Increasing the number of registered places at a care home is a regulated activity change requiring CQC approval before any additional residents are admitted. The application must include evidence that the premises can safely accommodate the additional occupancy, including fire safety capacity and staffing ratios.
Why this matters
Admitting a resident to a bed that is not included in your CQC registration is an unregistered regulated activity a criminal offence under the Health and Social Care Act 2008. It also creates a Regulation 15 exposure if the premises were not designed or approved for the additional occupancy.
What to do
- 1Before adding any bed, confirm the total registered places on your CQC certificate and compare to your current operational bed count.
- 2Submit a variation application to CQC before admitting any resident to a bed above your registered capacity allow sufficient lead time as decisions can take weeks.
- 3Ensure your FRA is reviewed to confirm fire safety capacity supports the new total occupancy before the CQC application is submitted.
- 4Update your staff dependency tool to confirm adequate staffing at the new capacity this will be assessed as part of the variation.
Primary source
CQC Changing Your Registration
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