Rules, regulations and personnel
It will come as no surprise that providing care for a vulnerable group such as the elderly is highly regulated.
Personnel
As a care home owner, you will have to be registered as a care provider. “People have to prove that they have the relevant experience, aptitude and business skills to run a residential care property,” says Long. The National Care Standards Commission interviews everyone who applies for registration and also visits the premises.
As well as a registered owner, every care home must also have a registered care manager. You can register yourself as the manager if you have at least two years’ experience in senior care management plus an NVQ level four in care and management. Otherwise, you will have to employ somebody else, which can cost £20,000-£30,000 per year.
At least 50% of the care staff must be trained to NVQ level two, which can make finding staff a major problem when running a care home. You may need to offer wage incentives in order to attract the right calibre.