12/07/2025
Case Study
Small Care Home Group
Top 10 CQC Registration Mistakes Care Providers Make (and How to Avoid Them)
Setting up a care service is exciting — but let’s be honest, CQC registration can be a total minefield.
At Kata Care, we’ve supported hundreds of providers through registration (and rescued a fair few who tried going it alone!). We’ve seen it all — and we’re here to make sure you don’t make the same mistakes.
Here are the top 10 most common CQC registration mistakes, and how to avoid them.
❌ 1. Rushing the Application
The Mistake: Trying to get your registration submitted in a week (spoiler: it never works).
The fix: Give yourself time to plan, prepare documentation, and build a proper business plan — CQC can tell when it’s rushed.
❌ 2. Picking the Wrong Regulated Activities
The Mistake: Selecting activities that don’t match your actual service (or missing key ones).
The fix: Get advice on whether you need “Personal Care”, “Treatment of Disease”, or others — it affects who you can support and what you’re legally allowed to provide.
❌ 3. Weak Statement of Purpose
The mistake: Copy-pasting a vague one-pager from the internet.
The fix: Write a clear, detailed Statement of Purpose that reflects your service. This is a key part of your application — don’t wing it.
❌ 4. Choosing an Inexperienced Registered Manager
The mistake: Appointing someone with no management experience or knowledge of regulated care.
The fix: Ensure your RM meets the requirements — CQC wants to see qualifications, leadership skills, and real-life experience.
❌ 5. Poorly Written Policies
The mistake: Submitting outdated, generic, or non-compliant policies.
The fix: Policies must align with CQC’s expectations and reflect how you’ll run your service. We always recommend getting these professionally reviewed, especially for CQC Registration.
❌ 6. No Proof of Financial Viability
The mistake: Missing or half-complete financial documents.
The fix: CQC want to know your business can operate safely — include budgets, forecasts, and evidence of funding where needed.
❌ 7. Forgetting Key Safeguarding Info
The mistake: Not referencing safeguarding frameworks, DBS checks, or local authority procedures.
The fix: Safeguarding is non-negotiable — your application should clearly show how you’ll keep people safe.
❌ 8. Weak Governance Framework
The mistake: No real explanation of how you’ll monitor quality or learn from mistakes.
The fix: Governance matters — you need to demonstrate leadership, risk management, audits, and continuous improvement plans.
❌ 9. No Prep for the Interview
The mistake: Not preparing your Registered Manager or provider representative for the interview with the inspector.
The fix: Practice! Know your application inside out, and be ready to explain how your service will meet the fundamental standards.
❌ 10. Not Asking for Help
The mistake: Trying to do it all solo, getting stuck, and delaying your launch.
The fix: Bring in expert help, like Kata. We’ve helped countless providers get registered smoothly, with strong documentation and confident interviews.
💬 Final Advice from Kata Care
CQC registration is a big deal — it sets the foundation for everything that follows. But it doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
At Kata Care, we’ll support you through:
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✅ Choosing the right regulated activities
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✅ Writing your Statement of Purpose
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✅ Preparing the Registered Manager
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✅ Submitting your application
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✅ Preparing for interviews
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✅ Policies, governance and safeguarding docs
Whether you’re launching a domiciliary care agency, supported living service or care home, we’ve got your back.
🛠️ How to Recover from a Delayed or Rejected CQC Application
Sometimes, even with the best intentions, applications get delayed — or worse, rejected. Here’s what to do if that happens:
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Read the Feedback Thoroughly
CQC will usually give reasons for rejection or delay. Go through their comments line by line. -
Don’t Reapply Without Fixing Issues
Sending in the same documents twice won’t do you any favours. Tackle every issue raised, especially around leadership, safeguarding, and regulated activities. -
Update Your Governance and Policies
Many delays are due to missing or outdated documentation. Review everything — Statement of Purpose, business plan, policies — and make sure they reflect your actual service. -
Get Professional Support
If in doubt, bring in someone who’s done it before. We support providers every week who’ve had previous failed attempts, and help them get approved.
💡 Real Talk: Why It’s Worth Doing Right The First Time
Trying to fast-track your CQC registration might seem like a money-saver at first, but we’ve seen it cost providers thousands in delays, lost staff, missed contracts, and burnout. CQC Registration Mistakes are avoidable!
By putting in the time and effort up front, you:
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Start on a stronger footing
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Reduce stress for your team
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Increase your chance of a positive early inspection
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Win more trust from local authorities and commissioners
It’s not just about passing the CQC gate — it’s about building a service that’s safe, effective, and respected from day one.
✍️ What Does a Strong Application Look Like?
Here’s what our team at Kata look for when supporting a provider:
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✅ A clear, detailed Statement of Purpose
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✅ Appropriate regulated activities for the service type
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✅ A qualified, credible Registered Manager
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✅ Aligned policies and procedures (not just templates!)
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✅ Safeguarding, complaints, whistleblowing and governance frameworks
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✅ Evidence of financial viability
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✅ A well-prepared interview plan for the RM
When all that’s in place, we know the application is solid, and you’re far more likely to avoid CQC Registration Mistakes and get approved quickly.
📞 Ready to Register with Confidence?
Skip the stress and avoid costly delays.
📩 Book a free consultation with our registration experts and let’s get you CQC-ready, the right way.