History of CSCI

Created by the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003, the Commission for Social Care Inspection was launched in April 2004. It was the single independent inspectorate for adults’ and children’s statutory, private and voluntary social care services in England. It incorporated the work of the National Care Standards Commission, the Social Services Inspectorate and the SSI/Audit Commission joint review team.

In April 2005 it began a three-year drive, as detailed in Inspecting for Better Lives, to modernise the regulatory system. It was announced that CSCI’s adult services inspection would merge with the Healthcare Commission and the Mental Health Act Commission in 2008-9 to form a new joint health and social care regulator. CSCI’s children’s function was transferred to Ofsted in April 2006 to form a single children’s services inspectorate.

Inspecting for Better Lives, CSCI, July 2005