Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) does not inspect a service by only looking at paperwork.
CIW gathers evidence from different places.
In simple terms, inspectors look at:
- What they see
- What people tell them
- What they read
The Focus Is on People
CIW's inspection approach is people-focused.
The aim is to understand whether people are safe, whether their well-being is supported and whether their rights are upheld.
The Main Inspection Themes
For regulated adult and children's services, CIW's inspection approach considers four broad themes:
1. Well-being
Are people supported to achieve good outcomes?
Are their rights, voices and individual needs respected?
2. Care and Support
Is the care and support good, safe and suitable for the person?
3. Environment
For services where this theme applies, inspectors consider whether surroundings are safe, clean, accessible, comfortable and suitable.
4. Leadership and Management
Are the systems, leadership and management arrangements strong enough to support high-quality care?
For services without accommodation, the environment theme is not considered.
Inspectors May Talk to Different People
CIW says inspectors may gather evidence from:
- People using services
- Relatives and friends
- Staff
- Providers
- Professionals
- Other relevant sources
This is why culture matters.
Your documents may say one thing.
But people's real experience may show something different.
Inspectors Look for Evidence
A policy saying "we do this" is not the same as proof that it happens.
A good question is:
If someone asked us to show how we do this, what evidence would we have?
Evidence might include:
- Records
- Feedback
- Observations
- Meeting notes
- Reviews
- Actions taken
- Training information
The exact evidence will depend on the service and inspection focus.
Ratings for Some Services
Care homes and domiciliary support services in Wales are subject to CIW's inspection ratings system.
CIW awards ratings against relevant inspection themes using four levels:
- Excellent
- Good
- Requires improvement
- Requires significant improvement
There is not one overall provider rating.
The Best Preparation
The goal should not be to "perform" well for an inspector.
The goal is to build a service that works well every day.
That means:
- Listen to people.
- Keep records accurate.
- Support staff.
- Follow up on problems.
- Review quality.
- Improve continuously.
Need Help Finding Gaps?
MILD Professional Care Services can help you review your service before an inspection and turn gaps into a clear action plan.