The Care Standards Act

The Care Standards Act 2000 was introduced to regulate, and ensure that agencies/ providers were competent in their duty of care, and to develop a level playing field for all service providers.

The Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) encourages the improvement
of social care, early years and social services by regulating, inspecting and reviewing services in accordance with the Act.

Within Learning Disability Supported Accommodation is included within the domiciliary regulation, as is home/ family support services.

• Local authorities will have to be regulated and meet the same care standards as independent sector providers.
• Only agencies that provide personal care need to be registered
• The Act introduced the independent regulatory body for social care known as the National Care Standards Commission.
• The Act introduced national minimum care standards, and standards regarding staffinglevels.
• The Act established a general social care council for England and a Care Council for Wales.
• The regulations introduced a qualification framework, with N.V.Q targets set for managers and care staff.
• The councils will register social care workers, re gulate the training of social workers and raise standards in social care through codes of conduct and practice.
• Domiciliary care agencies all need to be registered. Any organisation arranging for people in their homes to receive personal care must be registered.
• Adult Placement services will all be registered.

Two bodies in Wales are responsible for different aspects of regulation.

More information is available: