Applying for a permit for care services

The requirements for the permit of an outpatient care service are as follows:

• You must be permanently in the position to guarantee sufficient and equal care of persons in need.
• Your care and domestic assistance must comply with the required quality. This is set out in the PflegeVG and the contractual framework agreements.
• Your care service must work economically.
• Your care service must be under the constant responsibility of a qualified specialist carer.
  For recognition as a responsible carer, the following is required:
  • Completion of an apprenticeship as a health assistant and nurse, health assistant and child nurse, old age carer, state recognised curative education therapist, provided the services of the care institution are provided for disabled persons in need of care.
  • Within the last eight years, at least two years of full time work in one of the named professions, of which usually at least one year is in outpatient care.
  • If your responsible care worker does not possess the necessary further training, they can obtain this qualification within a transitional deadline of seven years following conclusion of the agreement. In addition, it is possible to obtain approval exceptions. These must be applied for on a case-by-case basis. As the owner of a care service, you can also be a responsible specialist carer yourself, if you fulfil the requirements.
• You must ensure that the responsible specialist carer is replaced by another in case of absence (for example illness, holiday). In addition, your care service must employ other suitable persons. As an example, this includes
  • State recognised family carers
  • Carers of old age persons
  • Health care assistants
  • Home and family health care assistants
  • Housekeepers
• The service guarantee of the care insurance companies provides for further requirements for the organisation and duty of your care service. Amongst others, these are:
  • Organisation:
    • Your care service must guarantee care of a wide range of persons in need in your area
    • In accordance with individual care requirements, your care service must be able to be provided day and night, including on Sundays and national holidays.
    • Your care service must have its own business premises and be constantly reachable. Private apartments are not suitable for setting up a care service under any circumstances.
    • You must employ a care team of at least four employees.
    • In addition, you must demonstrate sufficient professional indemnity insurance.
  • Services offered:
    Your services offered must be submitted to the contract department of the care insurance companies for agreement and approval. Here, you should provide the care insurance companies with the following information:
    • Your intended services offered
    • The way in which the services will be provided
    • Your care concept
    • The personal facility of your care service
    • The availability and accessibility of your care service
    • Ways in which you co-operate with other services
    • Your acceptance of advice functions
    • Your participation in quality assurance measures