Who we support | Care business start-ups
Starting a care business? Build on stronger foundations.
From your first idea to registration readiness, opening a care service brings important decisions about people, premises, policies and regulation. Delphi helps new providers in England plan with greater clarity and prepare to launch with the right support.
Clear decisions today. Stronger operations tomorrow.
For new adult social care providers, children’s home founders and care-sector entrepreneurs in England.
What to prepare firstBefore you make big commitments
Six foundations for a stronger start.
A clear plan helps you ask the right questions before committing time, money and resources. The precise requirements depend on your proposed service.
Define your service
Decide who you will support, what care you intend to provide, the regulated activities involved and the experience residents or children should receive.
Build a viable plan
Consider your business model, staffing costs, demand, funding assumptions, cash flow and the time needed before you can begin operating.
Check your premises
Review suitability, accessibility, safety, location risks, planning requirements and whether the property can support the care model.
Prepare your leadership
Identify the registered manager and, where applicable, the Responsible Individual, alongside clear governance and accountability arrangements.
Plan a safe workforce
Develop needs-based staffing, safer recruitment, DBS checks where required, training, supervision and contingency arrangements.
Make registration real
Prepare the relevant evidence, policies and service documents, test readiness and understand the regulator’s decision-making process.
Not sure which foundations to prioritise?
Talk to Delphi about your ideaChoose your regulatory route
Two different regulators. One important first decision.
Start with the service you plan to open. Adult care and children’s homes have different registration requirements and processes in England.
Opening a CQC-regulated service?
For adult care homes and other services carrying out regulated activities in England, the provider and any required registered manager must follow the relevant CQC process before the regulated activity begins.
- Identify the correct regulated activities and locations
- Prepare service plans, policies and key evidence
- Understand management, staffing and premises expectations
- Review readiness for the registration assessment
Planning to open a children’s home?
Ofsted’s children’s home registration process involves the proposed provider, manager and, for organisations, an appointed Responsible Individual. The application requires service-specific evidence and preparation.
- SC1 and relevant SC2 applications
- Statement of Purpose and location assessment
- Policies, safer recruitment and staffing plans
- Readiness for premises visits and interviews
Where Delphi can help
Practical start-up support, not just paperwork.
We can support a focused stage of your journey or discuss a wider engagement that connects planning, registration, leadership and ongoing operations.
Registration guidance
Structure your CQC application and supporting evidence with practical help on regulated activities, readiness and documentation.
Children’s home registration
Prepare your Statement of Purpose, location risk assessment, policies and leadership evidence for the Ofsted process.
Management readiness
Discuss manager recruitment, role responsibilities, workforce planning and preparation for regulator interviews.
Policies & governance
Develop practical systems for safeguarding, care quality, incidents, recruitment and oversight, aligned to your service model.
Independent readiness review
Identify gaps in premises, documentation, leadership or planned operations before they become harder to resolve.
Ongoing compliance support
Plan for governance, monitoring and continuous improvement as your service moves from approval into day-to-day delivery.
The right time for expert support is before the costly mistakes.
Premises, staffing, registration and governance decisions are connected. Discuss your plans early so you can identify the priorities that matter to your new service.
Working with Delphi
From an early idea to a clearer opening plan.
We start by understanding what you are building, where you are in the process and which decisions or risks need attention first.
Tell us about the service
Share the care model, proposed location, timescales, experience and current progress.
Identify the right route
Clarify relevant CQC or Ofsted requirements and the preparation needed.
Agree a practical scope
Define the documents, reviews, mentoring or project support that would add value.
Build your readiness
Work towards a more prepared application and an operational plan for the service.
Experience that new providers value
Practical guidance can make the difference in preparation.
Registration is more than filling in a form. It is an opportunity to show that your team understands the service, can explain its approach and is prepared to meet the relevant standards.
See how Delphi’s application support and mock interviews helped a care-sector founder prepare for CQC registration.
Read client testimonialsHis coaching gave our team the confidence and preparation we needed to succeed.
Read before you open
Useful guidance for your next decision.
Explore authoritative registration guidance alongside Delphi’s practical resources, and check the latest regulator requirements before submitting an application.
CQC | Registration guide
What Is CQC Registration & How Does It Work?
Understand the purpose of registration and the important steps involved in preparing a regulated care service.
Explore the guideOfsted | Starting a children’s home
How to Open a Children’s Home
Consider the planning, registration and leadership requirements before you begin operating a children’s home.
Read the step-by-step guideFrequently asked questions
Opening a care service? Start with clear answers.
These are some of the questions founders ask before starting a care home or children’s service in England.
Ask us about your plansDo I need CQC registration to open a care home?
Adult residential care homes in England need CQC registration. Other care services may also require registration depending on whether they carry out regulated activities. You must not provide a regulated activity before the necessary registration has been granted.
Is registering a children’s home the same process?
No. Children’s homes in England are registered with Ofsted through a different process, including relevant SC1/SC2 forms, a Statement of Purpose, leadership checks and service-specific documentation. You must wait until registration is granted before operating.
Can Delphi complete our registration application?
Delphi can help prepare and review registration documentation and support proposed leaders through preparation and interviews, as agreed. The applicant remains responsible for accurate submissions, and the regulator decides whether registration is granted.
Is there a fixed CQC staff-to-resident ratio?
No universal staffing ratio is set for all adult care homes. CQC Regulation 18 requires enough suitably qualified, competent and experienced staff to meet people’s needs safely. Staffing plans should reflect your service and the people you intend to support.
Do I need a property before applying?
Premises readiness and suitability are important parts of registration. What evidence is needed depends on the regulator and service type. Check planning and property suitability before making major financial commitments; for CQC applications, locations and key operating arrangements should be ready or nearly ready.
How long does care home registration take?
Timescales vary by regulator, application completeness and case complexity. CQC advises that many applications take months, sometimes longer. Ofsted also has application-prioritisation and waiting-list arrangements. No adviser can guarantee a registration date.
Can Delphi support us after we open?
Yes. Depending on the service and agreed scope, Delphi can discuss ongoing consultancy, governance, quality audits, inspection readiness, monitoring and leadership support once registration has been granted.
Your next step starts here
You have the vision. Let’s build the foundations.
Planning a new care home, domiciliary care service or children’s home? Tell us where you are in the process and what you need help with. We’ll discuss the most useful next step.
What are you planning to open?
Share your proposed service type, location, stage of planning and any deadlines. Please do not include identifiable patient, resident or child information.
Discuss start-up support 0330 133 3002Prefer email? enquiries@delphi.care
Delphi Care Solutions is an independent consultancy. Registration decisions remain with CQC or Ofsted. Business, staffing, planning and regulatory requirements depend on the service, and no outcome or opening date is guaranteed.
