· Development of the National Care Standards Commission

The recently passed Care Standards Act has two main aims: to improve the quality of care services and protecting people who are vulnerable who use these services.

Under the Act regulation and inspection of social care and health care will take place through the National Care Standards Commission replacing the current Registration and Inspection Units.

Regulation by the National Care Standards Commission will begin from 1st April 2000. Despite the Act being large the legislation is only a framework with detail to follow in secondary legislation. The Commission will be a non Departmental Public Body independent of the Department of Health. How independent will it truly be from the services it is regulating.

We will keep you updated with the latest news ,or you can contact NCSC UPDATE with any questions at Department of Health, PO Box 777, London, SE1 6HX Or on the website at www.doh.gov.uk/ncsc