Registration

All designated centres for older people, including all public, private and voluntary centres must be registered with the Authority.

Registration confirms publicly and openly that, as a registered provider of residential services, you are fit and legally permitted to provide that service. Registered providers are legally responsible and will be held accountable for any faults with the services.

Services will only be allowed to operate if they are registered by the Authority’s Social Services Inspectorate and they will be inspected regularly to ensure they maintain a high level of care.

The Register

When designated centres for older people are registered under the Health Act 2007, their details are added to the appropriate register. There are two registers provided for under the relevant regulations.

Registering a designated centre - the documents you will need

Under Section 48 of the Act, any person seeking to register or renew the registration of a designated centre must:

  • make an application to the chief inspector of social services;
  • include with the application all prescribed information and any other information which the chief inspector reasonably requires;
  • include the prescribed application fee.

How to Apply

There are a number of forms, available below, that you need to fill in. Use our checklist as a guide.

  • forms for new centres applying for first time registration
  • forms for existing designated centres applying for registration renewal
  • forms that apply to centres that are new and that are applying for renewal.

Existing centres

If you are an existing designated centre you must apply for renewal within six months of the expiry date of your existing registration.

Download registration forms for:

New centres

If you are applying for the first time, you must notify the Authority of your intention to open a new centre in writing at least six months before you are ready to operate.

Registration forms for:

Forms for both new and existing centres:

Whatever the type of centre, you need to submit the following;

Fees

A registration fee of €500 is payable directly to the Authority by the provider. This fee must be paid in full before an application is deemed complete. Details on how to pay this fee are available at the end of your application form.

The fee to accompany an application to vary or remove conditions of registration, in accordance with section 52(3) of the Health Act 2007 is €500 for the major variation or removal of a condition and €100 for the minor variation or removal of a condition. The fee will be determined on receipt of the application to vary or remove conditions of registration.

Garda vetting

Garda vetting application forms are mailed separately to the provider. As it can take time to process Garda Vetting forms providers are urged to complete and return as soon as possible in order for the Registration Office to check that they are completed accurately, forward to the Garda Vetting Office, and await return.

Submitting your documentation

Within eight weeks of receipt of the written notice providers must:

  • complete and return the application form and other forms in full and return
  • complete and return the Fit-person Entry Programme self-assessment
  • arrange payment of the registration application fee.

The Application Form and the Fit Person Entry Programme Self-assessment should be completed and returned electronically to registrationapplications@hiqa.ie. A signed hard-copy of all documentation should also be returned to the Registration Office at the Health Information and Quality Authority, Unit 1301, City Gate, Mahon, Cork.

Conditions of Registration

Under Section 50 (2) of the Health Act, we may attach conditions to your registration. These conditions govern each centre’s operation during the following registration period.  Failing to comply with these conditions are grounds for cancellation of your registration.

Applying to Vary or Remove Conditions of Registration

In certain situations, a provider may apply to vary or remove a condition of registration (such as the maximum number of residents) under Section 52 of the Health Act. We may grant this application if satisfied that the variation or removal of the condition is:

(a) appropriate in the circumstances, and

(b) will not adversely affect the persons who are resident in the designated centre, and if not so satisfied shall refuse the application.

Download an application to vary or remove conditions of registration form.

Fit-person Entry Programme

As a registered provider of residential services, you must be considered legally ‘fit’ to manage the designated centre. The Fit-person Entry Programme is a tool to help you to assess your fitness to provide a service and must be completed as part of the registration process. It has defined learning outcomes and activities and is designed to be used without the need for any specialist training or additional resources.

More information

Other documents that may be of interest:

  • frequently asked questions
  • the Health Act 2007, as amended
  • the Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations 2009 (as amended), and
  • the Health Act 2007 (Registration of Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations 2009.

Contact us

For more information, contact our registration office by email at registrationapplications@hiqa.ie or by phone at (021) 240 9340.