What is the Care Inspectorate for Wales (CIW)?

The Care Inspectorate  Wales (CIW) registers and inspects registered care services in Wales for quality and safety of care.   

For professional advice tailored to your business, call our Health and Safety advisory team today on 01455 858 132.

• What do the CIW do? 

• What is the difference between the CIW and the CQC? 

• Who do the CIW regulate? 

• What happens during a CIW inspection? 

• What happens after a CIW inspection? 

• Need advice on a CIW inspection? 

What do the CIW do? 

The role of the CIW is to professionally regulate, assess and encourage improvement around registered care services in Wales.   

They achieve this by inspecting and reviewing local services across three regions, North, West and South East. Additionally, the CIW has enforcement powers which are covered under the Care Standards Act 2000 to ensure that the National Minimum Standards are being reached.  

What is the difference between the CIW and the CQC? 

The main difference between the CIW and CQC (Care Quality Commission) is the location which they operate, While the CIW is primarily Wales, the CQC is the regulating body for health and social care in England.  

This means that the CQC oversees the whole range of health and social care in England, including hospitals, GP practices and dental practices.  

Healthcare in Wales is regulated by the Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW). Whereas the CIW focusses on care and social services, which looks at care for individual and not just industrial compliance.  

Who do the CIW regulate? 

The Care Inspectorate Wales regulates the following services: 

• Adoption services 

• Adult placement services 

• Advocacy services 

• Care homes – including those that require nurses 

• Childminders 

• Day-care services for under 12s 

• Domiciliary care services 

• Fostering services 

• Full day care and adult day care 

• Further education colleges, including for students under 18 

• Out-of-school care 

• Residential family centre services 

• Residential special schools 

• Secure accommodation service 

What happens during a CIW inspection?  

During an inspection CIW inspectors will check how a service is being provided and if the minimum standards are being met, 

This will include:  

• Speaking with people who use the service 

• Observing service users using the service 

• Speaking with relatives of service users who use the service 

• Speaking with members of staff, such as a care home manager 

• Reading relevant policies and records 

• In some cases, handing out questionnaires to the above. 

• Checking if the service is also provided in Welsh, without somebody having to request this 

What happens after a CIW inspection? 

Usually, once an inspection has taken place, the service provider will receive a post-inspection feedback questionnaire which gives them the opportunity to share any thoughts about the inspection process.  

Once an inspection has been completed, the care provider will be contacted by the inspector who will discuss their findings with them.  

All findings will then be written up into an inspection report within 25 working days of the inspection taking place.  

Once the service provider has received their report, they have up to 10 working days to say if they agree with the outcome of the report and if they think the findings that have been stated are factually correct.  

If for any reason the service provider does not agree with the report, there is the possibility for amendments to be made.  

Need advice on an upcoming CIW inspection? 

Talk to a member of our Health and Safety team today for assistance on the health and safety aspects of the CIW inspection.  

With over 80 years of experience in working with small to medium businesses we can offer advice and solutions, specifically tailored to your organisation. 

Call today on 01455 858 132.