The Recognition of Professional Qualifications and Implementation of International Recognition Agreements (Regulation and Inspection of Social Care) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2026

Welsh Statutory Instruments

2026 No. 24

professional qualifications, wales

The Recognition of Professional Qualifications and Implementation of International Recognition Agreements (Regulation and Inspection of Social Care) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2026

Made

4 February 2026

Coming into force

1 April 2026

The Welsh Ministers, in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 3(1) and (2), and 13(1) of the Professional Qualifications Act 2022(1) (“the 2022 Act”), make the following Regulations.

In accordance with section 14 of the 2022 Act, the Welsh Ministers are satisfied that the Regulations do not remove the ability of Social Care Wales(2) to prevent individuals who are unfit to practise as social care workers from doing so, and that the Regulations will not have a material adverse effect on the social care profession in terms of the knowledge, skills or experience of the individuals practising it.

In accordance with section 15 of the 2022 Act, the Welsh Ministers have consulted Social Care Wales as the regulator of social care workers in Wales.

These Regulations have been laid before Senedd Cymru in accordance with the Senedd approval procedure under section 18(1), (6)(b) and (8) of the 2022 Act.

(1)

2022 c. 20. See section 16 for the definition of “appropriate national authority” and section 3(4) for the definition of “international recognition agreement”.

(2)

See section 67 of the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 (anaw 2) (“the 2016 Act”). Section 67(1) of that Act repealed section 54 of the Care Standards Act 2000 (c. 14), but the corporate body it established (the Care Council for Wales) was continued and renamed as Social Care Wales (referred to in the 2016 Act as SCW) by section 67(1) and (2) respectively. The original functions of the corporate body were restated, modified as required, and added to by the 2016 Act.