Written Statement: Amendments to regulations made under the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care Wales (Act) 2016

I consulted on proposals to amend the Regulated Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) Regulations 2017, as amended, to address two issues in the regulatory framework;

• the reconfiguration of accommodation-based services to create additional bedrooms and increase the number of registered places; and
• the emergence of intermediate care services run by local authorities which fall within the definition of a care home service.

I am bringing forward regulations to require that when any provider of an accommodation-based service reconfigures their premises to accommodate 5 or more people, any additional bedroom(s) and the communal areas of the service, must meet the higher standards required by Part 13 of the 2017 Regulations. This includes en-suite facilities and appropriate room sizes for the additional bedrooms as well as sufficient communal and accessible outdoor space. This will ensure that improvements continue to be made to the built estate over time. 

I am also bringing forward regulations to exempt intermediate care services provided by a local authority from having to register as a care home service, provided that the care and support is delivered by the local authority’s registered domiciliary support service, the accommodation is vested in the local authority and the service is limited to 16 weeks per individual. This will maintain a proportionate approach to the regulation of these services.    

I published a report on the consultation outcome on 30 October 2023.