What's a location?
For registration purposes the term ‘location’ is different from the common usage. It’s a complex concept so providers should read our full guidance carefully before deciding how to register.
In simple terms, a location is a place at or from which health and social care services are provided or managed. On your certificate of registration, locations are listed as a condition of registration.
A place where you provide services is classed as a separate location only if the services provided there are managed independently from those at other locations.
For example ...
A single GP practice, in most cases, is classed as a location.
The number of locations for a GP practice with a branch surgery depends on how they’re managed. If the branch surgery is managed separately (e.g. if it has its own patient list) it should be registered as a separate location.
A separate walk-in centre or GP-led health centre is generally classed as a location if it’s a place where regulated activities are permanently provided.
A community hall where a surgery is held, but which is not usually set up for that purpose, is not a separate location. Nor is a care home or a prison where outreach or visiting services are provided. Rather, the location from where you manage the regulated activities you provide during such visits should be included as a location.
Read the full guidance
See our full guidance in 'What is a 'location'?'.
What do you want to know?
- What's a provider?
- What's a regulated activity?
- What's a location?
- What are the essential standards?
- What's a registered manager?
- What's a nominated individual?
- What are the regulations?
- What’s a condition of registration?
- What's a statutory notification?
- What's an address for service?
- Which events and incidents do you need to report?
- What's a statement of purpose?
- What’s a CQC-DBS number?