A Registered Manager’s perspective – Kirstie Parker, Chichester, Fareham & Worthing
Over the years in my career as a Registered Manager, I’ve had the privilege of supporting hundreds of individuals and families as they navigate one of the most important decisions they’ll ever make: who they trust to care for their loved ones. It’s a responsibility I never take lightly.
But time and time again, I see families turning to unregulated carers without fully understanding what that really means.
And I don’t blame them. When you’re desperate for help, when you need someone quickly, or when finances are tight, it can seem like a simple solution. A friendly neighbour. A friend-of-a-friend. Someone advertising privately online. Often lovely people, often well-meaning, and often completely unaware of the legal and safeguarding responsibilities that come with providing care.
But this isn’t just about the paperwork, it’s about protection, accountability, and safety.
What Does “Unregulated Care” Really Mean?
An unregulated carer operates outside the oversight of the Care Quality Commission (CQC). There is no governing body ensuring standards are met, risks are managed, or safeguarding processes are followed.
In practice, this often means there is:
- No guaranteed DBS checking
- No mandatory safeguarding training
- No formal supervision or accountability
- No policies or reporting structures
- No complaints process or escalation pathway
- No insurance cover
- No clinical governance
- No requirement for training in medication, moving and handling, infection control, or dementia care
Families are often surprised to learn that none of this is legally required for someone offering care privately.
Why This Matters to Me as a Registered Manager
My job isn’t just to run a service, it’s to protect people, to reassure families, and to be accountable, transparent, and honest in everything we do.
When a family chooses a regulated care provider, they are choosing a service where:
- A named Registered Manager is accountable
- Carers are trained, DBS-checked, assessed, and supervised
- Safeguarding procedures are robust and followed
- Care is regularly reviewed and adapted as needs change
- There is insurance, oversight, and external scrutiny
If something goes wrong, there is a clear process. If concerns are raised, they are acted upon. If a person’s needs increase, care is reassessed and adjusted accordingly.
Unregulated care simply cannot offer this level of protection or reassurance.
The Hidden Reality of Hiring an Unregulated Carer
Many families don’t realise that choosing an unregulated carer makes them an employer, with all the legal and practical responsibilities that come with that role.
This can include:
- Managing pay, holidays, sick leave, and National Insurance
- Ensuring appropriate insurance is in place if a carer is injured
- Making sure the carer is insured for damage to property or equipment
- Managing performance and addressing concerns
- Arranging and funding additional training if care needs change
When care becomes more complex, families can suddenly find themselves unsupported, exposed, and unsure where to turn.
When the Risks Become Reality
Live-in Care Manager Amanda commented “I have seen the impact of these risks far too often.”
In one situation, a family contacted us in distress because the unregulated carer supporting their loved one was going away for several weeks, with no contingency plan in place. As enquiries progressed, more serious concerns were identified. The carer was charging a high weekly rate while leaving the individual alone for long periods to care for another private client. Care tasks were not being delivered as agreed, and boundaries had become blurred.
Further investigation revealed financial concerns relating to the care arrangement. Alongside this, poor standards of care were identified, including the incorrect use of equipment, failure to follow professional advice, and personal care needs not being adequately met, leaving the individual uncomfortable and at risk.
Once the unregulated arrangement ended, we were able to step in with a trained team, involve trusted healthcare professionals, and provide safe, appropriate, and dignified care.
Sadly, this is not an isolated experience.
Why Regulated Care Offers More Than Just a Service
Families understandably focus on cost, and I appreciate how significant that consideration can be. Regulated care may appear more expensive on the surface, but it offers something far more valuable: reliability, continuity, and peace of mind.
People get ill. Plans change. Emergencies happen. In regulated services, there are systems in place to ensure care continues safely and consistently, regardless of circumstances.
Care isn’t just about tasks. It’s about trust. It’s about knowing that someone is accountable, that standards are monitored, and that there is always a plan when things don’t go as expected.
Why I Will Always Advocate for Regulated Care
As a Registered Manager, I take my responsibility seriously because the consequences of getting it wrong are too great. Unregulated care may seem like a quick or cost-effective solution, but without oversight, accountability, and safeguards, the risks can be profound.
Choosing regulated care means choosing protection, professionalism, and reassurance. It means knowing that care is not dependent on one individual, but supported by systems, training, and accountability.
And that is why regulated care matters, not just to me as a professional, but to every person and family who deserves safe, dignified, and compassionate care.