How to Become a Registered Care Manager

A registered care home manager is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of a care service, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, and maintaining high-quality care for service users. Whether it's working in homecare, domiciliary care or residential care, a registered care manager must be competent in leadership, staff management, financial oversight and regulatory compliance.

To work as a registered manager in care, you must be registered with your national regulatory authority e.g. for England, this is the Care Quality Commission or CQC, for Scotland it’s the Care Inspectorate, for Wales this is the Care Inspectorate Wales and for Northern Ireland, it’s the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA). Your qualifications and experience will determine how eligible you are when it comes to registering with these bodies.

Becoming a registered care manager involves formal qualifications, relevant experience and ongoing professional development. Below, we have outlined the key steps to help you succeed if you are thinking about following this career path.

1.     Obtain the Necessary Qualifications

To become a registered care manager, you will need to complete a registered care manager qualification, which varies depending on your location in the UK: 

• England – The primary care qualification is the ‘Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management in Adult Care.’ This is a mandatory course recognised by the CQC. This qualification replaces the ‘Registered Managers Award’ and is considered equivalent to a one-year master’s course.
• Scotland – Registered managers need a relevant care practitioner qualification and a management qualification recognised by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) e.g. HNC in Social Services, SVQ Social Services and Healthcare SCQF Level 9 or Practice awards in the supervisor manager category.
• Wales – The key qualifications include ‘City and Guilds Level 4 Preparing for Leadership and Management in Health and Social Care’ and ‘City and Guilds Level 5 Leadership and Management of Health and Social Care: Practice.’ Other qualifications may be accepted if you’re currently enrolled in a Level 5 program.
• Northern Ireland – You must be able to register with RQIA or NISCC with either a ‘QCF Level 5 in Health and Social Care Management’ or an ‘S/NVQ Level 5 in Health and Social Care.’ Some roles may require you to be a qualified social worker or registered nurse. 
  

2.     Gain Relevant Work Experience

Practical experience is crucial before stepping into a managerial role. Most registered care managers progress from junior roles, including care assistants, senior care workers and deputy managers. Working your way up helps to develop essential skills such as leadership, team management and knowledge in regulatory compliance. Manager registered managers have several years of experience before they move into management roles.

3.     Develop Key Skills

To succeed as a registered care manager, you must refine several key skills and abilities, including:

• Strong leadership skills – To inspire and support your team.
• Ability to work under pressure – To handle stressful situations effectively.  
• Excellent communication skills – To engage with staff, regulators and care recipients.  
• Strategic thinking – To plan and adapt to changes in the care sector.
• Organisational and project management skills – To oversee care operations efficiently.
• Good numeracy and digital literacy – Essential for compliance and record-keeping. 
  

Another important skill that is working its way onto the list above is digital skills. During the changes the CQC went through, their aim was for 80% of registered providers to have digital social care records by March 2024. However, they did not achieve this goal, so the Department of Health and Social Care extended the deadline to March 2025 to allow more providers time and support to transition to digital records.

According to the Government website, as of October 2024, the adoption rate had risen to 74.7% from the 63% recorded in February 2024. Due to these plans and figures, developing digital skills will really help to prepare you for the future of care management.

4.     Register with your National Regulator

Once you have obtained the necessary registered care manager qualifications and experience, you must register with the appropriate regulatory authority. The application process includes providing evidence of qualifications and experience, submitting documentation outlining how you will manage the care service, and a demonstration of understanding regulations and best practices.

5.     Apply for Registered Care Manager Jobs

After becoming qualified and registered, the next step is to start applying for registered care manager jobs. Many managers will find opportunities within their existing care organisations, while others may prefer to explore new positions in different care settings.

Understanding how to become a registered care home manager and progressing down that career path will lead to a rewarding career with numerous benefits, including:

• Career advancement – A step into senior management within the health and social care sector.
• Higher earning potential – Working your way up leads to increased salary opportunities.
• Professional development – You will be continuously learning and upskilling.
• Job satisfaction – Whether it’s care recipients or your employees, you will make a meaningful impact on people’s lives. 
  

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Even after securing a registered care manager position, ongoing professional development is essential. You should make an effort to stay updated with changes in regulations, join registered manager networks and attend training sessions and industry events. Not only will this improve your relationship with work, but it will also make you a fantastic registered manager to follow and look up to.

One of the best ways to stay on top of CPD is through a highly rated eLearning platform. Here at The Access Group, we have tailored eLearning solutions designed for registered managers to ensure they stay compliant and enhance their leadership and management skills from the comfort of anywhere, at a time that suits them. You can learn more about our eLearning for Health and Social Care here.

Becoming a registered care manager requires dedication, training and a commitment to continuous learning. By obtaining the right qualifications, gaining hands-on experience and developing essential skills, you can advance your career and make a lasting impact in the care industry.

Whether you’re just starting or looking to enhance your managerial skills, we at The Access Group can help support your professional growth and help you stay compliant with industry regulations. We aim to work in partnership with you to deliver technology that adapts to you, so you don’t have to ever worry about outgrowing your solutions and have the freedom to do more.

Investing in a digital learning platform as a registered manager in care can be invaluable. Our eLearning for Health and Social Care software offers:

• Bespoke skills for care-endorsed content – Designed specifically for care professionals.  
• Flexible learning options – You can access courses anytime, anywhere.
• Cost-effective training – Reduces the need for expensive classroom-based learning.
• Compliance and quality assurance – Ensuring you and your team meet the latest standards. 

If you want to streamline your training and improve compliance, take the next step and invest in your future as a registered care manager by getting in touch to discuss our eLearning platform, or to book a demo with one of our friendly consultants.