Independent home-care certification · Pilot draft
Familiar Carers & Local Rounds
Familiar carers. Local rounds.
Recognising domiciliary care providers that build stable care teams and plan care closer to home. Two graded areas. Three clearly stated levels of verification.
What a domiciliary care provider is assessed on
Local Rounds
Defined neighbourhood zones, realistic round planning, less travel and fairly paid travel time. Seven criteria, T1–T7, form the travel grade.
Familiar Carers
Named core teams, introductions, dependable cover and people's choice. Seven criteria, C1–C7, form the continuity grade.
Each area is graded from 1 to 5. The verification level tells you how those grades were established.
Three levels. No blurred distinctions.
The domiciliary care provider assesses all criteria and makes a signed commitment. Grades are self-assessed.
The domiciliary care provider supplies visit data and evidence for data checks. Grades remain self-assessed.
The scheme's independent audit arm reviews evidence and practice before an independent decision. Grades are audited.
For domiciliary care providers in England
Each domiciliary care provider is certified as one CQC-registered location. Live-in care and care homes are outside this scheme's scope.
Taking part does not require buying or using any Social Care Services product.
The certification journey
- 1Sign up your domiciliary care provider
- 2Self-assess all 14 criteria
- 3Declare Level 1 — Committed
- 4Upload visit data for Level 2 — Evidenced
- 5Apply for an independent Level 3 audit
An independent standard, not a new legal duty
DHSC's announcement of 12 November 2026 encourages councils to commission home care in smaller neighbourhoods. It does not create a legal duty on providers. Guidance and toolkits are expected in the spring; these pilot criteria will be re-mapped when that guidance is published.