Statement of Purpose

What is a CQC statement of purpose?

A statement of purpose tells CQC what you do, where you do it and who your service is for. The law says registered providers must have one. That law is regulation 12 of the Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009, and Schedule 3 of the same regulations lists what it must contain. You send it with a new registration application, then keep it up to date for as long as you are registered.

The four parts

This statement of purpose template follows the same four parts CQC uses in its own templates, already joined into one document:

1. About the provider: legal name, legal status, partners and contact details

2. Aims and objectives

3. About the location, completed once for each location

4. Registered managers, completed once for each manager

How to write a statement of purpose for CQC

Fill in each field in your own words for your own service. Do not copy another provider's. Write three to six aims about the life you want for the people you support, and under each one list the practical steps you take to meet it. Linking your aims to CQC's five key questions (safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led) makes them easier to test at inspection.

When you list the needs you meet, match the service user bands in your application. CQC says your staff training plan should reflect them too, so check the two documents agree.

The template gives a prompt for each service type. A care home describes its building, bedrooms, shared rooms and gardens. A home care service gives its office address, the area it covers and its visiting hours. A supported living service explains how people's housing works, such as their own tenancy.

Keeping it current

CQC rejects registration applications that hold incorrect, out of date or missing information. After you register, send CQC written details of any change within 28 days, with a copy of the updated statement. Delete the guidance notes before you send it, and keep the signed copy somewhere safe.

Your statement of purpose and your Service User Guide should describe the same service. The Governance & Quality Assurance Policy sets out how you check you are meeting the aims you write here.