panel's report on standards for food and drink in hospitals (Department of Health) HSCA 14
Water for health - hydration best practice toolkit for hospitals and healthcare (Royal College of Nursing) HSCA 14
For adult social care services
Nutrition support in adults (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) HSCA 14
Nutrition for specific groups (Royal College of Nursing) HSCA 14
The nutrition and hydration digest: Improving outcomes through food and beverage services (British Dietetic Association) HSCA 14
Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) explanatory booklet HSCA 14
BAPEN: Malnutrition universal screening tool HSCA 14
Patient-led assessments of the care environment (PLACE): Organisational questions (NHS England) HSCA 14
Nutritional care and older people (Social Care Institute for Excellence, March 2009) HSCA 14
Guidance on food served to older people in residential care (Food Standards Agency) HSCA 14
For mental health services
10 key characteristics – food quality guidance (Council of Europe) HSCA 14
The Hospital Food Standards Panel's report on standards for food and drink in hospitals (Department of Health) HSCA 14
For primary medical services
Water for health - hydration best practice toolkit for hospitals and healthcare (Royal College of Nursing) HSCA 14

Personalised care

Related guidance Applies to (reg no)
For all services
Supporting people to live well with dementia: NICE quality standard 30 (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, April 2013) HSCA 9
Dementia: NICE quality standard 1 (National Institute for Care Excellence, 2010) HSCA 9
Guidance on supporting people with dementia (Royal College of Nursing) HSCA 9
Dementia – person-centred care planning (Royal College of Nursing) HSCA 9
For adult social care services
Personalisation briefing: Implications for residential care homes - SCIE at a glance summary 17 (Social Care Institute for Excellence, November 2009) HSCA 9, 10
Personalisation briefing: Implications for residential care homes - SCIE at a glance summary 17 - PDF (Social Care Institute for Excellence, November 2009) HSCA 9, 10
Guidance on personalisation (Social Care Institute for Excellence) HSCA 9, 10, 12, 13, 14
Personalisation briefing: Implications for nursing homes - SCIE at a glance summary 20 - PDF (Social Care Institute for Excellence, January 2010) HSCA 9, 10
Personalisation briefing: Implications for nursing homes - SCIE at a glance summary 20 (Social Care Institute for Excellence, January 2010) HSCA 9, 10
Personalisation briefing: Implications for home care providers - SCIE at a glance summary 7 - PDF (Social Care Institute for Excellence, June 2009) HSCA 9, 10
Personalisation briefing: Implications for home care providers - SCIE at a glance summary 7 (Social Care Institute for Excellence, June 2009) HSCA 9, 10
Guidance on personalisation (Social Care Institute for Excellence) HSCA 9, 10
Personalisation briefing: Implications for advocacy workers - SCIE at a glance summary 12 (Social Care Institute for Excellence, August 2009) HSCA 9, 10
Personalisation briefing: Implications for advocacy workers - SCIE at a glance summary 12 - PDF (Social Care Institute for Excellence, August 2009) HSCA 9, 10
Personalisation briefing: Implications for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people - SCIE at a glance summary 42 - PDF (Social Care Institute for Excellence, April 2011) HSCA 9, 10
Personalisation briefing: Implications for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people - SCIE at a glance summary 42 (Social Care Institute for Excellence, April 2011) HSCA 9, 10
Personalisation briefing: Implications of the Equality Act 2010 - SCIE at a glance summary 41 - PDF (Social Care Institute for Excellence, April 2011) HSCA 9, 10
Personalisation briefing: Implications of the Equality Act 2010 - SCIE at a glance summary 41 (Social Care Institute for Excellence, April 2011) HSCA 9, 10
Think Local Act Personal Partnership guidance on personalisation HSCA 9, 10

Quality monitoring/governance

Related guidance Applies to (reg no)
For all services
CQC guidance on notifications for non-NHS providers (Care Quality Commission) Registration regs 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
Prevention of future death reports (previously Rule 43 reports) by the Chief Coroner HSCA 17
Quality Outcomes Framework (QOF) resources (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) HSCA 17
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) quality standards topic library HSCA: all
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance HSCA: all
CQC guidance on registration (Care Quality Commission) Registration regs: all
NHS England Accessible Information HSCA 16, 17
CQC guidance on changes to registration (Care Quality Commission) Registration regs 12, 14, 15
Professional Standards Authority – standards November 2013 HSCA 5
Charity Commission guidance HSCA 5
Into practice guide (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) HSCA 17
Professional Standards Authority HSCA 17, 18, 19, 20
For acute healthcare services
CQC guidance on notifications for NHS trusts (Care Quality Commission) Registration regs 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
Quality standard for nutrition support in adults - NICE quality standard 24 (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, November 2012) HSCA 14
Saying sorry (NHS Litigation Authority) HSCA 20
Quality and service improvement tools: Pre-operative assessment and planning (NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement) HSCA 9, 11, 12
National NHS staff survey reports HSCA 17
NHS premises assurance model HSCA 15
Service user experience in adult mental health - NICE quality standard 14 (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) HSCA 9, 16
Patient experience in adult NHS services: improving the experience of care for people using adult NHS services (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) HSCA 9, 16
Quality standard for patient experience in adult NHS services - NICE quality standard 15 (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, February 2012) HSCA 9, 10, 16
Being open framework - guidance on communicating about patient safety incidents with patients, families and carers (NHS National Patient Safety Agency) HSCA 12, 17, 20
Service user experience in adult mental health: improving the experience of care for people using adult NHS mental health services HSCA 9, 10, 16
Definitions of levels of harm included in: National Patient Safety Agency, Seven Steps to Patient Safety HSCA 12, 17, 20
Never events list (update 2013/14) HSCA 17
Patient group directions - guideline MPG2 (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, August 2013) HSCA 12
NHS patient survey reports HSCA 17
NHS BSA Security of Prescription Form Guidance HSCA 12
For adult social care services
Quality standard for nutrition support in adults - NICE quality standard 24 (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, November 2012) HSCA 14
Recommendations for CQC providers guide (Skills for Care) HSCA 18, 19
For mental health services
Saying sorry (NHS Litigation Authority) HSCA 20
Quality and service improvement tools: Pre-operative assessment and planning (NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement) HSCA 9, 11, 12
National NHS staff survey reports HSCA 17
NHS premises assurance model HSCA 15
Service user experience in adult mental health - NICE quality standard 14 (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) HSCA 9, 10, 16
Patient experience in adult NHS services: improving the experience of care for people using adult NHS services (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) HSCA 9, 16
Quality standard for patient experience in adult NHS services - NICE quality standard 15 (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, February 2012) HSCA 9, 10, 16
Being open framework - guidance on communicating about patient safety incidents with patients, families and carers (NHS National Patient Safety Agency) HSCA 12, 17, 20
Service user experience in adult mental health: improving the experience of care for people using adult NHS mental health services HSCA 9, 16
Definitions of levels of harm included in: National Patient Safety Agency, Seven Steps to Patient Safety HSCA 12, 17, 20
Never events list (update 2013/14) HSCA 17
For primary medical services
CQC guidance on notifications for GP providers (Care Quality Commission) Registration regs 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
CQC guidance on notifications for NHS trusts (Care Quality Commission) Registration regs 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
Patient group directions - guideline MPG2 (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, August 2013) HSCA 12
NHS patient survey reports HSCA 17
NHS BSA Security of Prescription Form Guidance HSCA 12
General Dental Council legal framework HSCA 17, 19, 20
Good medical practice (General Medical Council) HSCA 17, 18, 19, 20
General Medical Council legal framework HSCA 17, 19, 20

Staffing and recruitment

Related guidance Applies to (reg no)
For all services
Employer's guide to conducting Right to Work checks for employees and prospective employees HSCA 19
Checking if someone can work in the UK HSCA 19
Checking a job applicant's 'Right to work' documents HSCA 19
Home Office employer checking service HSCA 19
For acute healthcare services
NHS employment checks standard HSCA 17, 18, 19, 20
Uniforms and workwear: guidance on uniforms and workwear for NHS employers (Department of Health) HSCA 12
Mandatory nurse staffing levels (Royal College of Nurses) HSCA 18
Guideline on safe staffing for nursing in adult inpatient wards in acute hospitals HSCA 18
NICE safe staffing guidelines (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) HSCA 18
How to ensure the right people, with the right skills, are in the right place at the right time (National Quality Board) HSCA 18
Revalidation (General Medical Council) HSCA 18
For adult social care services
Workforce planning (Skills for Care) HSCA 18
Values based recruitment (Skills for Care) HSCA 18, 19
People management resources (Social Care Institute for Excellence) HSCA 15, 18, 19
For mental health services
NHS employment checks standard HSCA 17, 18, 19, 20
Uniforms and workwear: guidance on uniforms and workwear for NHS employers (Department of Health) HSCA 12
Mandatory nurse staffing levels (Royal College of Nurses) HSCA 18
Guideline on safe staffing for nursing in adult inpatient wards in acute hospitals HSCA 18
NICE safe staffing guidelines (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) HSCA 18
How to ensure the right people, with the right skills, are in the right place at the right time (National Quality Board) HSCA 18
For primary medical services
Revalidation (General Medical Council) HSCA 18

Waste management

Related guidance Applies to (reg no)
For all services
Safe management of healthcare waste - version 2.0, 2nd edition (Department of Health,2012 ) HSCA 12