CQC Nominated Individual Responsibilities Explained

For an organisational provider, the nominated individual represents the organisation in supervising the management of the regulated activity. The role should not be treated as a name added to an application; it requires authority, knowledge and continuing oversight.

The nominated individual and registered manager may work closely, but their responsibilities are not identical. The registered manager is in day-to-day charge of the regulated activity, while the nominated individual supervises management on behalf of the provider organisation.

The legal purpose of the role

Regulation 6 applies where the service provider is a body other than a partnership. It requires the body to notify CQC of a nominated individual who is employed as a director, manager or secretary and is responsible for supervising management of the regulated activity.

• Represent the provider organisation in relation to regulated activities.
• Maintain effective oversight without replacing day-to-day management.
• Ensure concerns and performance information reach the provider's decision-makers.
• Support timely action when systems, leadership or care fall below expectations.

Fitness and capability requirements

• Be of good character and act with honesty, reliability and respect.
• Have the qualifications, competence, skills and experience needed to supervise management.
• Understand applicable care legislation, CQC regulations, guidance and consequences of inaction.
• Be able to perform the intrinsic tasks of the role with reasonable adjustments where needed.
• Make required suitability information available to the provider or CQC.

What effective oversight looks like

• Receive reliable information on safeguarding, incidents, complaints, staffing and medicines.
• Review audit results, quality indicators, feedback and action-plan completion.
• Meet registered managers regularly and record challenge, decisions and escalation.
• Confirm adequate resources, competent leaders and workable policies are in place.
• Test whether board-level assurances match frontline practice and people's experiences.
• Escalate serious risks and ensure statutory notifications or duty-of-candour actions are considered.

Nominated individual and registered manager

The registered manager shares legal responsibility with the provider for how the regulated activity is managed day to day. The nominated individual provides organisational oversight and should make sure the manager is supported, challenged and able to escalate matters to the provider.

• Write clear role descriptions and delegated authorities.
• Agree which risks and events must be escalated and within what timescale.
• Avoid leaving the registered manager accountable without adequate resources or access to decision-makers.
• Avoid the nominated individual taking over routine management while lacking visibility of strategic risks.

Prepare for a CQC nominated individual discussion

1. 1Know the legal provider, regulated activities, locations and registration conditions.
2. 2Understand the proposed client groups, service risks and leadership structure.
3. 3Be ready to explain how governance information will reach you and be tested.
4. 4Use examples of how you would challenge, resource and monitor corrective action.
5. 5Review the statement of purpose, business plan, organisational chart and key policies together.
6. 6Explain how you will maintain competence and keep CQC information current after registration.