Frequently asked questions

Every engagement is different, so we quote individually. After an initial conversation and assessment of what you need, we send a written proposal setting out the scope, deliverables, timescales and fees. There is no online checkout and nothing to pay before you have agreed a proposal.

No. Registration decisions are made by the Care Quality Commission or Ofsted, and contract decisions are made by the commissioning organisation. No consultant can honestly guarantee those outcomes. What we can do is help you prepare thoroughly, avoid common mistakes and present your service as clearly and accurately as possible.

No. Regulated Care Consultancy is an independent consultancy. We are not registered with, approved by or endorsed by any regulator or the NHS, and we have no influence over their decisions.

We support individuals and entrepreneurs starting a care business, existing health and social care providers, healthcare staffing agencies and investors. Some clients come to us before they have a company; others are established providers looking for public sector growth.

We work remotely with clients across the UK and can meet in person by arrangement. Our CQC and Ofsted registration support relates to services in England. Our bid, tender and advisory work is available more widely. If you are unsure, ask us.

You will receive an email confirming your enquiry reference. We review what you have told us and contact you to arrange an initial consultation. After that, we send a tailored proposal and quotation. You are under no obligation to proceed.

We do not sell generic template packs or present templates as bespoke documents. Our policies are written for your service following a conversation about how it operates. Where we use a consistent structure, the content is tailored to you.

Please do not. Our enquiry forms are for general business enquiries only. Do not include patient records, information about individual service users or any sensitive case details.

Timescales are set by CQC and vary depending on the type of service, the quality of the application and CQC's own workload. We cannot promise a timescale, but a complete, well prepared application avoids many of the avoidable delays we see.

Most providers carrying on regulated activities need a Registered Manager, and the manager's application usually runs alongside the provider application. We help you understand the requirement for your service and support the proposed manager through their application.

Yes. We develop it with you so that it accurately describes your aims and objectives, the regulated activities you will carry on, the people you will support and where the service will operate. It should reflect how your service will really run, so your input is essential.

Yes. We review the feedback and your previous submission, identify what needs to change and help you prepare a stronger application.

Children's homes provide care and accommodation and are registered under the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015. Supported accommodation provides accommodation and support for looked after children and care leavers aged 16 and 17 and is registered under the Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023. Supported accommodation must not provide care. The right category depends on the needs of the young people you plan to support.

We do not act as property agents, but we can help you understand what to consider when assessing a property and its location, and support you with location risk assessment before you commit.

Yes. We run practice interviews for the applicant and the proposed Registered Manager, focused on their knowledge of the regulations, the Quality Standards and their own Statement of Purpose.

Yes. Many clients come to us at the idea stage. We can help you test the model, plan the business and understand what you will need before you commit to premises, staff or registration.

It depends on how the business will operate. Many staffing agencies supply workers to other providers and are not registered with CQC themselves, but some models involve carrying on a regulated activity. We help you work out which applies and what compliance you need for clients and frameworks.

We can help you build financial assumptions and a business plan based on the information you provide. These are planning tools, not guarantees. We recommend involving an accountant for tax and statutory matters.

At least annually as good practice, and whenever legislation, guidance or your service changes. We can provide a review schedule and update service.

Yes. We can review your current documents, highlight gaps, outdated references and inconsistencies, and recommend or make the changes needed.

Yes. We carry out inspection style reviews and provide honest written feedback with a practical action plan. A mock inspection is not a CQC or Ofsted inspection and does not result in a rating.

We can, but the strongest bids combine our bid writing with your operational knowledge and evidence. Depending on your needs, we can lead the whole response, write specific quality answers or review and improve drafts prepared by your team.

Yes. Our bid or no bid assessment looks at fit with your services, capacity, compliance requirements, risks and how competitive you are likely to be. Sometimes the best advice is not to bid, and we will tell you that honestly.

We can review opportunities you have identified and advise you on where to look and how to set up alerts on the main procurement portals. Ongoing opportunity monitoring can be included in a retained arrangement.

As much as possible. Tender deadlines are often short, so contact us as soon as an opportunity is published or, ideally, before it opens. We will be honest about whether a deadline is achievable.

Yes. As well as fixed scope projects, we can agree ongoing advisory arrangements for providers who want regular strategic and compliance support. These are quoted individually.

Yes. We facilitate strategy sessions and provide independent challenge and support for directors and senior managers.