Code of Practice Quality Assurance and Performance Management, Escalating Concerns, and Closure of Regulated Care and Support Services (WHC/2025/044)

Issue date: 

4 February 2026

Status:

Compliance: must be complied with by the recipient 

Action: specific action is required by the recipient

Category:

Legislation

Title:

Directions to apply the Code of Practice on Quality Assurance and Performance Management, Escalating Concerns, and Closure of Regulated Care and Support Services: February 2026

Date of Expiry / Review: 

Not applicable

For Action by:

Local Health Boards and NHS trusts in Wales

Required by:

From 31 March 2026

Sender:

Regulation and Inspection and Care Home Quality Branch,
Welsh Government, 
Cathays Park, 
Cardiff 
CF10 3NQ 
Email: CareHomeTeam@gov.wales 

Enclosures:

1. Code of Practice on Quality Assurance and Performance Management, Escalating Concerns, and Closure of Regulated Care and Support Services 2026.
2. Code of Practice on Quality Assurance and Performance Management, Escalating Concerns and Closure of Regulated Care and Support Services (Appointed Day) (Wales) Order 2026. 
3. Directions to Local Health Boards and NHS Trusts in Wales on Quality Assurance and Performance Management, Escalating Concerns, and Closure of Regulated Care and Support Services 2026.

Dear Colleagues,

We are writing to notify you that the draft Code of Practice on Quality Assurance and Performance Management, Escalating Concerns, and Closure of Regulated Care and Support Services 2026 (‘the Code of Practice’) was laid before the Senedd on 1 December 2025. Following the 40-day annulment period, during which the Senedd did not resolve to not approve the draft, the Code of Practice was issued on 2 February 2026.

On 3 February 2026, the Minister for Children and Social Care made the Directions to Local Health Boards and NHS Trusts in Wales on Quality Assurance and Performance Management, Escalating Concerns, and Closure of Regulated Care and Support Services 2026. The Directions provide that Local Health Boards and NHS trusts must exercise their relevant functions in accordance with the provisions of the 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 was made on 3 February 2026 and will bring the Code of Practice into force on 31 March 2026.

The Code of Practice applies 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 is supported by tool and templates within the National Framework for the Commissioning of Care and Support in Wales Toolkit. Access is via the Commissioning Care and Support (National Framework) Community of Practice platform. Users will need an account to access the toolkit.

Actions

1. Local Health Boards and NHS trusts in Wales are asked to note the coming into force of the Code of Practice on 31 March 2026 through the making of the Order enclosed.
2. Local Health Boards and NHS trusts in Wales must comply with the Directions enclosed i.e. they must, from 31 March 2026, exercise their functions in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Code of Practice.
3. In accordance with the provisions of the Code of Practice, Local Health Boards and NHS trusts in Wales must work collaboratively with local authorities in relation to the partnership and collaborative working requirements and guidance included in the Code of Practice.
4. Local Health Board and NHS trust in Wales commissioners of care and support services registered with Care Inspectorate Wales, and other relevant colleagues, are asked to sign-up to the Commissioning Care and Support (National Framework) Community of Practice platform referred to above.

Yours sincerely, 

Jacqueline Totterdell                
Director General of Health and Social Care and Chief Executive of NHS Wales

Albert Heaney CBE
Chief Social Care Officer for Wales