Launched in April 2004, the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) is the single, independent inspectorate for all social care services in England. The Commission was created by the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003.

The Commission for Social Care Inspection brings together the work previously undertaken by the Social Services Inspectorate, the SSI/ Audit Commission joint review team and the social care functions of the National Care Standards Commission.

The Commission has a much wider remit than its predecessor organisations. And its creation is a significant milestone for social care. Bringing together the inspection, regulation and review of all social care services into one organisation creates a more effective and joined up system.

For the first time, one single organisation has a total overview of the whole social care industry. The Commission provides a complete picture of social care in England.

The Inspectorate Performs the following key functions:

• Local inspections of all social care organisations - public, private, and voluntary - against national standards and publish reports;
• Registers services that meet national minimum standards;
• Carry out inspections of local social service authorities;
• Publishes an annual report to Parliament on national progress on social care and an analysis of where resources have been spent;
• Validates all published performance assessment statistics on social care;
• Publishes the star ratings for social services authorities.

For further information go to the CSCI website: www.csci.org.uk