22/09/2025
**Regulated vs Unregulated Services**
** CQC vs OFSTED**
Over the last 12 months we have had so many families, professionals and other services needing support to clarify and not knowing or understanding about CQC&OFSTED Regulated Services.
This subject can often be quite overwhelming and confusing. A service or provider can be OFSTED registered but only for children age band 0 - 18 years old. A CQC service or provider can be registered from 0 - End of life age. Some providers especially educational services will often need to be OFSTED registered not CQC registered. It is rare that a provider would be double registered under CQC and OFSTED as you are not guaranteed to be registered under both. Either regulator may opt to refuse your registration as you are already regulated by the other body. Some local authorities have specific preferences they choose for a provider to be commissioned by them directly however, just because a provider is not in their preference does not mean they are unregulated. Thereβs always alternative route to this.
Overnight Provisions can be innovatively done by a provider who is CQC regulated for children and adults but not OFSTED registered as long as it does not exceed a set number of days in a year. That CQC provider can also provide the service further for Personal Care as long as they registered for personal care under the nursing care band. I know so many people who are being misinformed and confused about this which in turn, making it very difficult for families to get support and also for providers to help.
I am sharing this information for everyoneβs interest not just for our sake as a provider. There are many providers and services locally who could be helping support clients and families locally but these confusions are creating complicated barriers for that to happen. We support the idea of keeping local people local and inclusion in the local area as well having meaningful interests and opportunities elsewhere that enhances their quality of life.
I hope people find this information helpful and if any questions please feel free to ask away. Where we canβt answer, we will signpost you to the right areas. ππππππ