Upgrading Your Domiciliary Care Service
Domiciliary Care, also known as home care, is a service that provides care and support to individuals in the comfort of their own homes. It is often thought to be a favourable alternative to care homes, as service users can receive support without moving to a traditional residential care setting. Often the more cost-effective choice, Domiciliary Care offers a flexible and individualised schedule of care and supports people to maintain a greater level of independence. This can range from assistance with everyday tasks such as laundry and meal preparation, to the provision of regulated activities like personal care (e.g., help with washing, dressing or medication).
As the demand for Domiciliary Care continues to grow, care providers can adapt and expand their services by adding new regulated activities and catering to a broader range of service users. Depending on the providers’ skills and experience, this can open up opportunities for new contracts and partnerships.
Our team at ClouDoc have put together this quick guide outlining the key steps to upgrading your Domiciliary Care service, along with how we can support you.
Understanding regulated activities
Under the Health and Social Care Act 2008, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates health and social care services in England that provide regulated activities. To operate legally, providers must register with the CQC for each regulated activity they intend to offer and ensure they meet all the required standards.
Regulated activities include a wide range of services, such as personal care, nursing care or the treatment of disease, disorder and injury. Providers must register for each activity they intend to offer. However, registration for one regulated activity can sometimes remove the need to register for another. For example, a provider would not need to register for nursing care where this is part of another regulated activity, such as the treatment of disease, disorder and injury.
Why upgrade your service
Upgrading your Domiciliary Care service can provide significant advantages by offering a competitive edge and potentially opening up new funding opportunities. Expanding the scope of your services allows you to better meet the growing demand for complex care at home, while also aligning your service with a broader shift towards community-based care; this shift is part of the Government’s plan to improve the state of the NHS by reducing pressure on hospitals and residential care systems.
How to upgrade your service
First, you should login to your CQC portal and check what regulated activities you are already registered for. You should also review the advice on the CQC website to ensure you are registering for the correct activity.
To add a regulated activity to your registration, you’ll need to apply to amend your CQC registration. This involves completing the relevant forms, dependent on your circumstances, in which you will provide details on what regulated activities you will be adding to your service and how you intend to meet the regulations. If you will be providing services for autistic people and people with a learning disability, you will also need to complete an additional form. You must also update your Statement of Purpose so that it reflects the addition of the new regulated activity and any other changes.
Once you have completed these, simply send your application to HSCA_Applications@cqc.org.uk. All forms should be submitted at least 10 weeks before you intend to begin offering the new service; you cannot begin delivering the new regulated activity until you’ve received CQC approval and your registration has been updated.
Your Registered Manager at the location in which you are providing the new regulated activity will also need to apply to add a regulated activity to their own registration. They will complete a Manger application form, which is available on the CQC website.
You can also expand your Domiciliary Care service to include new service user bands. Service user bands refer to specific groups, such as children, adults, or individuals with particular care needs. To do this, you must first update your Statement of Purpose (SOP) to reflect the changes in the service user groups and submit the revised document to the CQC. In addition, in line with the requirements under Regulation 12(3) of the Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009, a statutory notification of change to the Statement of Purpose must be submitted.
Whether you are adding a new regulated activity or new service user bands, Care Agency Media is here to assist you. Their team has extensive experience in guiding providers throughout this process and will ensure you have everything you need to meet the relevant requirements.
Treatment of disease, disorder and injury
The treatment of disease, disorder, and injury (TDDI) is a regulated activity that allows Domiciliary Care services to manage and treat various health conditions. This can include activities such as wound care, managing catheters or feeding tubes, palliative care, and vaccinations and immunisations.
TDDI is particularly suited to service users who require more specialised care, such as those managing chronic illnesses or living with long-term conditions like diabetes or multiple sclerosis. Expanding into this regulated activity allows providers to offer a higher level of care, enabling them to meet the needs of a wider range of service users.
To prepare for adding the Treatment of disease, disorder or injury to a Domiciliary Care service, providers should ensure they have a listed healthcare professional—such as a nurse, doctor or physiotherapist—available to carry out or supervise the treatment. Where the treatment relates to a mental disorder and is intended to treat disease, disorder or injury, a registered social worker must also be involved. Providers should review staffing to ensure appropriate qualifications and training are in place, update care plans to reflect clinical needs, and establish clear arrangements for liaising with other health and care professionals involved in service users’ care.
At ClouDoc, we provide all the Domiciliary Care policies and procedures you require for providing the Treatment of disease, disorder and injury, securely stored and managed in one place. These policies will also be kept up-to-date with any regulatory or legislative changes to ensure compliance.
Children's domiciliary care
Introducing children as a new service user band will help you meet the growing demand for home care services as the government continues to promote independent living. Children’s Domiciliary Care offers essential support for families who prefer home-based care for their children with long-term or complex medical conditions. This type of care allows children to remain in the comfort of their own homes while receiving the necessary treatment and assistance.
To prepare for expanding into children’s Domiciliary Care, providers must ensure that staff have the appropriate training, experience, and qualifications to work safely and effectively with children. This includes training in paediatric first aid, communication with children, and understanding Gillick competency. Care plans and risk assessments should be tailored to the needs of children and involve parents or guardians in decision-making. With ClouDoc, you will gain access to all the policies and procedures that you require to operate a children’s Domiciliary Care service and remain compliant with CQC regulations.
To learn more about CQC’s regulated activities, you can find out more at: https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-regulation/providers/registration/quick-guide-regulated-activities.
For document-related queries, or to learn more about how ClouDoc can support you with compliance, feel free to reach out at 0330 808 0050 or email support@cloudoc.co.uk. We are happy to help!
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