Inspectorate takes first step to fusion

The Social Services Inspectorate is
restructuring in preparation for the arrival of the new Commission
for Social Care Inspection, which was announced last month.

The new inspectorate will take over the
inspection functions of the SSI along with the social care
functions of the recently launched National Care Standards
Commission (news analysis, page 18, 2 May).

To prepare for this, the SSI will carry out
its functions through a structure based on nine geographical areas
coterminous with the nine regional government offices.

Inspection and performance assessment will be
integrated under the new arrangements to allow the development of a
proper process of risk assessment and to enable rapid response to
particular performance issues in individual councils.