What CIW does
Registers and inspects social care and childcare services in Wales. Regulates care homes, domiciliary care, children's homes, and childminders.
Welsh equivalent of CQC.
Contact CIW
- ciw@gov.wales
- Phone
- 0300 7900 126
Official guidance from CIW
Curated guidance documents to help you understand your obligations.
Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLs) | Care Inspectorate Wales (opens in a new tab)
Detailed Guidance
National Minimum Standards for Regulated Services in Wales (opens in a new tab)
Detailed Guidance
Legal framework
Legislation that CIW directly enforces.
Primary legislation
Mental Health Act 1983
Children Act 1989
Adoption and Children Act 2002
Mental Capacity Act 2005
Childcare Act 2006
Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014
RISCWA 2016
Secondary legislation
Inspection of Premises, Children and Records (Children's Homes) (Wales) Regulations 2007
Placement of Children (Wales) Regulations 2007
Child Minding and Day Care (Wales) Regulations 2010
Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2010
Regulated Services (Registration) (Wales) Regulations 2017
Regulated Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) Regulations 2017
Regulation of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 (Commencement No. 4) Order 2017
The Fostering Panels (Establishment and Functions) (Wales) Regulations 2018
The Local Authority Fostering Services (Wales) Regulations 2018
Related legislation
Legislation connected to CIW’s remit but not directly enforced — establishing Acts, amendments, referenced legislation, and context.
Administered / monitored
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
Equality Act 2010
Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011
Regulation of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 (Commencement No. 4) Order 2017