Care Home Licensing Reference Manual - Standards, Procedures, and Regulatory Requirements - 2026 V.1.3

Oct 23, 2026

Care Home Licensing Reference Manual sets out licensing standards, procedures, and regulatory requirements for residential care homes and nursing homes under Bermuda’s governing legislation. It defines the full process for a new care home licence, including screening stages such as declaration and operator screening, submission requirements, review steps, public notice, environmental health assessment, and “fit and proper” evaluation. It also details application review items, including fees, online submissions, leadership and staffing documentation, medical oversight information, and core policies required for operations, admissions, medication, abuse prevention, and incident reporting.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages23

Reading Time58 min

AccessFree to download

Legislation

Residential Care Homes and Nursing Homes Act 1999

Residential Care Home and Nursing Homes Regulations 2001

Care Home Code of Practice

Bermuda Health Council (Health Service Providers) (Licensing) Regulations 2024

Procedure: New Care Home Licence

Stage 1 – Screening

Stage 2: Application Review

Application Fee

Required Application Details

Applicant Name

Description of Services

Staffing and Medical Oversight

Operations

Policies and Procedures

CARE HOME LICENSING REFERENCE MANUAL Standards, Procedures, and Regulatory Requirements Under the Residential Care Homes and Nursing Homes Act 1999 and the Residential Care Homes and Nursing Homes Regulations 2001 2026 V. 1.3. Contact us If you would like any further information about the Bermuda Health Council, or if you would like to bring a health system matter to our attention, we look forward to hearing from you. Mailing Address PO Box HM 3381 Hamilton HM PX Bermuda Street Address Sterling House, 1st Floor 16 Wesley Street Hamilton HM11 Bermuda Phone: +1 (441) 292-6420 Fax: +1 (441) 292-8067 Email: [contactus@healthcouncil.bm](contactus@healthcouncil.bm) [Website:](Website: www.healthcouncil.bm)[ ](Website: www.healthcouncil.bm)[www.healthcouncil.bm](Website: www.healthcouncil.bm) Published by Bermuda Health Council Updated: September 2026 Copyright © 2026 Bermuda Health Council LEGISLATION 1.1 Residential Care Homes and Nursing Homes Act 1999 (the Act) 1.2 Residential Care Home and Nursing Homes Regulations 2001 (the Regulations) 1.3 Care Home Code of Practice (the Code) 1.4 Bermuda Health Council (Health Service Providers) (Licensing) Regulations 2024 (HSP Regulations) PROCEDURE: NEW CARE HOME LICENCE Opening a care home is a big responsibility and an important service to the community. The process is designed to ensure homes meet high standards for safety, care, and professionalism. There are four key stages in getting licensed: Screening, Application review, Final review, and Licence distribution. Stage 1 – Screening The screening process includes the Declaration of Interest and Operator Screening, where the potential owner is assessed for character and preliminary plans for the home are reviewed. Submit a Declaration of Interest and Operator Screening form via the online submission platform. Documents Needed: • Your proposed care home name and address • The number of residents you plan to accommodate • Contact info and resumes for the owner(s) • ID and criminal background checks • Signed compliance agreement • Business plan with financial projections • Building plans (if available) Screening Review 1. Receipt of application: A Health Council officer will review your submission to ensure everything is complete. You’ll be contacted by email with either: a. Confirmation that everything is in order, or b. A request for missing documents or updates 2. Public Notice and Feedback: A notice will be published in the Government Gazette. The public has seven days to raise any concerns after publishing. If concerns are raised, they are reviewed and may affect whether your application moves forward. Objections are based on the operator’s qualifications, not the building. 3. Environmental Health Review: The applicant should schedule an Environmental Health assessment. This will help determine: a. How many people the proposed location can safely house b. What updates (if any) are needed before opening at that location 4. Final Step of Screening: The qualifications of an operator are evaluated using “fit and proper” standards. If approved, you’ll receive confirmation electronically, and the applicant can move to the next stage. Screening and Approval last for 12 months, and applicants may be denied if they do not meet the application requirements, includingthe background check. Note: Business plans may need to be adjusted if the approved number of beds differs from the original plan. This should be completed prior to final screening and approval. Stage 2: Application Review Application Fee A fee of $300 is due before the application is reviewed. The Council will send an invoice once the complete application is received. Submit an online application This step includes the submission of the formal Care Home Application. It should be completed after the applicant has found a suitable location. Applications are submitted via the onl

FAQs

What are the four key stages for obtaining a new care home licence?

The process has four key stages: Screening, Application review, Final review, and Licence distribution.

What documents are required during Stage 1 screening?

Applicants submit a Declaration of Interest and Operator Screening form, along with items such as the proposed care home name and address, resident capacity, contact information and resumes, ID and criminal background checks, a signed compliance agreement, a business plan with financial projections, and building plans if available.

What information must be included with the formal Care Home Application?

The formal application includes leadership, staff, and medical oversight information, updated business and building plans, a Statement of Purpose and Service Guide, copies of draft policies and staff procedures, plus detailed documents covering applicant identity, staffing records, organizational information, and required operational policies.

Oct 23, 2026

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