A new inspection rating system for social care providers in Wales is being launched next week.
From 1 April, social care regulator Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) will rate the quality of services in four areas: wellbeing; care and support; leadership and management; and environment.
“Inspection ratings matter because people matter, and their care and support services matter”
Dawn Bowden
Each area will be rated as either ‘excellent’, ‘good’, ‘requires improvement’ or ‘requires significant improvement’, with ratings shown on inspection reports and CIW’s website.
According to the Welsh Government, most services will also be required to display their rating both on posters on the premises and on their websites after inspections.
Adult care homes with four or fewer residents, children’s care homes and some domiciliary support providers will be exempt from displaying ratings on the premises.
However, qualifying domiciliary providers will have to display at least one sign showing the ratings in each of its offices.
Unlike the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England, which already publishes ratings in a similar way to the system being introduced in Wales, CIW did not previously have the ability to publicly rate social care providers in this way.
The decision to empower the CIW was made after a consultation launched last year.
This consultation fielded views from a range of social care stakeholders who, CIW said, supported an appeals process and the creation of an offence for failing to display ratings.
The Regulated Services (Inspection Ratings) (Wales) Regulations 2025 was then laid before the Senedd and will be in place as of 1 April.
Dawn Bowden, Welsh minister for children and social care, told the Senedd earlier this week that the legislation would improve the quality of social care services.
“Inspection ratings matter because people matter, and their care and support services matter,” she told members of the Senedd on Tuesday.
“Ratings will encourage a culture of continuous improvement in which service providers are encouraged to look beyond compliance, and ensure positive outcomes for everyone they care for… showcase excellence by recognising and celebrating high-quality care… [and] will provide clarity for people seeking care and support and their families, enabling them to compare the quality and safety of services at a glance.”
Ms Bowden formally launched the upcoming regulatory changes during a visit to Hallmark Tŷ Porth Luxury Care Home, Porth.
Aneurin Brown, chief executive of Hallmark Care Homes, which runs the facility, said: “It was an honour to welcome the minister for children and social care to Hallmark Tŷ Porth for the official announcement of the new inspection rating system in Wales.
“We are proud that during the pilot phase, three of our homes received an ‘excellent’ rating, and we look forward to working with CIW as they conduct future inspections under the new framework.”
CIW said the benefits of introducing published ratings included transparency, clarity, empowering people to choose good providers and driving continuous improvement.
Chief inspector Gillian Baranski added: “This new ratings system will help people make informed choices about care services while supporting providers to continuously enhance the quality of care they deliver.
“Most care in Wales is good care. Ratings will highlight what is working well and support improvement where needed across Wales.”
