The Act Commentary on sections Proposals and applications in relation to registered care services Section 19: Conditions as to numbers
76.This section provides that the Commission can limit the number of people using certain services or to whom certain services are provided either on initial registration, through a subsequent condition notice or in association with an improvement notice. For example it may be appropriate for a new provider to be restricted on numbers until they get fully established, or where a care provider is causing concern the power could be used as an alternative to enforcement action (i.e. withdrawing registration).
77.The services covered by this section are care homes, school care accommodation, secure accommodation, adult placement services, support services, independent health care, child minding, day care for children and nurse agencies
78.It is not appropriate to apply this condition where there is a statutory duty on the local authority to provide the service. This is why adoption and fostering services are not covered by this provision. Offender accommodation services and housing support services are also not covered by the provision. These are examples of where imposing a limit on numbers would mean there had to be a parallel limit on the local authorities’ duty to provide such services.