CQC vs Ofsted vs Care Inspectorate vs CIW: who regulates you?
By Cura Compliance UK · Updated 3 July 2026
Which regulator you answer to depends on what you do and where. In England, the CQC regulates adult health and social care while Ofsted regulates children's services; in Scotland it is the Care Inspectorate, and in Wales it is Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW). Each requires registration, sets standards, and inspects — but the frameworks and language differ.
The four regulators at a glance
The UK does not have a single care regulator. Responsibility is split by nation and, in England, by whether you serve adults or children:
- CQC (Care Quality Commission) — adult health and social care in England: care homes, domiciliary care, supported living, clinics and more
- Ofsted — children's social care in England: children's homes and, since 2023, supported accommodation for 16- and 17-year-olds
- Care Inspectorate — care services in Scotland, across adults' and children's services
- CIW (Care Inspectorate Wales) — regulated care services in Wales under the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016
England: CQC and Ofsted
The CQC registers providers and (usually) a registered manager, and assesses services under the single assessment framework against the five key questions and 34 quality statements. Ofsted registers children's social care providers and inspects under the Social Care Common Inspection Framework (SCCIF). A provider running both adult and children's services can be answerable to both. See our guides to CQC policies and procedures and Ofsted policies for children's homes.
Scotland: the Care Inspectorate
In Scotland the Care Inspectorate registers and inspects care services and uses the Health and Social Care Standards, grading services on a quality scale. The registration process and terminology differ from England's, so policies written purely for CQC will usually need adapting.
Wales: CIW
In Wales, CIW regulates services under the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016, with duties on the service provider and the responsible individual. Again the framework is distinct, and Welsh-language duties may apply.
What they have in common
Whichever regulator applies, the fundamentals rhyme: you must register, evidence safe and well-led care through current policies and records, keep staff trained and supervised, and act on what your audits find. The documentary backbone — a mapped, version-controlled policy set with staff acknowledgements — is valuable everywhere.
How CuraFlow helps
CuraFlow provides regulator-aligned policy libraries by service type, kept current and personalised to your organisation. For hands-on registration support with the CQC, Ofsted, the Care Inspectorate or CIW, the consultancy team behind CuraFlow — Cura Compliance UK — supports providers across the UK. Browse the policy libraries to get started.
Frequently asked questions
- Who regulates care services in the UK?
- It depends on nation and client group: the CQC (adult care in England), Ofsted (children's services in England), the Care Inspectorate (Scotland) and Care Inspectorate Wales / CIW (Wales). Each registers providers, sets standards and inspects.
- What is the difference between CQC and Ofsted?
- The CQC regulates adult health and social care in England under the single assessment framework; Ofsted regulates children's social care in England — such as children's homes and supported accommodation — under the SCCIF.
- Can policies written for the CQC be used in Scotland or Wales?
- Not without adaptation. The Care Inspectorate (Scotland) and CIW (Wales) use different frameworks, standards and terminology, so a CQC-based set needs tailoring to the relevant nation's requirements.
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