Care Regulators by Nation

Care is regulated by a different body in each UK nation: CQC in England, the Care Inspectorate in Scotland, Care Inspectorate Wales, and RQIA in Northern Ireland. Each has its own basis for cleanliness and infection control, so a provider or cleaning contractor operating across borders must know which regulator, and which standard, applies where.

England: the Care Quality Commission

In England, care is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. Cleanliness sits within Regulation 15 (premises and equipment) and infection control within Regulation 12 (safe care and treatment), reinforced by the IPC Code of Practice. CQC can prosecute a Regulation 12 infection-control failure that exposes people to significant risk of harm.

Scotland: the Care Inspectorate

In Scotland, the Care Inspectorate registers and inspects care services against the Health and Social Care Standards, alongside new infection-prevention-and-control standards published by Healthcare Improvement Scotland that apply to health and adult social care settings. Vetting in Scotland runs through the PVG scheme, not DBS.

Wales: Care Inspectorate Wales

In Wales, Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) regulates care under the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 and associated national standards. As in the other nations, cleanliness and infection prevention are part of what CIW inspects, and the underlying expectation — a clean, safe, infection-controlled environment — is consistent even though the legal framework differs.

Northern Ireland: RQIA

In Northern Ireland, the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) registers and inspects health and social care services, carries out infection-prevention-and-control audits, and inspects adult care homes at least twice a year. Vetting in Northern Ireland uses AccessNI. RQIA's IPC focus makes documented cleaning evidence just as important north of the border and across the Irish Sea.

One regulator England often gets wrong: children's homes

A common trap in England: children's homes are regulated by Ofsted, not CQC. Providers must register with Ofsted before operating, and cleaning operatives in children's homes require an Enhanced check with the Children's Barred List. So even within England the regulator depends on the setting — worth confirming before assuming CQC. For cleaning, the practical answer is the same everywhere: documented schedules, colour-coding, COSHH and audit evidence.

UK care regulators and their cleanliness / IPC basis

Last updated: 5 July 2026 · By Shepherd Nyakudya