Dawn Bowden, Minister for Children and Social Care
The Code of Practice on Quality Assurance and Performance Management, Escalating Concerns, and Closure of Regulated Care and Support Services, laid in draft before the Senedd on 1 December 2025 and issued in the form of the draft on 2 February 2026, applies equally to local authorities, Local Health Boards and NHS trusts in Wales in relation to the commissioning of regulated care and support services registered with Care Inspectorate Wales (acting on behalf of the Welsh Ministers) under the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016.
The Code of Practice supports my aspiration for all regulated care and support services provided in Wales to be of the highest quality, to be focussed on improvement, and to provide the best possible outcomes for adults and children benefiting from those services. The Code of Practice encourages an approach focussed on outcomes for people, collaborative working, and a culture of learning and improvement. It will support greater consistency of practice across Wales.
The Code of Practice will come into force on 31 March 2026, replacing the statutory guidance on ‘Escalating Concerns With, and Closures of Care Homes Providing Services for Adults’ issued in 2009. The Code of Practice should be read in conjunction with the National Framework for the Commissioning of Care and Support in Wales: Code of Practice.
The Code of Practice on Quality Assurance and Performance Management, Escalating Concerns, and Closure of Regulated Care and Support Services (Appointed Day) (Wales) Order 2026 and Directions to Local Health Boards and NHS trusts in Wales were made on 3 February 2026 with the Directions issued via a Welsh Health Circular on 4 February 2026. This means these organisations must exercise their relevant functions in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Practice when it comes into force.