12/01/2026
A Role That Is Often Misunderstood
The role of the CQC Nominated Individual (NI) is one of the most misunderstood and underestimated positions in a care organisation.
On paper, the role can appear administrative or symbolic.
In reality, the NI carries significant statutory responsibility, governance accountability and leadership influence across the organisation.
When the NI role is poorly understood or under-resourced, risk increases.
When it is done well, it provides stability, clarity and assurance, both internally and to regulators.
What Is a CQC Nominated Individual?
The Nominated Individual is the person legally responsible for supervising the management of a regulated activity on behalf of the provider.
CQC expects the NI to:
• Represent the provider organisation
• Oversee quality and governance arrangements
• Ensure systems are in place to meet regulations
• Act as a key point of contact with CQC
• Provide assurance that services are safe, effective and well-led
The role is not optional, and responsibility cannot be delegated away.
What the NI Is Not
One of the most common misunderstandings is assuming the NI:
• Is only needed for inspections
• Is a paperwork role
• Sits above day-to-day operations without involvement
• Can “sign off” compliance without evidence
None of these are true.
The NI must understand what is actually happening within services, not just what policies say should be happening.
The Difference Between the NI and the Registered Manager
The Registered Manager (RM) is accountable for the day-to-day running of the care service.
The Nominated Individual is accountable for:
• Oversight
• Governance
• Assurance
• Organisational learning
• Regulatory confidence
In well-led organisations, the NI and RM work in partnership:
• Clear roles
• Mutual respect
• Open communication
• Shared understanding of risk
When this relationship breaks down, services become vulnerable.
What the NI is Responsible for in Practice
In reality, the NI role includes:
• Keeping up to date with CQC guidance and regulatory changes
• Understanding incident themes and trends
• Oversight of safeguarding, complaints and concerns
• Ensuring learning leads to change
• Supporting leadership capability
• Providing challenge and support
• Maintaining inspection readiness
• Ensuring governance systems are effective, not just tick box exercises
The NI must be confident in asking difficult questions and prepared to act when risks are identified.
Why the NI Role is Critical to “Well-Led”
CQC places significant weight on how organisations are governed.
Inspectors often explore:
• How the provider knows the service is safe
• How leaders assure themselves of quality
• How learning is shared
• How risk is escalated
• How leadership culture is experienced
The NI is central to all of this.
A strong NI role strengthens:
• Accountability
• Transparency
• Leadership confidence
• Regulatory trust
Common Pitfalls I See
Some of the most common NI issues include:
• The role being added “on top” of another full-time role without capacity
• Limited understanding of regulatory expectations
• Over-reliance on reports without challenge
• Poor visibility of frontline practice
• Reactive engagement with CQC
• Lack of clarity between board, NI and RM roles
These gaps increase organisational risk.
Being On Call is Part of the Role
One reality that is often overlooked is that the NI role carries 24/7 accountability.
Serious incidents, safeguarding concerns and regulatory notifications do not wait for office hours.
The NI must be available, informed, and able to respond appropriately at any time.
This responsibility should be recognised, supported, and resourced accordingly.
What Good NI Practice Looks Like
In effective organisations, the NI:
• Is visible and accessible
• Understands the service beyond reports
• Supports learning rather than fear
• Works collaboratively with managers
• Provides constructive challenge
• Helps create a culture of openness
• Ensures governance leads to improvement
When done well, the NI role protects both people and organisations.
Final Thoughts: The NI Role Is Leadership, Not Administration
The Nominated Individual role is not a formality.
It is a leadership role that sits at the heart of governance, culture and quality.
When organisations invest properly in the NI role, with time, clarity and authority, they create safer services, stronger leadership teams and greater regulatory confidence.
