Healthcare & Social Care Northern Ireland

Register a health or social care service with RQIA

Step-by-step guide to registering a health or social care service with the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) in Northern Ireland. Covers application requirements, fit person criteria, premises standards, registration conditions, fees, and expected timescales.

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If you intend to provide a health or social care service in Northern Ireland, you must register with the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) before you begin operating. It is a criminal offence to carry on a regulated service without registration, and RQIA has the power to prosecute unregistered providers.

This requirement applies to a wide range of services including residential care homes, nursing homes, domiciliary care agencies, dental practices, independent hospitals, day care settings, adult placement agencies, and voluntary adoption agencies. Even if you already hold CQC registration in England, you must register separately with RQIA if you operate in Northern Ireland.

Registration typically takes between 12 and 16 weeks from receipt of a complete application, though complex applications or those requiring significant premises work may take longer. You should begin the process well before your intended opening date.

Before you apply

Before submitting a registration application to RQIA, you need to satisfy yourself that you can meet the requirements. RQIA will not register a service unless the applicant, the premises, and the proposed staffing arrangements all meet the relevant Minimum Care Standards and regulations.

Fit person requirements

RQIA must be satisfied that the applicant (and, where applicable, the registered manager) is a fit person to carry on or manage the service. The fit person assessment considers:

  • Integrity and good character: Including an Enhanced AccessNI disclosure check with barred list check. DBS checks from England, Wales, or Scotland are not accepted; you must obtain an AccessNI check.
  • Physical and mental fitness: A medical declaration confirming fitness to carry on or manage the service.
  • Qualifications and experience: Relevant qualifications and demonstrable experience appropriate to the type of service. For nursing homes, the registered manager must be a registered nurse.
  • Financial viability: Evidence that you have the financial resources to establish and sustain the service, including a business plan and financial projections.

Premises requirements

Your premises must meet the physical environment standards set out in the relevant Minimum Care Standards for your service type. RQIA will inspect premises before granting registration. Key areas assessed include:

  • Room sizes, layout, and accessibility
  • Fire safety compliance (certified by the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service)
  • Infection prevention and control arrangements
  • Building regulations compliance (from the district council)
  • Planning permission for the intended use
  • Environmental health clearance (for catering facilities)

How to register with RQIA

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    1. Confirm your service type requires registration

    Check whether your proposed service falls within RQIA's regulated categories. Not all health and social care activities require RQIA registration. Contact RQIA's Registration team on 028 9051 7500 if you are unsure whether your service requires registration.

  2. 2

    2. Request an application pack from RQIA

    Contact RQIA to request the appropriate application form for your service type. Different forms apply to different service categories (residential care, nursing, domiciliary care, dental, independent hospital, etc.). RQIA may also arrange a pre-registration meeting to discuss your proposal before you submit a formal application.

  3. 3

    3. Complete the application form and supporting documents

    Complete all sections of the application form. You will need to provide your AccessNI enhanced disclosure, a medical declaration, two references, evidence of qualifications, a statement of purpose describing the service you propose to provide, a staffing plan, your business plan with financial projections, and premises documentation including floor plans, fire safety certificate, and planning permission evidence.

  4. 4

    4. Pay the registration fee

    Submit the appropriate registration fee with your application. Fees vary by service type and size. The fee is non-refundable even if registration is refused.

  5. 5

    5. Cooperate with the RQIA assessment

    RQIA will assess your application, which includes a review of all documentation, an inspection of your premises, interviews with the applicant and proposed registered manager, and verification of references and qualifications. Respond promptly to any requests for additional information.

  6. 6

    6. Receive your registration certificate

    If RQIA is satisfied that you meet all requirements, it will issue a certificate of registration specifying the service type, the registered provider, the registered manager (where applicable), the registered premises, and any conditions attached to the registration. You must display this certificate at the registered premises.

  7. 7

    7. Notify RQIA of any changes

    After registration, you must notify RQIA of any changes to the registered provider, registered manager, premises, or the nature of the service. Some changes require a variation of registration (a separate application). Operating outside the terms of your registration is a criminal offence.

Do not begin operating before registration is granted

It is a criminal offence under Article 12 of the HPSS (QIR) (NI) Order 2003 to carry on a regulated establishment or agency without being registered with RQIA. Penalties include fines and, for serious or repeated offences, imprisonment. RQIA actively monitors for unregistered services and will prosecute where necessary.

Registration conditions

RQIA may attach conditions to your registration. Common conditions include limits on the number of service users, requirements for specific staffing levels or qualifications, restrictions on the categories of service users you may accept, and requirements to complete specific improvements within a set timescale.

You can request a review of conditions if your circumstances change. RQIA can also impose additional conditions at any time if it identifies concerns about the quality or safety of your service.

What to do next

Once registered, you must:

  • Display your RQIA registration certificate at your premises
  • Meet the Minimum Care Standards for your service type at all times
  • Cooperate with RQIA inspections (announced and unannounced)
  • Submit notifications to RQIA as required (serious incidents, deaths, safeguarding concerns)
  • Pay annual registration fees by the due date
  • Complete and return RQIA's annual quality report

Official RQIA registration guidance