The children's commissioner in Wales is to have a much wider role. Major extensions to the duties of the commissioner, the first in the UK, have been agreed by the Cabinet and the changes will be fast-tracked through parliament as an amendment to the Care Standards Bill.

The commissioner will now take in domiciliary services for disabled children, the social care elements of day care services for children under eight, and adoption agencies and services.

The commissioner will also cover children's homes, services for children in private and voluntary hospitals and clinics, residential family centres, and welfare inspections of boarding schools.

Establishing a children's commissioner has been one of the Welsh assembly's top priorities and was put into effect well before the Waterhouse report into abuse at children's homes in north Wales recommended such a post earlier this year.

The assembly's health and social services committee has already been given the job of investigating the commissioner's role.

A number of agencies including Children in Wales, the NSPCC and the Welsh Local Government Association have also been making the case for a commissioner for some time.

The assembly's first secretary, Rhodri Morgan, said: "We have now had confirmation that the commissioner's function under the Bill will be extended to a wide range of settings. The commissioner is a significant and innovative development for Wales and will be unique in the UK.

"We are seeking the earliest opportunity for further primary legislation to give the commissioner wider statutory functions concerning all children in further settings."

The appointment of the commissioner has all-party support in the assembly.