This facsheet is about complaints relating to the Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW). It should be read together with our general information booklet about our service. CIW is responsible for encouraging improvement in social care, early years and social services. It achieves this aim through regulation, inspection and review. If you think that CIW has not followed the law, regulations or guidance, the Ombudsman may be able to help you with your complaint. The Ombudsman would normally expect you to complain to CIW (Welsh Government) itself, in the first instance.
He can:
He cannot:
Further information about CIW, including copies of inspection reports, can be found on its website: https://careinspectorate.wales/
If you wish to appeal against a regulatory decision taken by CIW that you have already made a representation about to CIW itself, you can appeal to the Care Standards Tribunal: Care Standards Tribunal, 1st Floor, Darlington Magistrates Court, Parkgate, DL1 1RU; Tel: 01325 289350; Email: cst@justice.gov.uk
If you have a complaint regarding the actions of an individual social worker or care worker, you may wish to contact Social Care Wales: Social Care Wales, Southgate House, Wood Street, Cardiff, CF10 1EW;
Telephone: 0300 30 33 444; Email: info@socialcare.wales Website: https://socialcare.wales/
The Ombudsman is independent and impartial; he cannot order public bodies to do what he recommends – but, in practice, they almost always do. Examples of cases that the Ombudsman has considered can be found on our website. Please see www.ombudsman.wales.
If you are unsure whether the Ombudsman would be able to look into your complaint, please contact us.