Annual return
If you operate a regulated care service in Wales, you are legally required to submit an annual return each year. From 2026, you must also publish your annual return on your own website.
About the annual return
The annual return is an online form that registered adults and children's service providers must complete each year via their CIW Online account. It collects information about your service, including staffing, capacity, and how you deliver care. This information helps CIW plan inspections, supports public transparency, and contributes to national data on care services in Wales. The annual return window opens on 1 April each year.
What's new for 2026
There are two important changes to the annual return this year.
- For the first time, you must publish your submitted annual return on your own website by 30 June 2026. This is a new legal requirement under the Health and Social Care (Wales) Act 2025. CIW will no longer publish annual returns on your behalf. If you do not have a website, you will need to create one before this deadline.
- From 2026, CIW and Social Care Wales are combining their data collection processes. This means you will complete one return instead of two separate data collections each year. Your workforce data will automatically be shared with Social Care Wales when you submit.
What you need to do
- Complete and submit your annual return via your CIW Online account by 26 May 2026
Download the 'publication copy' of your annual return from your CIW Online account from early May 2026
Note: you will receive a transaction copy of your annual return immediately after submission, but this is for your records only and must not be published on your website.
- Publish your annual return on your own website by 30 June 2026
Who needs to complete an annual return
You must complete an annual return if you operate any of the following:
- Care home services
- Domiciliary support services
- Secure accommodation services
- Residential family centre services
- Regulated fostering services
- Regulated adoption services
- Regulated advocacy services
- Adult placement services
- Special school residential services
The following do not need to complete an annual return:
- Local authority fostering services
- Local authority adoption services
- Further education colleges
- Boarding schools
Guidance and support
We have developed the two resources below to help you submit and publish your annual return.
Our Annual return 2026: Guidance for providers provides a comprehensive overview of the process, including what the annual return is, who needs to complete it, and what the new publication requirement means for your service. If you are new to the annual return or want to understand the changes for 2026, start here.
Our Annual return 2026: Frequently asked questions cover the most common queries about the submission process, the new publication requirement, the workforce spreadsheet, and what to do if you do not have a website.
Both resources are available in the links below.
A step-by-step guide on how to download your annual return will be available from early May 2026, once the 'publication copy' of your return becomes available to download.
Contact us
If you have a question that is not answered here or in the supporting documents, we are happy to help. Contact us on:
- Email: ciw@gov.wales
- Phone: 0300 7900 126