Are you looking to set up a care business but don’t know where to start with your CQC Statement of Purpose? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Writing something that meets the CQC’s requirements isn’t always straight forward and there are a few things to watch out for to make sure you get through registration without any delays.
Understanding the Statement of Purpose
Your Statement of Purpose is a document required by CQC that outlines the essential information about your care business. It serves as a declaration of your values, goals, and commitment to delivering high-quality care. This document is crucial for demonstrating compliance with CQC regulations and ensuring your business operates within the boundaries of the law.
The Statement of Purpose provides insight into your purpose, the services you offer, the people you serve, and how you plan to meet their needs. It should also include information about your location, the legal entity responsible for its operation, and any partnerships or affiliations you have.
Legal requirements for the Statement of Purpose
The CQC has specific legal requirements that must be met when writing your Statement of Purpose. These requirements ensure that your statement contains all the necessary information to demonstrate compliance with CQC regulations. Failure to meet these requirements can result in prosecution and potential penalties.
One of the key legal requirements is that your Statement of Purpose must be accurate, up to date, and readily available to anyone who asks for it. It should be easily accessible on your website and provided to clients, staff, and CQC inspectors upon request. It is essential to review and update your statement regularly to reflect any changes in your business such as new services, locations, or partnerships.
The CQC also requires that your Statement of Purpose includes information about how you handle complaints, safeguarding procedures, and how you involve clients and their families in their care. These elements demonstrate your commitment to client safety, quality improvement, and person-centered care.
Key components of a comprehensive Statement of Purpose
A comprehensive Statement of Purpose should include the following key components (as set out by CQC on their website):
About your business
- name of the business
- type of business (legal status) – for example sole trader, partnership, or organisation
- your business address, telephone number and email address (including address for serving notices or other documents)
- names of any partners in your business.
Your aims and objectives
These are your aims and objectives in providing the activities we regulate at the locations you operate.
Places where you provide services
We call these locations. For each of your locations, your statement of purpose must record:
- the address and other contact details
- a description of your location
- the type of service you provide at or from the location
- the different needs of people who use your service
- the activities we regulate that you provide at the location
- the registered manager who manages those activities at the location.
Your registered managers
For each of your registered managers, your statement of purpose must include:
- their full name and contact details
- the address we should use to serve notices and other documents to them
- the locations they manage and the percentage of time they spend at each
- the activities we regulate that they manage
- details of any job share arrangements.
You can read about this in more detail on the CQC website.
If you join a franchise like Walfinch, you’ll get a template to make things easier. We’ll also help you personalise your CQC Statement of Purpose to avoid any delays with registration.
Common mistakes to avoid when writing a Statement of Purpose
Amanda Keeler, Walfinch Quality and Compliance Manager, has this advice for you:
“Make sure everything is precise such as your company name and trading name, because if they aren’t, your Statement of Purpose will be rejected. Even if there are spelling mistakes, or your Companies House number is wrong, CQC will ask you to rewrite it which will delay your registration process.
“Make sure your set of aims and objectives are personalised. For example, one of our franchisees specializes in end-of-life care, so setting this out in her Statement of Purpose is super important to avoid prosecution upon inspection.”
Importance of a well-crafted Statement of Purpose for avoiding prosecution
Crafting a complete CQC Statement of Purpose is essential if you want to avoid prosecution and ensure compliance with CQC regulations. By accurately reflecting your values, goals, and commitment to delivering high-quality care, you can significantly reduce the chances of facing legal consequences.
