Regulator profile
RQIA
Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority
Enforcement Regulator2 areas of regulation · 2 official guidance documents · 17 laws enforced · Northern Ireland
What RQIA does
Independent regulator for health and social care services in Northern Ireland. Registers and inspects hospitals, care homes, dental practices, and other care settings.
Additional information
NI equivalent of CQC.
Contact RQIA
Types of regulation
Care Regulation
Health Inspection
Official guidance from RQIA
Curated guidance documents to help you understand your obligations.
-
Future regulatory reform (RQIA successor body)
Detailed Guidance Northern Ireland
-
Minimum Care Standards (various)
Detailed Guidance Northern Ireland
Legal framework
Legislation that RQIA directly enforces.
Primary legislation
- Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 Act 1972
- Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 Act 1986
- Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 Act 1995
- Health and Personal Social Services Act (Northern Ireland) 2001 Act 2001
- Health and Personal Social Services (Quality, Improvement and Regulation) (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 Act 2003
- Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009 Act 2009
- Mental Capacity Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 Act 2016
Secondary legislation
- Children's Homes Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 Northern Ireland Statutory Rule 2005
- Independent Health Care Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 Northern Ireland Statutory Rule 2005
- Nursing Agencies Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 Northern Ireland Statutory Rule 2005
- Nursing Homes Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 Northern Ireland Statutory Rule 2005
- Residential Care Homes Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 Northern Ireland Statutory Rule 2005
- The Regulation and Improvement Authority (Registration) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 Northern Ireland Statutory Rule 2005
- Day Care Setting Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 Northern Ireland Statutory Rule 2007
- Domiciliary Care Agencies Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 Northern Ireland Statutory Rule 2007
- The Adult Placement Agencies Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 Northern Ireland Statutory Rule 2007
- The Voluntary Adoption Agencies Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 Northern Ireland Statutory Rule 2010
Related legislation
Legislation connected to RQIA's remit but not directly enforced — establishing Acts, amendments, referenced legislation, and context.
Amendments / commencements
-
Registered Homes (Northern Ireland) Order 1992
UK Act of Parliament 1992
Referenced in enforcement
-
Disability Discrimination Act 1995
UK Act of Parliament 1995 -
Human Rights Act 1998
UK Act of Parliament 1998 -
Commissioner for Older People Act (Northern Ireland) 2011
UK Act of Parliament 2011 -
Safeguarding Board Act (Northern Ireland) 2011
UK Act of Parliament 2011 -
Data Protection Act 2018
UK Act of Parliament 2018 -
Health and Social Care Act (Northern Ireland) 2022
UK Act of Parliament 2022
Coverage area
Northern Ireland