National Dementia Care Accreditation Scheme (NaDCAS)

What National Dementia Care Accreditation Scheme (NaDCAS) does

NaDCAS is a UK-based social enterprise that operates an evidence-based dementia care accreditation scheme for residential care homes and homecare providers. Its core product is a six-month accreditation programme built on the NaDCAS Framework for Exceptional Dementia Care — a proprietary nine-foundation framework covering 140 assessment criteria, reviewed annually by an advisory board and developed in collaboration with universities and sector experts. The programme combines a benchmark audit, a 16-week action plan, progress reviews, masterclasses and coaching, re-assessment, and a tiered accreditation award (Bronze through Platinum/3-Star). The intellectual property is protected via registered trade marks covering the accreditation, quality mark, and kite mark.

The business model is a hybrid of professional services and recurring subscription revenue. New customers pay an individualised programme fee for the assessment, report, and action-planning phase (starting at £4,810+VAT), followed by an annual award licence, membership, and six-monthly review fee (currently £1,995+VAT). Additional specialist consultancy and training is available at a day rate after programme completion. Go-to-market is a consultative, enterprise sales motion targeting UK care home operators — from single homes to large multi-site groups — supplemented by channel partnerships with Care England (referral), Carehome.co.uk (listing and family-facing distribution), and event sponsorships at UK Dementia Congress and NAPA conferences. Customers include Cinnamon Care Collection (first group-wide rollout), Nellsar Homes, Millennium Care Group, and TLC Group.

NaDCAS employs approximately 5 staff supported by a network of senior consultants and case managers with combined dementia care expertise of 50+ years. The company is privately held with no disclosed external funding, no parent company, and operates exclusively in the United Kingdom. A specialized homecare accreditation framework was launched in 2025 with its official conference debut in May 2026, extending the addressable market beyond residential care into domiciliary care.

Name

National Dementia Care Accreditation Scheme (NaDCAS)

Legal name

National Dementia Care Accreditation Scheme

Website

https://nadcas.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NaDCAS is a UK social enterprise that accredits residential care homes and homecare providers in dementia care quality through a proprietary nine-foundation, 140-criterion framework, earning revenue from programme fees and recurring annual licences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Quality Accreditation

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Nursing and Residential Care Facilities (623)

SIC

Services-Business Services, Nec (7389)

akta.pro primary industry

Family Caregiver Training & Dementia Coaching (HSABAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Dementia Care Coordination & Care Planning (HSABAEAJ)

Keywords

• Dementia care accreditation
• Care quality assurance
• Healthcare certification programmes
• Social care quality framework
• Evidence-based care standards

Headquarters

HQ city

Folkestone

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Accreditation Programme Fees: Fees for the core six-month accreditation programme are split across three phases: assessment, report and action planning; support and training; re-assessment and accreditation award. The full programme fee is individualised per care provider. Contextually, assessment, report and action planning fees start at £4,810+VAT (until 1st March 2027).
2. Annual Award Licence and Membership: Accredited providers pay an annual award licence, membership fee, and six-monthly review fees to maintain their accreditation status year-over-year. Current annual fees are £1,995+VAT (until 1st March 2027).
3. Specialist Consultancy and Training: After completing the initial 26-week programme, providers can request additional specialist consultancy on specific dementia care issues or management training, charged at a day rate.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

NaDCAS delivers a six-month dementia care accreditation programme for UK care home operators and homecare providers, structured around a proprietary nine-foundation Framework for Exceptional Dementia Care covering 140 evidence-based criteria. Accreditation is awarded at 1–3 star levels (3-star Platinum being the highest) and supported by an online Readiness Check, masterclasses/coaching, and an annual membership/licence fee. The organisation also offers a separately adapted Homecare Accreditation for domiciliary providers and specialist consultancy on a day rate.

Product overview

NaDCAS operates as a unified accreditation and certification scheme offering a portfolio of products centered on dementia care excellence for care settings. The core offering consists of the NaDCAS Accreditation Programme for care homes and NaDCAS Homecare Accreditation for domiciliary care providers, both built upon the foundational NaDCAS Framework for Exceptional Dementia Care. Supporting services include an online Readiness Check assessment tool and Masterclasses/Coaching Sessions. The organisation functions as a social enterprise providing certification that enables care providers to demonstrate quality to families, regulators, and commissioners through a structured six-month improvement journey with award levels (1-3 stars, with Platinum status at 3 stars).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• National Dementia Care Accreditation Framework: An evidence-based framework with nine key foundations for exceptional dementia care in care homes.
• Framework for Exceptional Dementia Care
• NaDCAS Homecare Accreditation

Products and services

• NaDCAS Accreditation Programme (Care Homes) Six-month dementia care accreditation programme for UK care home operators, including a 140-criteria benchmark audit, 16-week action plan, progress reviews, masterclasses and coaching, re-assessment, and award of a quality mark at Bronze, Silver, Gold, or 3-Star Platinum levels. For owners, managers, and operators of residential care homes delivering dementia care.
• NaDCAS Framework for Exceptional Dementia Care Proprietary nine-foundation framework covering Knowledge & Understanding of Dementia Care, Information About the Person, Person-Centred Participation & Engagement, The Enabling Environment, The Homely Environment, Light/Sound/Smell/Touch for Wellbeing, Team Induction/Training/Nurture, Approach & Emotional Connection, and Vision/Culture/Leadership. Reviewed annually.
• NaDCAS Homecare Accreditation Specialised accreditation framework adapted for UK homecare and domiciliary care providers delivering dementia care in service users' own homes. Includes reflective current practice calls, assessment visits, and revalidation cycles for continuous improvement.
• NaDCAS Readiness Check Online self-assessment tool (ScoreApp) enabling prospective care home and homecare providers to evaluate their readiness for NaDCAS accreditation before committing to the full six-month programme.
• NaDCAS Masterclasses and Coaching Sessions Specialist workshops and coaching sessions delivered monthly by qualified professionals with 10+ years of dementia care experience, addressing gaps in team knowledge as part of the accreditation programme.
• NaDCAS Annual Award Licence and Membership Annual licence and membership fee (currently £1,995+VAT) for accredited providers to maintain their NaDCAS quality mark, including six-monthly reviews of continued compliance with the framework.
• NaDCAS Specialist Consultancy and Training Additional, post-accreditation specialist consultancy on specific dementia care issues or management training, charged at a day rate, available to providers who have completed the core programme.

Quantifiable outcome

• Top 10% of care homes assessed nationwide
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Together ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Together Project partnered with NaDCAS as their first-ever partnership. The collaboration brings intergenerational music and art programmes to NaDCAS-accredited care homes, aiming to spark joy, encourage conversation, and boost wellbeing for people living with dementia. NaDCAS-accredited homes are encouraged to incorporate intergenerational activities as a key component of high-quality dementia care.
• Social AbilityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNaDCAS partnered with Social Ability, an organisation focused on changing lives with technology for people with dementia. The partnership aligns with NaDCAS's mission to improve quality of life for people with dementia and their families through innovative, person-centred approaches to care and meaningful engagement.
• Care EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNaDCAS formally partnered with Care England, the leading representative body for care providers in England. The partnership represents a joint commitment to embedding evidence-based, person-centred dementia care practices. The collaboration includes joint conferences, thought leadership reports, expert roundtables, webinars, and quality improvement resources to support Care England members and the wider sector.
• C-CAF (Care Consultant Accreditation Framework)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNaDCAS announced a strategic partnership with C-CAF. The frameworks are complementary: NaDCAS focuses on raising dementia care practice standards while C-CAF provides a 'Gold Standard' for ensuring consultancy and professional qualifications. NaDCAS's own assessment team is undergoing C-CAF accreditation. Future plans include a C-CAF Free Directory integration enabling identification of NaDCAS-accredited assessors.
• Carehome.co.ukcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNaDCAS partnered with Carehome.co.uk, the UK's leading care home review website. NaDCAS-accredited homes are listed directly within Carehome.co.uk listings, enabling families searching for specialist dementia care to identify accredited providers. This raises visibility for accredited homes and provides families with a trusted quality signal.
• Signage for Care by WayfindersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNaDCAS partnered with Signage for Care by Wayfinders, specialists in dementia-friendly signage and wayfinding solutions. The partnership promotes evidence-based environmental design, supporting the NaDCAS Framework's 'Enabling Environment' foundation. Signage for Care products are developed in consultation with the Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) at Stirling University.
• UCL Dementia Care Training AcademyminorOthersNaDCAS partners with UCL Dementia Care Training Academy to support providers in understanding dementia care interventions with an evidence base and recommended training. Referenced as a trusted partner on the NaDCAS services page.
• Dementia UKminorOthersNaDCAS partners with Dementia UK, which provides a range of services for people living with dementia and their families, including a free helpline accessible during office hours. Referenced as a trusted partner on the NaDCAS services page.
• Mindful Care TrainingminorOthersNaDCAS partners with Mindful Care Training, an online training provider delivered by qualified professionals with a specialism in dementia care. Referenced as a trusted partner on the NaDCAS services page.
• Alzheimer's SocietyminorOthersNaDCAS partners with the Alzheimer's Society, which offers a search function for local support including groups, day services, and transport. Referenced as a trusted partner on the NaDCAS services page.
• NAPA (National Activity Providers Association)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerNaDCAS collaborates with NAPA on events including a live broadcast across social media discussing meaningful activity and engagement in dementia care, and sponsors the NAPA Annual Activity Conference 2026 and National Activity Awards. The partnership aligns NaDCAS Framework principles with NAPA's activity and engagement expertise.
• Cinnamon Care CollectioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCinnamon Care Collection partnered with NaDCAS as the first large care group in the UK to rollout NaDCAS accreditation across all its homes. NaDCAS works with Cinnamon as a key implementation partner, demonstrating the accreditation's scalability across a multi-home operator. All Cinnamon homes are working toward or have achieved accreditation.
• SensiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerNaDCAS co-hosted a community event 'Making Moments Together' with Sensio and Cinnamon Care Collection during Dementia Action Week 2026, celebrating connection, family, and meaningful memories for people living with dementia.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Skills for Care: UK workforce development body for adult social care, providing training standards, frameworks, and data. An adjacent organisation that shapes the training and quality landscape in which NaDCAS operates, and a potential alternative or complementary standards body.
• Care Quality Commission (CQC): Statutory regulator of health and adult social care in England. Not a competitor but the dominant quality reference point for the same audience NaDCAS serves — NaDCAS positions itself as a complementary, more granular dementia-specialist layer above the CQC baseline.
• Hospice UK: UK national charity for hospice and end-of-life care, including quality and workforce programmes. Comparable to NaDCAS in operating a specialist quality-improvement layer for a defined care segment within the broader UK social care sector.
• Dementia UK: UK charity providing specialist dementia nurse (Admiral Nurse) support and family-facing services. Listed as a NaDCAS trusted partner and operates in the same dementia ecosystem from a clinical/support rather than accreditation angle.
• NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence): UK body issuing clinical and social care guidelines, including dementia-specific quality standards. Its dementia quality standard sets the regulatory baseline that NaDCAS's framework layers above, and is a potential source of framework alignment — or competition.
• Alzheimer's Society: UK's leading dementia charity, offering information, support services, and the Dementia Friends programme. Already a listed trusted partner of NaDCAS and an indirect driver of awareness and demand for higher dementia care standards.

Broad incumbents

• Investors in People: Established UK accreditation body for people management and organisational quality. Shares NaDCAS's consultative accreditation model and quality mark approach, but operates across all sectors rather than specialising in dementia care.
• B Lab (B Corp Certification): Global certification body awarding B Corp status to organisations meeting social and environmental performance standards. Comparable in operating a proprietary framework with assessment criteria, tiered recognition, and a publicly displayed certification mark, though oriented to broader ESG rather than dementia-specific quality.

Direct peers

• Butterfly Scheme: UK dementia care recognition scheme operating in hospitals and care homes, helping staff identify and support people with dementia. Operates in the same UK dementia care quality niche as NaDCAS, although via a recognition rather than full accreditation model.
• Gold Standards Framework: UK accreditation scheme for end-of-life care delivered in care homes and other settings. Closely comparable model to NaDCAS — a multi-month accreditation programme, evidence-based framework, award levels, and quality mark — focused on a specific care specialism rather than general quality assurance.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nadcas
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nadcas
• Facebookfacebook.com/nadcas

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Dementia Care Accreditation Scheme (NaDCAS)