HCPA Membership
HCPA has been offering membership to care providers in Hertfordshire since 2007 and currently 800 members across the county.
With an influx of support requests from Care Providers outside of Hertfordshire, we are pleased to be able to offer three levels of membership which enables our experienced team to continue to support and cater for Hertfordshire’s care providers whilst also allowing care providers out of county to join and access our business support and training services linked to our Care Professional Academy.
Who can be a Member?
Anyone delivering Adult Social Care in England can join HCPA under a yearly automated subscription for either a Standard, Standard Direct Payment, Associate or Network member level.
STANDARD MEMBERSHIP
Care Providers operating within Hertfordshire.
STANDARD DIRECT PAYMENT MEMBERSHIP
For direct payment holders within Hertfordshire.
ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP
Care Providers operating in bordering counties (see list below)
NETWORK MEMBERSHIP
Care Providers who do not meet the Standard or Associate criteria.
Why Become a Member?
We are here to support your mission to provide quality care, as well as satisfy clients, regulators and inspectors.
For our Hertfordshire members, membership is a recognised mark of quality by the local authority (Hertfordshire County Council) and the Care Quality Commission as a commitment to high standards.
Membership demonstrates that your organisation is actively engaged in improving care quality and compliance with local and national expectations.
Members benefit from...
- Access to information, support, and advice from a knowledgeable and front-line experienced team.
- Care and leadership training from HCPA and Assured Training Partners
- Access to paid for training and qualification that can be claimed back via LDSS
- A range of services to support your business.
- Networking and partnership opportunities.
- Access to the Care Professional Academy.
Members benefit from...
- Access to information, support, and advice from a knowledgeable and front-line experienced team.
- Care and leadership training from HCPA and Assured Training Partners
- Access to paid for training and qualification that can be claimed back via LDSS
- A range of services to support your business.
- Networking and partnership opportunities.
- Access to the Care Professional Academy.
In Hertfordshire, HCPA membership is a contractual requirement for local authority and NHS contracts.
How much does it cost?
Membership pricing until the 31st March 2026, £75 per site annually (if paid by direct debit), If not paying by direct debit, membership will cost £100 for the year. Direct payment holders costs £20 per year.
Pricing Update from the 1st April 2026 Membership subscription costs £85 per site annually (if paid by Direct Debit), on a rolling basis. If not paying by direct debit, membership will cost £110 for the year. Direct payment holders costs £30 per year.
Depending on the type of membership some aspects are fully funded or available at a cost.
- Standard Membership has funded training and services as this is subsidised by Hertfordshire County Council.
- Associate and Network membership have access to discounts and paid-for education bundles.
Membership Options
HCPA offers four membership types for adult social care providers in England. See grid below to understand what you could access for each type.Â
To support delivery of any chargeable services or training HCPA works with our collaborative company, the Care Professional Academy (CPA).
✓ = Part of Membership Fee
✗ = Not included
Member Rate/Discount = Paid for at Member Rate or Discount
| Feature | Description | HCPA Standard | HCPA Associate | HCPA Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location and Eligibility | This section outlines the location and eligibility criteria that applicants must meet to qualify for membership. | Hertfordshire + Direct Borders with 50%+ Hertfordshire Clients. | *Bordering counties AND the organisation making the application has at least one Standard Member in Hertfordshire OR Hold Hertfordshire Commissioned Contract. | Anything outside of Standard and Associate within England. |
| Engagement Awards | Engagement awards indicate the level of participation and interaction demonstrated by members. | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Price per annum per site with Direct Debit | The price applies per annum when paying by direct debit; if paying by another method, the cost will be £110. | £85 | £85 | £85 |
| Provider Hub Support | Direct access to expert support for any queries related to care. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Resource Library and Care Toolkits | Online resources and toolkits for care providers. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Strategic Partner Access | Connections with key commercial partners for advice and services including Legal, HR and insurance. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Newsletters | Regular sector updates, alerts, and exclusive offers. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Information webinars | Online sessions on current and critical topics for the sector. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Virtual Provider Forums and Study Days | Offer online sessions for providers to share best practice, national guidance updates, discuss key topics, and enhance professional knowledge. | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Manager Network Events | Networking opportunities for managers centred on sector updates. | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Academy Rewards Portal | Access to rewards and benefits portal for care staff. | ✓ | Member rate | Member rate |
| Good Care Recruitment Vacancy Support | Assistance with staff recruitment. | ✓ | Support with Hertfordshire Based Staff members or Member Rate. | Member Rate. |
| Business Continuity Planning | Guidance for operational resilience planning. | ✓ | 25% Discount | 25% Discount |
| Surveys | Support with compliance-related surveys to ensure robust improvement processes. | ✓ | 25% Discount | 25% Discount |
| Governance and Inspection Support | Support providers with guidance and resources to help meet regulatory standards and prepare for inspection. | ✓ | 25% Discount | 25% Discount |
| Standard Education | Wide Variety of care and leadership education for all staff levels. | Fully-funded | Member Rate (50% discount) | Member Rate (50% discount) |
| Enhanced Education & Qualifications | Advanced training and qualifications, includes champions, exercise instruction, leadership and train the trainers. | Member Rate | Member Rate | Member Rate |
| Paid for CPA Training Bundles | Details below. | N/A | Yes | Yes |
*Bordering Counties – For Associate Member Criteria
- Bedfordshire
- Essex
- Buckinghamshire
- London boroughs that border Hertfordshire - Barnet, Enfield, Harrow, Hillingdon & Waltham Forest
- Cambridgeshire
- Bedfordshire
- Essex
- Buckinghamshire
- London boroughs that border Hertfordshire - Barnet, Enfield, Harrow, Hillingdon & Waltham Forest
- Cambridgeshire
APPLY FOR MEMBERSHIP
If you are applying for Standard, Associate or Network membership please complete the membership form link below.
MULTIPLE SITES
If your organisation owns multiple sites, you may apply for membership for all sites in one go. Please note that each site must hold its own individual membership.
DIRECT PAYMENT HOLDERS
Individuals employing their own care staff within Hertfordshire can join for just £30 per year, gaining access to all the benefits available to HCPA Standard Members.
New Care Professional Academy (CPA) Training Bundles
HCPA Associate and Network members can access CPA Training Bundles, by purchasing credits for a wide range of courses:
| Description | Bundle 1 | Bundle 2 | Bundle 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | £250 +VAT | £500+VAT | £750+VAT |
| Standard Education | 45 Credits | 90 Credits | 150 Credits |
| STAN Survey | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Workforce Planning Toolkit | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
Credits must be used within 6 months. All prices exclude VAT.
Training credits corelate to the length of the training course. 1 credit equals roughly 1 hour of training, so 3 credits cover a half-day course, 6 credits a full day, and 12 credits a two-day course.
Click the button below to view full offer and available training on the CPA website
Engagement Awards
The HCPA Engagement Awards (Silver or Gold) recognises care organisations that actively invest in leadership development and consistently engage with HCPA services.
Separate from membership and achievable at any time, it signals a tangible commitment to quality: Silver confirms staff complete accredited leadership learning and use the Academy; Gold builds on this with verified GOOD ratings in PAMMS and CQC and completion of our provider surveys. Holders receive a logo linked to a live list on the HCPA website, giving visible proof of excellence to commissioners, families and prospective staff.
It strengthens reputation, supports recruitment and retention, and demonstrates continuous improvement backed by data.
SILVER ENGAGEMENT AWARD
For all current HCPA members who empower staff development (via HCPA and our Care Professional Academy (CPA) and engage in Leadership training each year.
- Active HCPA Membership.
- Evidence that two people from your organisation have each attended 12 hours of designated leadership courses with HCPA over a rolling year.
- Care Staff are actively engaged in the Care Professional Academy.
GOLD ENGAGEMENT AWARD
For all current HCPA members who, in addition to the Silver Engagement Award, showcase their Leadership and Quality Assurance.
- Active HCPA Membership.
- You have an overall GOOD rating with an Inspection*
- Silver Engagement Award has been achieved.
- You have completed Impartial Feedback Survey, Culture Survey and Staff Training and Needs Audit (STAN).
Providers with existing Silver or Gold Memberships, which are transitioning to Engagement Awards, will retain this until their current expiry date.
If a member is based in a county where the Care Professional Academy and the Surveys are not funded, they will need to pay to register and complete before progressing to Silver and Gold.Â
*Non-regulated services may achieve ‘Community Gold’
Contact the Membership team to discuss details and criteria to gaining Silver and Gold Engagement Awards.
Contact Us
For further information or support with your application, please email us at membership@hcpa.co.uk or call 01707 536020.
