Care in Wales improves as inspectorate highlights sector progress and challenges

Care services across Wales are delivering higher standards of care, according to the Chief Inspector's Annual Report for 2024-2025. The report shows how targeted inspection and enforcement is supporting measurable improvements whilst highlighting ongoing sector challenges.

Inspection effectiveness delivers results

Care Inspectorate Wales's (CIW) intelligence-led approach to inspection has contributed to significant quality improvements. Across all sectors, the majority of inspection ratings awarded during 2024-2025 were ‘good’ or ‘excellent’: 84% in adult social care, 78% in children’s services, and 80% in childcare and play services.

The inspectorate issued 373 Priority Action Notices during the year - a 41% reduction from 2023-2024 - indicating that fewer services are falling short of required standards. These notices are used when immediate action is needed to protect people's safety or wellbeing.

Responsive regulation protects vulnerable people

When concerns are raised, CIW acts decisively. The inspectorate brought forward 239 inspections during the year in response to concerns raised by families, staff and professionals. This approach demonstrates the regulator's responsiveness when people speak up, and ensures problems are identified and addressed quickly.

CIW has introduced quality meetings with childcare and play services to encourage improvement-focused conversations between formal inspections. This year, 154 services used these meetings to reflect on their practices and plan future improvements. This approach supports early identification of issues and helps maintain focus on continuous improvement.

These interventions are part of CIW's commitment to protecting people and driving improvement in the care sector, not just reporting on it.

Sector innovation despite challenges

Despite ongoing workforce and financial pressures, Welsh care services continue to innovate with direct benefits for people across Wales. The report highlights examples including micro care initiatives that have reduced domiciliary care waiting times by up to 30% and help people stay at home for longer, and virtual ward rounds that better align resources with people's individual needs, ensuring the right support reaches the right person at the right time.

Overseas care workers are increasingly important to the Welsh care workforce, with many learning Welsh to better support service users and cultural exchange programmes are helping to create more inclusive and responsive care environments that celebrate Wales' diverse communities.

"Every day I see the transformative power of good care - from children thriving in nurturing environments to older people maintaining their independence with the right support," said Gillian Baranski, Chief Inspector for Care Inspectorate Wales.

"I am continuously impressed by the fortitude of the workforce who deliver this care, often in the face of significant challenges. The care and support most people receive is of a good or excellent standard, and they thrive because of it."

Clear challenges remain

"This annual report shows real progress in care quality across Wales," said Gillian Baranski, Chief Inspector at CIW.

"However, we remain clear-eyed about ongoing challenges. Workforce shortages, financial pressures and rising demand continue to test service resilience. That so many services deliver high-quality care in this context is a testament to the dedication of the workforce and the strength of the care sector." 

Regulatory confidence

The report demonstrates confidence in CIW's regulatory approach. Only 6% of inspection reports were challenged by providers, whilst almost 7,000 people shared their care experiences with inspectors during the year. This feedback continues to shape how the regulator works to protect and improve care services across Wales, supporting its mission to assure quality, drive improvement, and expand its influence to make a positive difference for people who need care and support.

CIW completed 1,087 inspections of registered adult services, 219 inspections of children’s services and 792 inspections and 154 quality meetings of childcare and play services during 2024-25. Joint inspections with partner agencies, including Healthcare Inspectorate Wales and Estyn, provided comprehensive oversight of multi-agency services.

You can read the full report by clicking the link at the bottom of this page.