From April 2025, The Regulated Services (Inspection Ratings) (Wales) Regulations 2025 will come into effect, requiring certain social care providers to publish inspection ratings on their websites and in their premises.
Between April 2023 and March 2024, the CIW piloted a new regulatory approach in which services were given ‘silent’ (unpublished) ratings after inspections. This was the first phase of the Government’s four-phase initiative to introduce a rating system to regulate social care in Wales.
The current rating system
As part of this, there are four key inspection themes: Well-being, Care and Support, Leadership and Management, and Environment. Each theme is awarded one of these ratings: Excellent, Good, Needs Improvement, or Poor.
Results of the independent evaluation
In June 2024, an independent evaluation was published with 15 recommendations for improvement. The CIW responded by severing the direct link between the well-being theme and the other three themes, and committing to review rating descriptors with sector input.
What next?
The CIW are establishing an ongoing training programme for all inspectors. Finalised guidance will be published on the CIW website in January, ready for implementation in April 2025.
New deputy chief inspector
As of 19th August 2024, Kevin Barker is the new deputy chief inspector of the Care Inspectorate Wales.
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