While waiting for the CQC to respond to your application this will be an ideal opportunity to summarise and have a better idea of your policies. You do not need to focus on memorising as the CCQ inspector can doubt your understanding and competency when you act like a robot. Thy can in this case counter your strategy with scenarios.

Work on a strategy of using examples to showcase your experience, knowledge and understanding of the questions. When giving examples do not be too clever and give parables.

Provide direct meaning-full examples which leaves no doubt you know what is being asked. Reading should be kept at a minimum. The inspectors are well trained and can sense you are reading.

While waiting for your interview you might consider participating in network activities. There are a number of care roadshows or specific events for different conditions such as autism, learning disability and mental health.

Make sure you mix the opportunities to maximise your exposure and gain valuable information and contacts. Not all networking opportunities require payment.

If you have focused on only the policies for registration, this is the time to ensure you have other policies that will define your operations for example how you will carry out assessments of needs and reviews.

Your inspector might request these policies and procedures before the interview. Ensure you have all documents and paperwork, including templates for care plans. If you are going electronic, this might be the time to research on all the packages out there.

If you have not yet established your online presence ensure you do. Your website will be a good vehicle to recruit, share information and market your services. It normally takes about three months for your site to fully appear in the search engines. Your website should be fully optimised. You can also create marketing resources such as leaflets or posters to build on your brand identity. You can also sign on tender websites and other valuable portals.

Ensure you have the health and safety poster to display within your work place. You should also register with the Information Commissioner.

Ensure you have up to date mandatory training. Ensure your safeguarding lead has at least a Level 3 in safeguarding. The medication and infection control leads should have appropriate qualifications to reflect the level of responsibility.

If you have not already done so you can consider offering other unregulated services such as shopping, cleaning, companionship and befriending. This will allow you to start having some income and will be a good base to grow your business as care hours cab take long to come by. The idea is to put yourself in a position to grow your business. Achieving cqc registration should just be a bolt on to a range of services you can potentially offer. This strategy might help you not to be too frustrated if care contracts take a while to mature.