Blog updated on May 24, 2024
What qualifications do I need to open a care agency?
There are certain requirements to start a care agency which must be fulfilled before you start trading. To start a care agency in the UK you need to be registered with, and approved by, the Care Quality Commission (CQC). This is the UK’s regulatory body which oversees the care sector and it is a legal requirement as set out in the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
You can find out how to register your business with the CQC here. Remember that this is the first step in becoming a home care provider.
While some people may confuse the terms nursing agency and care or domiciliary agency, the two are mutually exclusive and they mean different things. With a care agency for example, you as the owner of the agency are required to either be appropriately qualified yourself in order to take on the role of a Registered Manager or you’ll need to appoint a person to this role. So what are the requirements for such health care qualifications in the UK for this particular position?
For senior management such as a Registered Manager, you need a Level 5 diploma in Health and Social Care, or be studying towards it. This is a CQC requirement and either you as the owner or another person running your operation need to be appropriately qualified. It is also possible for a Registered Nurse or a Social Worker with an NVQ Level 5 qualification to take on this role.
It’s sensible, if you’re setting up the business, to appoint a Registered Manager and to not take on this role yourself. Being a Registered Manager is all about the day to day of the care, while as a business owner you should be focusing on growing the business.
Other aspects that can help you succeed in this venture include having suitable management qualifications. The reason behind this is that you’ll be solely responsible for the care that’s provided by the care workers under your guidance and supervision. Further nice-to-haves include knowledge of how to run a business, some marketing experience and skills, the ability to recruit effectively to build an effective team, technological skills, payroll skills as well as knowledge of Human Resources and UK employment legislation.
It is not necessary to have experience in care to start a home care agency, as long as you employ an experienced Registered Manager.
Find out more about home care franchising with Walfinch:
Other Requirements to Start a Home Care Agency in the UK
As required by law, once you have a Registered Manager in place to run the operation, you will also need to recruit and train staff. These will be the individuals that do the daily tasks and interface with your clients. An often asked question is “do you need qualifications to be a health care assistant?” and we’ll cover this here by looking at the qualifications needed by home care or live-in care workers as well as more senior care workers or care coordinators.
Let’s start with home care/live-in care workers. Ideally, these members of your staff will have either a Level 1 or a Level 2 Health and Social Care qualification that is either completed or in the process of being completed. It’s important to have this because it covers topics including safeguarding and protection of clients. If your staff do not yet have such qualifications, they are able to continue working and providing services while they study towards it. Meanwhile, for more senior care workers or care coordinators, the required qualifications are a Level 3 diploma in Health and Social Care. Numerous colleges around the country offer these courses and qualifications and it is workable if you wish to get into the home care sector.
What is often overlooked is the fact that apart from these qualifications, a care worker will also need to possess some important personal qualities to help them succeed in their job. Some of these include being patient, open, communicative, helpful, adapts and works well under pressure or difficult circumstances, thinks outside of the box, and flexibility among others.
Starting Your Care Company
Start your own home care franchise today!
When you run your own home care franchise, the road ahead will be lined with excitement, new challenges and opportunities every single day.
It’s a great time to be in the home care business because the market is growing and there is ample opportunity for business expansion and development.
If you are interested in learning how to start a care agency and what qualifications you’ll need, get in touch with us so that we can help you make an informed and accurate decision about your future. We’re just a click away! So, don’t hesitate to reach out.
