Policy and strategy

Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016

An overview of the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016, its passage through the Senedd and subordinate legislation.

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First published:
3 January 2024
Last updated:

Contents

Overview

The Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 (‘the Act’) provides the statutory framework for the regulation and inspection of social care in Wales. The Act contains provisions to:

  • reform the regulation of social care in Wales by placing people who receive care and support at its centre
  • reform the regulation of the social care workforce
  • rename the Care Council for Wales as Social Care Wales, giving it new powers
  • reform the inspection of local authority social services functions
  • provide a robust response to the lessons learned from previous failures in the system

Detailed commentary on the various provisions of the Act is provided in the Explanatory Notes to the Act on legislation.gov.uk.

See the Act on legislation.gov.uk.

Coming into force

Sections 186 to 190 came into force on 19 January 2016 which is the day after the Act received Royal Assent, in accordance with section 188(2).

All other provisions of the Act come into force on a day appointed by the Welsh Ministers in an order made by statutory instrument, in accordance with section 188(1).

See section 188 of the Act on legislaton.gov.uk.

The following orders have been made:

Subordinate legislation made under the Act

TitleCitation number (statutory instruments only)Made dateComing into force dateSupporting documents
The Annual Returns (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2026 on legislation.gov.uk2026 No. 744 March 20261 April 20262026 No. 74: Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Regulated Adoption Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) and Adoption Support Services (Local Authorities) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2026 on legislation.gov.uk
 		2026 No. 5325 February 20261 April 20262026 No. 53: Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Regulated Services (Registration) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2026 on legislation.gov.uk2026 No. 3811 February 20261 April 20262026 No. 38: Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Social Care Wales (Proceedings before Panels) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 on legislation.gov.uk2026 No. 284 February 20261 April 20262026 No. 28: Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Regulated Services (Registration) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 on legislation.gov.uk2026 No. 212 January 20261 April 20262026 No. 2: Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Regulated Services (Inspection Ratings) (Wales) Regulations 2025 on legislation.gov.uk2025 No. 389 (W. 78)26 March 202531 March 20252025 No. 389 (W. 78): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Social Care Wales (Specification of Social Care Workers) (Registration) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 on legislation.gov.uk2025 No. 340 (W. 69)12 March 20251 April 20252025 No. 340 (W. 69): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Special School Residential Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) Regulations 2024 on legislation.gov.uk2024 No. 388 (W. 68)18 March 202431 March 20242024 No. 388 (W. 68): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Regulated Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 on legislation.gov.uk2024 No. 407 (W. 68)20 March 202431 March 20242024 No. 407 (W. 68): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Register of Service Providers (Prescribed Information and Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2023 on legislation.gov.uk2023 No. 1325 (W. 236)6 December 202331 December 2023, except regulation 2, which comes into force on 30 September 20242023 No. 1325 (W. 236): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Regulated Services (Registration) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 on legislation.gov.uk2023 No. 1336 (W. 241)6 December 202331 December 20232023 No. 1336 (W. 241): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Regulated Services (Special School Residential Services) (Wales) Regulations 2023 on legislation.gov.uk2023 No. 1327 (W. 238)6 December 202331 December 20232023 No. 1327 (W. 238): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Regulated Services (Annual Returns) (Wales) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2022 on legislation.gov.u2022 No. 476 (W.118)25 April 202230 May 2022Explanatory Memorandum unavailable
The Regulated Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals (Wales) (Amendment) and (Coronavirus) (Revocation) Regulations 2022 on legislation.gov.uk2022 No. 1074 (W. 226)19 October 20221 November 20222022 No. 1074 (W. 226): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Regulated Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 on legislation.gov.uk2022 No. 832 (W.184)19 July 20221 October 20222022 No. 832 (W.184): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Regulated Services (Annual Returns) (Wales) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2021 on legislation.gov.uk2021 No. 395 (W. 126)24 March 202116 April 2021Explanatory Memorandum unavailable
The Regulated Services (Annual Returns) (Wales) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020 on legislation.gov.uk2020 No. 486 (W. 111)4 May 202026 May 2020Explanatory Memorandum unavailable
The Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 and Regulated Services (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2020 on legislation.gov.uk2020 No. 389 (W. 87)11 March 2020 1 April 20202020 No. 389 (W. 87): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Social Care Wales (Specification of Social Care Workers) (Registration) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 on legislation.gov.uk2020 No. 286 (W. 65)11 March 20201 April 20202020 No. 286 (W. 65): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Regulated Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2019 on legislation.gov.uk2019 No. 1062 (W. 189)27 June 2019` July 20192019 No. 1062 (W. 189): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 (Consequential and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2019 on legislation.gov.uk2019 No. 976 (W. 167)31 May 20192 June 20192019 No. 976 (W. 167): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Regulated Services (Penalty Notices) (Wales) Regulations 2019 on legislation.gov.uk2019 No. 887 (W. 159)25 April 201926 April 20192019 No. 887 (W. 159): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Regulated Adoption Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) Regulations 2019 on legislation.gov.uk2019 No. 762 (W. 145)29 March 201929 April 20192019 No. 762 (W. 145): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2019 on legislation.gov.uk2019 No. 772 (W. 146)29 March 201929 April 2019Explanatory Memorandum unavailable
The Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 (Consequential Amendments to Secondary Legislation) Regulations 2019 on legislation.gov.uk2019 No. 237 (W. 56)12 February 201913 February 20192019 No. 237 (W. 56): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Regulated Services (Annual Returns and Registration (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2019 on legislation.gov.uk2019 No. 233 (W. 52)12 February 201929 April 20192019 No. 233 (W. 52): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Adult Placement Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) Regulations 2019 on legislation.gov.uk2019 No. 163 (W. 40)31 January 201929 April 20192019 No. 163 (W. 40): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Regulated Advocacy Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) Regulations 2019 on legislation.gov.uk2019 No. 165 (W. 41)31 January 201929 April 20192019 No. 165 (W. 41): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Regulated Fostering Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) Regulations 2019 on legislation.gov.uk2019 No. 169 (W. 42)31 January 201929 April 20192019 No. 169 (W. 42): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Regulated Services (Omissions from the Published Register) (Wales) Regulations 2018 on legislation.gov.uk2018 No. 708 (W. 139)11 June 20184 July 20182018 No. 708 (W. 139): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Children (Secure Accommodation) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 on legislation.gov.uk2018 No. 391 (W. 68)19 March 20182 April 20182018 No. 391 (W. 68): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Social Care Wales (Specification of Social Care Workers) (Registration) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 on legislation.gov.uk2018 No. 192 (W. 43)15 Febuary 20182 April 20182018 No. 192 (W. 43): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2018 on legislation.gov.uk2018 No. 195 (W. 44)15 February 20182 April 2018 (subject to paragraphs (2) to (4)2018 No. 195 (W. 44): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 (Consequential Amendments to Secondary Legislation) Regulations 2018 on legislation.gov.uk2018 No. 48 (W. 15)17 January 201819 January 20182018 No. 48 (W. 15): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Regulated Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) Regulations 2017 on legislation.gov.uk2017 No. 1264 (W. 295)12 December 20172 April 20182017 No. 1264 (W. 295): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Regulated Services (Penalty Notices) (Wales) Regulations 2017 on legislation.gov.uk2017 No. 1292 (W. 298)14 December 20172 April 20182017 No. 1292 (W. 298): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Regulated Services (Registration) (Wales) Regulations 2017 on legislation.gov.uk2017 No. 1098 (W. 278)14 November 20171 February 20182017 No. 1098 (W. 278): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Regulated Services (Annual Returns) (Wales) Regulations 2017 on legislation.gov.uk2017 No. 1097 (W. 277)14 November 20172 April 20182017 No. 1097 (W. 277): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Regulated Services (Notifications) (Wales) Regulations 2017 on legislation.gov.uk2017 No. 961 (W. 244)27 September 20173 October 20172017 No. 961 (W. 244): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Social Care Wales (Proceedings before Panels) (Amendment) Regulations 2017 on legislation.gov.uk2017 No. 140 (W. 43)7 February 20173 April 20172017 No. 140 (W. 43): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 (Consequential Amendments to Secondary Legislation) Regulations 2017 on legislation.gov.uk2017 No. 52 (W. 23)21 January 201726 January 20172017 No. 52 (W. 23): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Social Care Wales (Specification of Social Care Workers) (Registration) Regulations 2016 on legislation.gov.uk2016 No. 1235 (W. 293)13 December 20163 April 20172016 No. 1235 (W. 293): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Social Care Wales (Extension of Meaning of "Social Care Worker") Regulations 2016 (on legislation.gov.uk)2016 No. 1251 (W. 293)13 December 20163 April 20172016 No. 1251 (W. 293): Explanatory m on senedd.wales
The Social Care Wales (List of Persons Removed from the Register) Regulations 2016 on legislation.gov.uk2016 No. 11111 (W. 268)15 November 201622 November 20162016 No. 11111 (W. 268): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Social Care Wales (Content of Register) Regulations 2016 on legislation.gov.uk2016 No. 1097 (W. 261)15 November 201622 November 20162016 No. 1097 (W. 261): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Social Care Wales (Constitution of Panels: Prescribed Persons) Regulations 2016 on legislation.gov.uk2016 No. 1099 (W. 263)15 November 201622 November 20162016 No. 1099 (W. 263): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Social Care Wales (Proceedings before Panels) Regulations 2016 on legislation.gov.uk2016 No. 1100 (W. 264)15 November 201622 November 20162016 No. 1100 (W. 264): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales

In addition, the UK Government has made the following Orders:

Consideration of the legislation by the Senedd

The Bill was introduced on 23 February 2015 by Mark Drakeford MS, who was Minister for Health and Social Services at the time, and was passed on 24 November 2015.

More information about the Bill and its passage through the Senedd on senedd.wales.

The Explanatory Memorandum that was prepared by the Welsh Government (as revised after Stage 2). 

The Act received Royal Assent on 18 January 2016.

First published

3 January 2024

Last updated

Part of