From April 2010, the regulation of health and adult social care has changed and legislation has been introduced astablishing a new madatory licensing and registration system that applies to ALL health and adult social care providers who provide regulated activities. Every such provider is required by law to be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The list of “Regulated Activities” that require registration are fully described in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2009. They are likely to change over time, but have initially been set at:

• personal care
• accommodation with nursing or personal care
• accommodation for persons who require treatment for substance misuse
• accommodation and nursing or personal care in the further education sector
• treatment of disease, disorder or injury
• assessment or medical treatment for persons detained under the Mental Health Act 1983
• surgical procedures
• diagnostic and screening procedures
• management of supply of blood and blood-derived products
• transport services, triage and medical advice provided remotely
• maternity and midwifery services
• termination of pregnancies
• services in slimming clinics
• nursing care
• family planning services

To register with the Care Quality Commission, providers must show they are meeting new essential standards of quality and safety across all of the regulated activities they provide.

The new CQC registration system ensures that people can expect services to meet essential standards of quality and safety, that respect their dignity and protect their rights.  The new CQC registration scheme is focused on outcomes, rather than systems and processes, and places the views and experience of people who use services at the centre.