Protecting resident dignity through secure disposal.
Care homes hold some of the most sensitive personal data of any sector — resident health records, care plans, medication administration records and safeguarding documentation. CQC registration and UK GDPR both require that this data is handled securely from creation through to certified destruction.
The duty to protect resident confidentiality extends to the secure disposal of all records.
Inspectors expect documented evidence that records are destroyed securely and procedures are followed.
Families entrust their loved ones' most personal information. Certified destruction honours that trust.
Why care homes have the most sensitive data obligations of any sector.
Care homes hold a combination of personal data categories that would be highly sensitive individually — but combined in a resident's care record, they represent some of the most private information about a person that can exist. Health conditions, cognitive assessments, medication regimes, financial affairs, family relationships, safeguarding incidents and end-of-life wishes are all routinely documented in care home records.
Under UK GDPR, health and social care information is special category data — the highest level of protection applies at every stage, including at the point of disposal. A care plan left in an unsecured bin, a medication administration record placed in a general recycling bag, or resident correspondence not properly destroyed represents a genuine breach of a resident's fundamental right to privacy.
The CQC's inspection framework specifically examines how services handle confidential information. Inspectors expect to see a written policy for document disposal, and evidence that the policy is consistently followed. Our certificate of destruction provides exactly that evidence — automatically, after every collection.
Resident health records, care plans and medication data are special category data, requiring the highest level of security at all stages including disposal.
CQC inspectors assess whether services have effective systems for protecting confidential information. Certificates of destruction provide the documented evidence they expect.
Adult social care records should be retained for a minimum of 8 years after last care or death, then securely destroyed with documented evidence of destruction.
The Care Act's wellbeing principles include the protection of dignity and privacy throughout a resident's care — and beyond, in the secure handling of their records after death.
All resident and care home documents accepted.
All paper-based resident, clinical and administrative documents accepted. No sorting or preparation needed.
Personal care plans, risk assessments, needs assessments and person-centred planning documents.
Medication Administration Record sheets, prescription records, controlled drug registers and pharmacy correspondence.
GP correspondence, hospital letters, district nurse records, physiotherapy notes and clinical assessments.
Safeguarding referral forms, investigation records, case conference notes and outcome documentation.
Funding assessments, direct payment records, financial deputyship documents and fee correspondence.
Pre-admission assessments, capacity assessments, DoLS documentation and initial assessment forms.
Consent to care, medical treatment consent, DNACPR forms and power of attorney documentation.
Letters, emails printed for files and correspondence with residents' families and representatives.
Employee records, DBS certificates, training records and HR correspondence for care home staff.
Care home groups
Multi-site pricing for care home groups.
Care home groups operating multiple sites across Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire can arrange a single account covering all locations — consistent service, consistent documentation and simplified invoicing across the group.
Request a group quoteOne contact, one invoice, one relationship — regardless of how many locations you operate.
Individual certificates of destruction for each site, making CQC compliance documentation straightforward across the group.
Contact us to discuss pricing for multiple sites. We provide a tailored fixed quote covering all locations.
How long should a care home keep resident records?
Retention periods for social care records are set under the NHS Records Management Code of Practice. These are minimum periods — records should not be destroyed before the retention period is met.
| Record type | Minimum retention | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Adult social care records | 8 years After last care or death | NHS Records Management Code |
| Children in care records | Until 25th birthday Or longer if in ongoing care | NHS Records Management Code |
| Medication administration records | 8 years After last entry | NHS Records Management Code |
| Safeguarding records | 8 years After closure of case | Local authority guidance |
| DoLS documentation | 8 years After expiry or death | NHS Records Management Code |
| Financial records | 6 years After end of financial year | HMRC / Companies Act |
| Staff records (care workers) | 6 years After employment ends | Employment law best practice |
| Incident & accident records | 10 years Or until youngest person involved is 25 | Limitation Act / best practice |
This table is for general guidance. Always refer to the NHS Records Management Code of Practice and your local authority's guidance for your specific circumstances.
Fixed prices. Published upfront.
All plans include free sacks or lockable bin and a certificate of destruction after every collection. Multi-site group pricing available on request.
Serving care homes across three counties.
Trusted by care homes across the region.
"Professional and completely reliable. The certificate of destruction is exactly what we need for our CQC records. The collections are always on time and the service is completely consistent."
"We arranged a single account for our care home group covering three sites. Consistent service, a certificate per site per collection and simplified invoicing. Exactly what we needed."
Care home shredding FAQs
Get a quote for your care home.
We work with care homes and residential care providers across Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire. Single site or multi-site groups — tell us your requirements and we'll confirm a price the same day.
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