Lycali and Our Journey Towards CQC Registration - What this means for the future of our Kent service
At Lycali, our work has always been guided by one core principle: people deserve thoughtful, ethical, and genuinely neuro-affirming care. As our service grows, we want to ensure that the way we work is not only compassionate and effective, but also robust, transparent, and accountable.
That’s why we’re currently in the process of registering with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
What is CQC registration?
The CQC is the independent regulator of health and social care services in England. Registration involves a detailed review of how a service operates, including:
Clinical governance and decision-making
Safeguarding and risk management
Data protection and confidentiality
Staff training, supervision, and professional standards
How people using the service are supported, informed, and listened to
CQC registration isn’t just a tick-box exercise. It’s about demonstrating that a service is safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led.
Why we’re choosing to register
Many independent neurodevelopmental services operate without CQC registration. While this is currently permitted in some contexts, at Lycali we’ve made a conscious decision to take the more rigorous route.
We see CQC registration as a natural next step in the development of our service.
It reflects our commitment to:
High clinical standards
Clear governance and accountability
Continuous learning and improvement
Transparency for clients, families, and commissioners
Most importantly, it aligns with our values. Neuro-affirming care should still be safe, ethical, and well-governed.
What this means for clients and families
For the people who use our service, CQC registration means added reassurance.
It means:
Clear policies around safeguarding, consent, and confidentiality
Robust systems for managing risk and quality
Structured clinical oversight and multidisciplinary working
A service that is externally regulated and reviewed
Our approach to assessment and support remains exactly the same: collaborative, respectful, and centred on understanding the individual rather than pathologising difference.
What this means for the future of Lycali
CQC registration also opens the door to wider opportunities.
Once registered, Lycali will be able to:
Expand NHS and Right to Choose partnership work
Deliver commissioned services with integrated care systems (ICSs)
Grow our multidisciplinary team in a sustainable way
Continue developing innovative, neuro-affirming pathways that sit comfortably within regulated healthcare frameworks
This step supports our long-term vision: building a service that combines warmth, expertise, and humanity with strong clinical governance and long-term sustainability.
Where we are now
We are currently in the formal registration process and are working carefully through each stage. This includes refining policies, strengthening systems, and ensuring everything we do is fully aligned with both regulatory requirements and our own values.
We’ll share updates as we move forward.
In the meantime, our commitment remains unchanged: to provide thoughtful, respectful, and high-quality support for neurodivergent children, young people, and adults.
If you’d like to know more about our services or what CQC registration means in practice, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.