Explanatory note

These Regulations further amend the National Care Standards Commission (Registration) Regulations 2001 (“the 2001 Regulations”), which make provision in relation to the registration of certain establishments and agencies under Part II of the Care Standards Act 2000. The amendments relate to the registration of the following descriptions of establishments and agencies—

• residential family centres

• fostering agencies

• domiciliary care agencies

• nurses agencies

• voluntary adoption agencies.

In relation to each of the above descriptions of establishments and agencies, these Regulations amend the 2001 Regulations so as to define the statement of purpose that is to be provided to the National Care Standards Commission by certain applicants for registration (amendment to regulation 2). Certain new definitions are added in regulation 2 in consequence of the amendments made by these Regulations.

In relation to domiciliary care agencies and nurses agencies, these Regulations amend the provisions in the 2001 Regulations so as to specify the documents to be supplied or made available to the National Care Standards Commission by an applicant for registration as a person who carries on the agency (amendment of Schedule 2).

In relation to voluntary adoption agencies, these Regulations amend the 2001 Regulations so that—

• the National Care Standards Commission will be obliged to keep a register of voluntary adoption agencies containing the particulars specified in Schedule 7 to the 2001 Regulations (amendment of regulation 8 and Schedule 7); and

• the certificate of registration will include the address of the principal office and any branch of the agency (amendment of regulation 9).