OpenLegislation

Care Standards Act 2000 in England

2000 c. 14 · Enacted 20 July 2000 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 5 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 31 July 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
Sch. 4 para. 16repealedDomestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 Sch. 11
s. 5(1A)word repealedChildren and Young Persons Act 2008 Sch. 4
s. 21(5A)insertedChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 s. 14(3)
s. 30A(7)words insertedChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 s. 15(6)(b)
s. 23A-23D and cross-headinginsertedChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 s. 14(2)

An Act to establish a National Care Standards Commission; to make provision for the registration and regulation of children’s homes, independent hospitals, independent clinics, care homes, residential family centres, independent medical agencies, domiciliary care agencies, fostering agencies, nurses agencies and voluntary adoption agencies; to make provision for the regulation and inspection of local authority fostering and adoption services; to establish a General Social Care Council and a Care Council for Wales and make provision for the registration, regulation and training of social care workers; to establish a Children’s Commissioner for Wales; to make provision for the registration, regulation and training of those providing child minding or day care; to make provision for the protection of children and vulnerable adults; to amend the law about children looked after in schools and colleges; to repeal the Nurses Agencies Act 1957; to amend Schedule 1 to the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970; and for connected purposes.

[20th July 2000]

C1C2Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Act amended (W.) (1.4.2002) by The Children's Homes (Wales) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/327), regs. 1(2), 3

C2

Act modified (temp.) (1.4.2009) by The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Commencement No.9, Consequential Amendments and Transitory, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/462), art. 8, Sch. 2

Contents

  1. Part I: Introductory
  2. Preliminary
  3. 1Children's homes in England.
  4. 2Independent hospitals etc.
  5. 3Care homes in England
  6. 4Other basic definitions.
  7. Registration authorities
  8. 5Registration authorities.
  9. 5AGeneral duties of Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection Repealed
  10. 5BGeneral duties of Commission for Social Care Inspection Repealed
  11. 6National Care Standards Commission. Repealed
  12. 7General duties of the Commission. Repealed
  13. 8General functions of the Assembly.
  14. 9Co-operative working. Repealed
  15. 10Inquiries.
  16. Part II: Establishments and agencies
  17. Registration
  18. 11Requirement to register.
  19. 12Applications for registration.
  20. 13Grant or refusal of registration.
  21. 14Cancellation of registration.
  22. 14ASuspension of registration
  23. 15Applications by registered persons.
  24. 16Regulations about registration.
  25. Registration procedure
  26. 17Notice of proposals.
  27. 18Right to make representations.
  28. 19Notice of decisions.
  29. 20Urgent procedure for cancellation, variation etc: England
  30. 20AUrgent procedure for cancellation: Wales
  31. 20BUrgent procedure for suspension or variation etc...
  32. 21Appeals to the Tribunal.
  33. Regulations and standards
  34. 22Regulation of establishments and agencies.
  35. 22APower of CIECSS to serve notice where person is failing to comply with regulations
  36. 22BNotice restricting accommodation at certain establishments
  37. 23National minimum standards.
  38. Offences
  39. 24Failure to comply with conditions.
  40. 24AOffences relating to suspension
  41. 25Contravention of regulations.
  42. 26False descriptions of establishments and agencies.
  43. 27False statements in applications.
  44. 28Failure to display certificate of registration.
  45. 29Proceedings for offences.
  46. 30Offences by bodies corporate.
  47. Penalty notices (Wales)
  48. 30ZAPenalty notices
  49. 30ZBPenalty notices: supplementary provision
  50. Power of CIECSS to impose monetary penalties
  51. 30ZCPower of CIECSS to impose monetary penalties
  52. 30ZDCIECSS monetary penalties: publication of information
  53. Financial regulation (England)
  54. 30ZEPersons who are subject to financial oversight
  55. 30ZFFinancial oversight period
  56. 30ZGPower to require provision of recovery and resolution plan
  57. 30ZHPower to require information
  58. 30ZIPower to arrange for independent business review
  59. 30ZJDuty to issue advance warning notice
  60. 30ZKPower to limit profits of relevant providers
  61. 30ZLPower to limit profits of relevant providers: supplementary provision
  62. 30ZMPower of Secretary of State to impose monetary penalties
  63. Monetary penalties: procedure etc
  64. 30ZNMonetary penalties: procedure etc
  65. Information sharing
  66. 30ZOInformation sharing
  67. Miscellaneous and supplemental
  68. 30ANotification of matters relating to persons carrying on or managing certain establishments or agencies
  69. 31Inspections by persons authorised by registration authority.
  70. 32Inspections: supplementary.
  71. 33Annual returns.
  72. 34Liquidators etc.
  73. 35Death of registered person.
  74. 36Provision of copies of registers.
  75. 36AVoluntary adoption agencies: distribution of functions Repealed
  76. 37Service of documents.
  77. 38Transfers of staff under Part II.
  78. 39Temporary extension of meaning of “nursing home”.
  79. 40Temporary extension of meaning of “children’s home”.
  80. 41Children’s homes: temporary provision about cancellation of registration.
  81. 42Power to extend the application of Part II.
  82. Part III: Local Authority Services
  83. 43Introductory.
  84. 44General powers of the Commission. Repealed
  85. 45Inspection by registration authority of adoption and fostering services.
  86. 46Inspections: supplementary. Repealed
  87. 47Action following inspection. Repealed
  88. 48Regulation of the exercise of relevant fostering functions.
  89. 49National minimum standards.
  90. 50Annual returns.
  91. 51Annual fee. Repealed
  92. 52Contravention of regulations.
  93. 53Offences: general provisions.
  94. Part IV: Social care workers
  95. Preliminary
  96. 54The Care Council for Wales Repealed
  97. 55Interpretation.
  98. Registration
  99. 56The register. Repealed
  100. 57Applications for registration. Repealed
  101. 58Grant or refusal of registration. Repealed
  102. 58AVisiting social workers from relevant European States Repealed
  103. 58BVisiting social care managers from relevant European States Repealed
  104. 59Removal etc. from register. Repealed
  105. 60Rules about registration. Repealed
  106. 61Use of title “social worker” etc. Repealed
  107. Codes of practice
  108. 62Codes of practice. Repealed
  109. Training
  110. 63Approval of courses etc. Repealed
  111. 64Qualifications gained outside the Welsh Council's area– social workers Repealed
  112. 64AQualifications gained outside the Welsh Council’s area – social care managers Repealed
  113. 65Post registration training. Repealed
  114. 66Visitors for certain social work courses. Repealed
  115. 67Functions of the Secretary of State.
  116. 67AExercise by Special Health Authority of functions under s. 67(4)(a)
  117. Miscellaneous and supplemental
  118. 68Appeals to the Tribunal.
  119. 69Publication etc. of register. Repealed
  120. 70Abolition of Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work. Repealed
  121. 71Rules. Repealed
  122. Part V: The Children’s Commissioner for Wales
  123. 72Children’s Commissioner for Wales.
  124. 72APrincipal aim of the Commissioner
  125. 72BReview of exercise of functions of Welsh Ministers and other persons
  126. 73Review and monitoring of arrangements.
  127. 74Examination of cases.
  128. 75Obstruction etc.
  129. 75ZAWorking with other Commissioners
  130. 75ZBWorking jointly with the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales
  131. 75ZCWorking jointly with the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales
  132. 76Further functions.
  133. 77Restrictions.
  134. 78Interpretation.
  135. Part VI: Child minding and day care
  136. 79Amendment of Children Act 1989.
  137. Part VII: Protection of children and vulnerable adults
  138. Protection of vulnerable adults
  139. 80Basic definitions. Repealed
  140. 81Duty of Secretary of State to keep list. Repealed
  141. 82Persons who provide care for vulnerable adults: duty to refer. Repealed
  142. 83Employment agencies and businesses: duty to refer. Repealed
  143. 84Power of registration authority to refer. Repealed
  144. 85Individuals named in the findings of certain inquiries. Repealed
  145. 86Appeals against inclusion in list. Repealed
  146. 87Applications for removal from list. Repealed
  147. 88Conditions for application under section 87. Repealed
  148. 89Effect of inclusion in list. Repealed
  149. 90Searches of list under Part V of Police Act 1997. Repealed
  150. 91Access to list before commencement of section 90. Repealed
  151. 92Persons referred for inclusion in list under Protection of Children Act 1999. Repealed
  152. 93Power to extend Part VII. Repealed
  153. The list kept under section 1 of the 1999 Act
  154. 94Employment agencies and businesses. Repealed
  155. 95Inclusion in 1999 Act list on reference by certain authorities. Repealed
  156. 96Inclusion in 1999 Act list of individuals named in findings of certain inquiries. Repealed
  157. 97Inclusion in 1999 Act list on reference under this Part. Repealed
  158. 98Individuals providing care funded by direct payments. Repealed
  159. 99Transfer from Consultancy Service Index of individuals named in past inquiries. Repealed
  160. Restrictions on working with children in independent schools
  161. 100Additional ground of complaint. Repealed
  162. 101Effect of inclusion in 1996 Act list. Repealed
  163. 102Searches of 1996 Act list. Repealed
  164. General
  165. 103Temporary provision for access to lists.
  166. 104Suitability to adopt a child: searches of lists. Repealed
  167. Part VIII: Miscellaneous
  168. Boarding schools and colleges
  169. 105Welfare of children in boarding schools and colleges.
  170. 106Suspension of duty under section 87(3) of the 1989 Act.
  171. 107Boarding schools: national minimum standards.
  172. 108Annual fee for boarding school inspections.
  173. 109Inspection of schools etc. by persons authorised by Secretary of State.
  174. Fostering
  175. 110Extension of Part IX to school children during holidays.
  176. Employment agencies
  177. 111Nurses Agencies.
  178. Charges for local authority welfare services
  179. 112Charges for local authority welfare services.
  180. Part IX: General and supplemental
  181. Chapter I: General
  182. 113Default powers of appropriate Minister. Repealed
  183. 113AFees payable under Part 2 Repealed
  184. 114Schemes for the transfer of staff.
  185. 115Effect of schemes.
  186. 116Minor and consequential amendments.
  187. 117Transitional provisions, savings and repeals.
  188. Chapter II: Supplemental
  189. 118Orders and regulations.
  190. 118ARegulations: Wales
  191. 119Supplementary and consequential provision etc.
  192. 120Wales.
  193. 121General interpretation etc.
  194. 122Commencement.
  195. 123Short title and extent.
  196. Schedule 1: The Welsh Council Repealed
  197. Introductory Repealed
  198. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  199. Status Repealed
  200. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  201. General powers Repealed
  202. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  203. General duty Repealed
  204. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  205. Membership Repealed
  206. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  207. Appointment, procedure et ceteralaetc. Repealed
  208. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  209. Remuneration and allowances Repealed
  210. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  211. Chief officer Repealed
  212. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  213. Regional directors Repealed
  214. 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
  215. Children’s rights director Repealed
  216. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  217. Director of private and voluntary health care Repealed
  218. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  219. Staff Repealed
  220. 12Paragraph 12 Repealed
  221. Delegation of functions Repealed
  222. 13Paragraph 13 Repealed
  223. Arrangements for the use of staff Repealed
  224. 14Paragraph 14 Repealed
  225. Training Repealed
  226. 15Paragraph 15 Repealed
  227. Payments to authorities Repealed
  228. 16Paragraph 16 Repealed
  229. Fees Repealed
  230. 17Paragraph 17 Repealed
  231. Accounts Repealed
  232. 18Paragraph 18 Repealed
  233. Reports and other information Repealed
  234. 19Paragraph 19 Repealed
  235. Application of seal and evidence Repealed
  236. 20Paragraph 20 Repealed
  237. 21Paragraph 21 Repealed
  238. General Repealed
  239. 22Paragraph 22 Repealed
  240. 23Paragraph 23 Repealed
  241. 24Paragraph 24 Repealed
  242. 25Paragraph 25 Repealed
  243. 26Paragraph 26 Repealed
  244. 27Paragraph 27 Repealed
  245. Schedule 1A: Monetary penalties under Part 2
  246. 1Interpretation
  247. 2Notice of intention to impose monetary penalty
  248. 3Imposition of monetary penalty
  249. 4Amount of monetary penalty
  250. 5Interest and recovery
  251. 6Right of appeal against imposition of monetary penalty
  252. Schedule 2: The Children’s Commissioner for Wales
  253. Status
  254. 1Paragraph 1
  255. Appointment and tenure of office
  256. 2Paragraph 2
  257. Remuneration
  258. 3Paragraph 3
  259. Staff
  260. 4Paragraph 4
  261. General powers
  262. 5Paragraph 5
  263. Estimates
  264. 6Paragraph 6
  265. Accounts
  266. 7Paragraph 7
  267. Reports
  268. 8Paragraph 8
  269. Audit
  270. 9Paragraph 9
  271. Accounting officer
  272. 10Paragraph 10
  273. Examinations into use of resources
  274. 11Paragraph 11
  275. Examinations by the Comptroller and Auditor General
  276. 12Paragraph 12 Repealed
  277. Evidence
  278. 13Paragraph 13
  279. Payments
  280. 14Paragraph 14
  281. General
  282. 15Paragraph 15
  283. 16Paragraph 16
  284. 17Paragraph 17
  285. 18Paragraph 18
  286. Schedule 2A: Persons subject to review by the Commissioner under section 72B.
  287. 1Paragraph 1
  288. 2Paragraph 2
  289. 2AParagraph 2A
  290. 3Paragraph 3
  291. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  292. 5Paragraph 5
  293. 6Paragraph 6
  294. 7Paragraph 7
  295. 8Paragraph 8
  296. 8AParagraph 8A
  297. 9Paragraph 9
  298. 10Paragraph 10
  299. 10AParagraph 10A
  300. 11Paragraph 11
  301. 12Paragraph 12
  302. 13Paragraph 13
  303. 14Paragraph 14
  304. 15Paragraph 15
  305. 16Paragraph 16
  306. 17Paragraph 17
  307. 18Paragraph 18 Repealed
  308. 19Paragraph 19
  309. 20Paragraph 20
  310. 21Paragraph 21 Repealed
  311. 22Paragraph 22 Repealed
  312. 23Paragraph 23
  313. 24Paragraph 24 Repealed
  314. Schedule 2B: Persons whose arrangements are subject to review by the Commissioner under section 73.
  315. 1Paragraph 1
  316. 2Paragraph 2
  317. 3Paragraph 3
  318. Paragraph
  319. 4Paragraph 4
  320. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  321. 6Paragraph 6
  322. 7Paragraph 7
  323. 8Paragraph 8
  324. 9Paragraph 9
  325. 10Paragraph 10
  326. 11Paragraph 11
  327. Schedule 3: Child minding and day care for young children
  328. Paragraph
  329. Schedule 4: Minor and consequential amendments
  330. National Assistance Act 1948 (c.29)
  331. 1Paragraph 1
  332. Mental Health Act 1959 (c.72)
  333. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  334. Children and Young Persons Act 1969 (c.54)
  335. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  336. Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 (c.42)
  337. 4Paragraph 4
  338. Adoption Act 1976 (c.36)
  339. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  340. Adoption (Scotland) Act 1978 (c.28)
  341. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  342. Magistrates’ Court Act 1980 (c. 43)
  343. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  344. Limitation Act 1980 (c.58)
  345. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  346. Mental Health Act 1983 (c.20)
  347. 9Paragraph 9
  348. Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 (c.22)
  349. 10Paragraph 10
  350. Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 (c.33)
  351. 11Paragraph 11
  352. Adoption (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 (S.I. 1987/2203 (N.I.22)) Not yet in force
  353. 12Paragraph 12 Not yet in force
  354. Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 (c.40)
  355. 13Paragraph 13 Repealed
  356. Children Act 1989 (c.41)
  357. 14Paragraph 14
  358. National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (c.19)
  359. 15Paragraph 15
  360. Criminal Procedure (Insanity and Unfitness to Plead) Act 1991 (c.25)
  361. 16Paragraph 16
  362. Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c.53)
  363. 17Paragraph 17 Repealed
  364. Water Industry Act 1991 (c.56)
  365. 18Paragraph 18
  366. 19Paragraph 19
  367. Local Government Finance Act 1992 (c.14)
  368. 20Paragraph 20
  369. Tribunals and Inquiries Act 1992 (c.53)
  370. 21Paragraph 21 Repealed
  371. Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 (c.33) Not yet in force
  372. 22Paragraph 22 Not yet in force
  373. Children (Scotland) Act 1995 (c.36)
  374. 23Paragraph 23
  375. Education Act 1996 (c.56)
  376. 24Paragraph 24 Repealed
  377. Police Act 1997 (c.50)
  378. 25Paragraph 25 Repealed
  379. Protection of Children Act 1999 (c.14)
  380. 26Paragraph 26
  381. Adoption (Intercountry Aspects) Act 1999 (c.18)
  382. 27Paragraph 27
  383. Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 (c.6)
  384. 28Paragraph 28
  385. Amendments of local Acts
  386. 29Paragraph 29
  387. 30Paragraph 30
  388. Schedule 5: Transitional provisions and savings
  389. Fostering agencies
  390. 1Paragraph 1
  391. Voluntary adoption agencies
  392. 2Paragraph 2
  393. Children’s Commissioner for Wales
  394. 3Paragraph 3
  395. Schedule 6Repeals