Can I still tender for healthcare contracts if I don’t have CQC accreditation in England? 

As a new care company, you might wonder if you can still tender for healthcare contracts in the UK without being registered or inspected by the CQC.

Here’s your short answer:

Yes, you can still tender healthcare contracts in England without having Care Quality Commission (CQC) accreditation, depending on the type of work you’re tendering for. However, if the work involves providing regulated activities related to health and social care services, you will likely need CQC registration to legally operate. You will find a list of the regulated services here.

None Regulated Services

If you’re tendering for healthcare contracts that don’t involve regulated activities (such as certain support services, administrative roles, or non-clinical services), you may not need CQC accreditation. In these cases, the requirements will depend on the specific tender and the buyer’s stipulations.

Those that require CQC Registration

For tenders that require CQC accreditation, not having it will disqualify you from the bidding process, or you may need to outline your plan to obtain it if awarded the contract. Always check the tender documentation for specific requirements.

So, what types of healthcare contracts require CQC accreditation?

CQC accreditation is required for bids that involve providing regulated activities in health and social care in England.

These regulated activities are defined by the Health and Social Care Act 2008, and if your bid involves any of the following, CQC registration is typically required:

1. Personal Care:

This includes providing assistance with personal hygiene, eating, dressing, and other personal activities.

2. Nursing Care:

Providing any form of nursing care, including care provided by registered nurses, whether in residential settings, people’s homes, or clinical environments.

3. Treatment of Disease, Disorder, or Injury:

This includes medical treatment provided by doctors, nurses, or other healthcare professionals, including mental health services.

4. Diagnostic and Screening Procedures:

Offering diagnostic tests or health screenings, such as X-rays, blood tests, or scans.

5. Maternity and Midwifery Services:

Providing care related to pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal care.

6. Surgical Procedures:

Carrying out any form of surgery, whether it’s minor or major.

7. Residential Accommodation for Persons Who Require Nursing or Personal Care:

Running care homes or other types of residential care facilities.

8. Services for People with Learning Disabilities, Autistic Spectrum Disorders, or Mental Health Conditions:

Providing care, treatment, or support services for people with these specific needs.

9. Transport Services, Triage, and Medical Advice Provided Remotely:

Ambulance services or providing medical advice through phone or online consultations.

10. Assistance with the Management of Medicine:

Supporting individuals with managing their medication, including administering or supervising medication.

If the bid you’re considering involves any of these activities, CQC accreditation is mandatory. Without it, you wouldn’t be legally permitted to provide the services associated with the bid.

For other types of work, such as providing administrative support, facilities management, or IT services to healthcare providers, CQC accreditation would not typically be required.

What kind of tenders for healthcare contracts don’t require a CQC registration?

Firstly, the best advice I can give you, is to read the bid in question. It will always state if CQC accreditation is needed. It will also state if they accept those who have started the registration process but have not yet been inspected. Always follow the ITT documents.

But, certain healthcare services and activities in England do not require CQC accreditation because they fall outside the scope of the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) regulated activities. These services often involve non-clinical support, education, or certain types of therapy that are not considered regulated activities under the Health and Social Care Act 2008. Examples include:

1. Counseling and Psychotherapy (Non-Medical):

CQC accreditation is generally not required if the service doesn’t involve medical treatment or diagnosis and the therapy isn’t part of a regulated mental health service.

2. Complementary and Alternative Therapies:

Services like acupuncture, reflexology, massage therapy, or yoga classes usually do not require CQC registration, provided they are not part of a broader medical treatment plan.

3. Health and Wellness Coaching:

Offering advice and guidance on lifestyle, fitness, nutrition, or general wellness does not typically require CQC accreditation, as long as it does not involve medical treatment or diagnosis.

4. Training and Educational Services:

Providing training or education for healthcare professionals or the general public, such as first aid courses or health education seminars, does not require CQC registration.

5. Support Services:

Services like cleaning, catering, IT support, or administrative work for healthcare organizations do not require CQC accreditation, as they do not involve direct care or treatment of patients.

6. Medical Device Sales and Maintenance:

Supplying or maintaining medical equipment or devices does not require CQC accreditation, unless the service involves clinical application or training on their use.

7. Pharmaceutical Sales (Not Dispensing or Clinical Advice):

Selling pharmaceuticals to healthcare providers or the public without providing clinical advice or dispensing medication does not require CQC accreditation.

8. Occupational Health Services:

Some occupational health services, particularly those focused on fitness for work assessments or general advice without medical treatment, may not require CQC registration.

9. Fitness and Rehabilitation Programs:

Programs like gym-based rehabilitation or fitness training, provided they are not part of a regulated healthcare service, do not need CQC accreditation.

10. Social Care Activities Outside of Regulated Services:

Activities that support well-being, such as day centers for the elderly or social clubs, where personal or nursing care is not provided, generally do not require CQC registration.

Verify with the CQC or consult legal guidance if you’re unsure whether a specific service requires accreditation, as nuances can arise depending on how the service is delivered and integrated with other care services.

So, can I tender for healthcare contracts if I have not yet been inspected or rated by the CQC?

Let the bidding documents guide you, and if you’re not sure, register with askabidwriter.com. They will assess the documents for you and guide you further.

You can still tender for healthcare contracts even if your CQC application hasn’t been rated yet. However, there are a few important considerations to keep in mind:

1. Disclosure:

When bidding for contracts, you must be transparent about your current CQC status. Clearly indicate that your application has been submitted and is pending assessment. Some commissioning bodies may request evidence of your application and may ask about your expected timeline for receiving a rating.

2. Risk Assessment by the Commissioner:

The organization offering the contract may assess the risk of awarding a contract to a provider without a CQC rating. They might consider factors such as your track record, experience, and the completeness of your CQC application.

3. Conditional Awards:

Some contracts may be awarded conditionally, meaning you might receive the contract contingent upon obtaining a satisfactory CQC rating. The contract may include clauses that allow the commissioner to terminate or review the contract if your rating does not meet certain standards.

4. Interim Arrangements:

In some cases, commissioners may allow you to start providing services under close supervision or with restrictions until your CQC rating is finalized.

5. Existing Infrastructure and Experience:

If you have a history of providing similar services (perhaps in another location), this can be a positive factor in the bidding process.

6. Proactive Communication:

Actively communicate with the commissioner throughout the bidding process to provide updates on your CQC application status. This can help build trust and demonstrate your commitment to compliance. However, you must communicate in strict accordance with the bidding instructions.

In conclusion, while it’s possible to tender for healthcare contracts without a CQC rating, success will depend on the specific requirements of the contract. Also considering, the risk tolerance of the commissioning body, and how you manage the communication of your CQC status.

Where can I find bids?

I would highly recommend Healthcare Tenders. This houses bids across the entire UK and includes bids that do and do not require a CQC rating. Healthcare Tenders is now powered by askabidwriter.com so the features you get for only £45+vat per month is truly amazing.

If you want more guidance from an experienced healthcare business consultant, let us at Safeguard Business Support help.