Care Standards Act 2000 Explanatory Notes

Inspection:  Wales

207.In general no provision is made for the Assembly to prescribe the detailed arrangements for inspection on the face of the Act. As consistent with other parts of the Act a power to enable inspections to be undertaken is sufficient for Wales. Detailed matters of inspection such as this will be dealt with through existing powers of the National Assembly. Under the Act, Estyn (the Welsh equivalent of Ofsted) will be able to become involved in inspections of premises subject to the provisions of Part VI.

Section 79S  General functions of the Assembly

208.Subsection (1) provides for the Assembly to provide training to assist day care providers and childminders. Subsection (2) provides a parallel power to that in section 79N (5) so that the Assembly may, by regulation, confer additional functions on itself, but only where that function has already been conferred on HMCIS by the Secretary of State.

Section 79T Inspection:  Wales

209.Subsection (1) provides a parallel power to that in section 79N (2) so that the Assembly can require a registered person in Wales to provide any information the Assembly considers necessary to carry out its functions. Subsection (2) provides regulation-making powers in respect of inspecting the quality and standards of day care and childminding and in publishing reports of inspections. Subsection (3) enables the Assembly to organise inspections or make arrangements with Estyn or others to organise the inspections.

210.The National Assembly will employ inspectors directly and will not need to create a register of inspectors for any of its responsibilities under this Part .

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