Starting your own domiciliary care business can be a rewarding experience, both personally and financially. It can also be a great way to help others in your community.
The social care market is valued at £25bn – £30bn each year. Local authorities pay £20 billion per year on social care, £8billion of this is spent on care at home.
In the years to come, the demand for adult social care is projected to increase significantly, largely due to the UK’s ageing population.
There are a few things you need to know before you get started. This post will discuss the basics of starting a domiciliary care business, including what you need to do to get started and how to find clients.
What is domiciliary care?
Domiciliary care is a form of home care that provides personal and nursing care to people in their own homes. It is usually for older people, people with disabilities, or those recovering from an illness or operation.
If you are thinking of starting a domiciliary care business, there are a few things you need to know. Firstly, you will need to register with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the body responsible for regulating care services in England. You will also need to have a clear business plan and show that you have the necessary skills and experience to provide care.
The benefits of domiciliary care
There are many benefits to starting a domiciliary care business. Perhaps the most obvious benefit is the potential to generate a high income. In addition, domiciliary care is a recession-proof industry; as more and more people enter retirement age, the demand for domiciliary care services will only continue to grow.
A successful domiciliary care business requires careful planning and execution, but it can be a highly profitable venture with the right tools in place. Here are some tips for starting a domiciliary care business:
- Do your research. Make sure you understand the industry and the needs of your target market.
- Create a business plan. This will help you to outline your goals and strategies
How to set up a domiciliary care business
Domiciliary care is a great way to help people in your community, and it can be gratifying.
The first step is to decide what services you want to offer. Do you want to provide basic personal care, or do you want to offer more specialised services like wound care or palliative care?
Next, you need to register your business with the appropriate authorities and get the necessary licenses and permits.
You will also need to find a location for your business and set up the necessary equipment and supplies.
Once you’ve decided, you can create a care plan that outlines the services you’ll provide, the hours of service and the rate per hour.
It is a legal requirement under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 to register your organisation and the individual who will be your Registered Manager. This may be you if you have the relevant qualifications and are not employing or entering into a partnership with someone to fulfil those requirements.
Before registering, you need to consider whether you have the relevant qualifications and experience to provide homecare and whether you have knowledge and understanding of applicable legislation.
- Health and Social Care Act 2008 and its associated regulations
- Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
There are several things to consider when setting up a domiciliary care business, such as the
- You need to apply for a CQC-countersigned DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check. Formerly known as a CRB check, the DBS ensures that you can lawfully work with vulnerable adults. This is the first action you must undertake and can take up to eight weeks to receive back. The DBS check needs to be carried out for the following
- Individuals registering to provide a care service
- All partners (if there are any)
- Registered Manager
How to market your domiciliary care business
When starting a domiciliary care business, it is essential to consider all of the necessary steps to make your business a success. One of the most important aspects of any business is marketing. To market your domiciliary care business, you will need to create a marketing plan and identify your target market.
Your marketing plan should include a mix of traditional and online marketing strategies. Traditional marketing strategies include advertising in local newspapers and local directories and distributing flyers and brochures in local businesses and community centres.
Online marketing strategies include creating a website for your business, setting up a Facebook page, and advertising your services on Google AdWords.
Business Startup Checklist
- Registration with the CQC, Care Inspectorate or CIW: Both your agency and the Registered Manager
- Setting up your business: Sole trader; Limited Company; Partnerships
- Insurance
- Tendering
- Recruitment, induction, and training
- Marketing
- Pay and VAT
- Disclosure Barring Service
- Company registration
- Funding – tendering, direct payments, cashflow
Home health care is a booming industry in the UK, but finding the right opportunity can be difficult. The first thing you need to do is ensure you have the qualifications to operate the business or have a plan to hire someone.
The next step is to understand your market and ensure you are offering services to your local community that are required.
The next step is to develop a solid business plan to submit to the CQC and raise funding. You can either use or business plan template to write your own business plan or we can help you write your business plan using our business plan writing service.