Skills for Care data shows that fewer than 12% of care homes employ a named facilities or estates manager. The increasing regulatory burden LOLER, L8, EICR, PSSR, fire safety, asbestos is making the role of unqualified estates oversight increasingly untenable for any provider operating more than one site.
Why this matters
A registered manager who is also responsible for all estates compliance is being asked to hold expertise across multiple specialist technical disciplines. When an HSE, FRS or CQC inspector identifies a compliance gap, the absence of a qualified estates function is not a mitigating factor it is an aggravating one.
What to do
- 1Review whether your current estates and maintenance oversight structure is adequate for the volume and complexity of your compliance obligations.
- 2Consider the IWFM (Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management) qualification pathway for any in-house estates lead it provides a credible, sector-recognised framework.
- 3If employing a dedicated estates function is not viable, ensure your outsourced contractors collectively cover all statutory obligations and that you have a named person internally to manage and audit them.
- 4Document the accountability structure for each compliance area who is responsible, what they are responsible for, and how you verify it is being done.
Primary source
Skills for Care The State of the Adult Social Care Sector and Workforce in England
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