Last updated: November 2026 · Written by Laxmi Hanji, dental compliance consultant
The statement of purpose is one of the shortest documents a dental practice sends to the CQC, and one of the easiest to get wrong. It tells the CQC who you are, what you do and where you do it. It is a legal requirement, it forms part of your registration, and it has to be kept up to date for as long as you are registered.
Below we cover exactly what a dental practice statement of purpose must contain, when you have to update it, and a worked example you can adapt.
What the law requires
The requirement comes from Regulation 12 of the Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009. It says the registered person must:
- Give the CQC a statement of purpose containing the information listed in Schedule 3 of the Regulations.
- Keep it under review and revise it where appropriate.
- Send the CQC written details of any revision within 28 days of making it.
The five things a dental practice statement of purpose must include
Schedule 3 lists the required content. In plain terms:
| Required information | What this means for a dental practice |
|---|---|
| 1. Aims and objectives | What the practice sets out to achieve for patients, in your own words |
| 2. Kinds of services and the needs they meet | General, preventive, restorative, cosmetic, implant, orthodontic or sedation services, NHS or private, and the patient groups you treat, such as adults and children |
| 3. Contact details | Full name, business address, phone number and email for the provider and the registered manager, plus the address the CQC should use for formal notices |
| 4. Legal status | Individual, partnership or organisation, such as a limited company |
| 5. Locations | Every address where you carry out regulated activities |
The CQC’s application forms also ask you to set out the regulated activities you carry on. For most dental practices these are treatment of disease, disorder or injury, diagnostic and screening procedures, and surgical procedures.
A worked example
The example below is for an imaginary practice. Use it as a structure, not as wording to copy. A statement of purpose needs to describe your practice accurately, and template wording is easy to spot.
Part 1: Provider
Name: Example Smiles Dental Ltd
Legal status: Organisation (private limited company)
Business address: 1 High Street, Anytown, AB1 2CD
Telephone: 01632 960123 · Email: info@example.com
Nominated individual: Dr Jane Smith
Part 2: Aims and objectives
To provide safe, high-quality general and preventive dental care for adults and children, to involve patients in decisions about their treatment, and to make our services accessible to people with additional needs.
Part 3: Location and services
Location: Example Smiles Dental, 1 High Street, Anytown, AB1 2CD
Regulated activities: Treatment of disease, disorder or injury; diagnostic and screening procedures; surgical procedures
Services: NHS and private general dentistry, hygiene, extractions, root canal treatment, crowns and bridges, dentures and tooth whitening
Patients: Adults and children of all ages
Part 4: Registered manager
Name: Mrs Sarah Jones
Business address, telephone and email as above
When you need to update it
Any change to the information above means a revision, and the CQC must have written details within 28 days. Typical triggers in dental practices include:
- A new registered manager or a change to their contact details
- Adding a service such as implants, sedation or orthodontics
- Starting to treat a new patient group, for example children
- Moving premises or adding a second location
- A change of legal status, for example a partnership becoming a limited company
- New phone numbers or email addresses
Some of these, such as adding a location or a new regulated activity, also need a separate application to vary your registration. The statement of purpose alone is not enough.
Mistakes that cause problems
- Services that do not match reality. If you offer sedation or implants but your statement does not mention them, that is a gap an inspector will notice.
- Old registered manager details left in place after a change of manager.
- Template wording that describes another practice, or still has placeholder text.
- Forgetting the 28-day deadline after a change.
- No copy at the practice. Keep the current version where the team can find it, and review it each year alongside your policies and procedures.
Where it fits in registration
If you are registering a new practice, the statement of purpose is submitted as part of your CQC application. Our guide to CQC registration for dental practices explains the full process and the other documents you need. For the standards inspectors measure you against once registered, see our guide to the CQC key questions for dental practices.
Common questions
Does a dental practice need a statement of purpose?
Yes. Every registered provider must give the CQC a statement of purpose under Regulation 12 of the Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009.
How quickly must I tell the CQC about changes?
Within 28 days of revising the statement of purpose.
Can I use a template?
A template can help with structure, but the content must describe your own practice, services, locations and people.
Need help writing or updating your statement of purpose? It is included in our CQC compliance support and CQC application service. See pricing or contact us.
General information only, not legal advice. Check the current CQC guidance and forms before submitting.
