What is a Nominated Individual in CQC?
The Nominated Individual is one of the most important but least understood roles in CQC registration. They carry significant legal responsibility — yet many providers are unclear about exactly what the role involves, how it differs from a Registered Manager, and what CQC expects at inspection.
What is a Nominated Individual?
A Nominated Individual (NI) is a person registered with CQC who is responsible for supervising the management of a regulated activity on behalf of a provider organisation. They are required under Regulation 6 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.
In simple terms, the NI is the organisation's accountable person to CQC. When CQC has concerns about a provider, the NI is often the person they contact first. When enforcement action is taken against an organisation, the NI may be personally named.
Only provider organisations need a Nominated Individual — sole traders do not, as they are personally accountable. If your care business is run as a limited company, partnership, or other organisation, you need an NI.
Nominated Individual vs Registered Manager
These two roles are often confused — and sometimes held by the same person. Here's how they differ:
👤 Nominated Individual
- Represents the provider organisation
- Must be a director, manager, or secretary
- Responsible for quality oversight at board level
- CQC's main contact for compliance issues
- Not required to be present day-to-day
- Can cover multiple locations
👔 Registered Manager
- Represents an individual location
- Can be any suitably qualified person
- Responsible for day-to-day management
- Required to be actively involved in the service
- Must be present and accessible
- One per registered location
One person can hold both roles — this is common in smaller providers where the owner/director also manages the service. In larger organisations, the roles are usually held by different people. See our full guide to Registered Manager responsibilities for how that role compares in depth.
Legal Responsibilities of the Nominated Individual
The NI's responsibilities are set out in Regulation 6 and cover:
Supervising management of the regulated activity
The NI must actively oversee the quality of care, not just sit on a board. CQC expects the NI to have a genuine understanding of what is happening in the service and to be taking action where improvement is needed.
Ensuring the provider meets its legal obligations
The NI is responsible for ensuring the provider complies with all relevant regulations — including safe care, staffing, governance, notifications, and the fundamental standards.
Being the point of contact for CQC
CQC will contact the NI regarding registration changes, compliance concerns, enforcement action, and inspection findings. The NI must be accessible and responsive.
Fit and proper person requirements
The NI must meet the fit and proper person requirements — no relevant criminal convictions, not on any barred list, and of good character. CQC checks this at registration and can re-check at any time.
Unlike being a company director in most contexts, the NI role carries genuine personal liability. CQC can take enforcement action against the NI personally — including cancelling their registration — separately from any action taken against the provider organisation.
What CQC Expects at Inspection
During a Well-led inspection, CQC will often want to speak with the Nominated Individual. They will assess:
- Whether the NI has a clear understanding of the service's quality and risk profile
- Whether the NI receives meaningful data and acts on it
- Whether the NI is accessible to staff, service users, and families
- Whether governance systems give the NI real visibility of what is happening
- Whether the NI can evidence their involvement in quality improvement
If you are the NI, be ready to talk about specific examples — a recent incident you were aware of, an action plan you oversaw, a change you made based on audit findings. Vague answers about "monitoring quality" won't satisfy an inspector.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the Nominated Individual be based remotely?
Yes — the NI doesn't need to be on-site day to day. But they must be genuinely accessible and actively involved in oversight. Being a distant figurehead who never visits or engages with the service would not meet CQC's expectations.
What happens if the Nominated Individual leaves?
You must notify CQC within 28 days of any change to your NI. A new NI must be registered before the previous one leaves, or you risk a gap in registration which is a breach of regulations.
Can one person be the NI for multiple providers?
Yes — there is no legal limit on the number of provider registrations one person can be NI for. However, CQC will assess whether the person has sufficient capacity to fulfil their responsibilities across all roles.
Does the Nominated Individual need a DBS check?
Yes — an enhanced DBS certificate is required as part of the CQC registration process for the NI. It must be no more than 3 months old at the time of application.
What qualifications does a Nominated Individual need?
There are no specific mandatory qualifications for an NI, but CQC will assess their skills, knowledge, and experience. They must be able to demonstrate they have the competence to oversee care quality — which typically means relevant experience in health or social care management.
Practical Tips for Nominated Individuals
- Keep a record of your oversight activities — visits, meetings, reports reviewed
- Ensure you receive regular governance reports from your Registered Manager
- Know your key compliance metrics — occupancy, incidents, complaints, staffing
- Have a clear process for escalation from the RM to you
- Stay up to date with CQC guidance and regulatory changes
- Ensure CQC always has your current contact details
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