A new corporate plan pointing towards a sustainable future for social care and social work in Scotland
After extensive engagement across the sector last year, we have published a bold and refreshed corporate plan to guide our work over the next five years.
The new corporate plan has our vision even more firmly at its core: that everyone in Scotland experiences high-quality, compassionate care, support and learning when they need it, delivered in a way that respects their rights and choices.
To achieve this, our mission sets out how we will provide public assurance about the quality of social care and social work - supporting improvement and collaboration.
The corporate plan is built around three strategic outcomes that reflect what stakeholders expect from a modern, rights-focused regulator.
Each strategic outcome and enabler will be supported by clear performance measures. These were developed to ensure they reflect shared priorities and can drive accountability across the organisation.
Information session and promise update: care homes for children and young people and special residential schools
We are holding an online information session for providers, managers and staff working in care homes for children and young people or special residential schools.
At this session we will share our updated quality framework as well as information on self-evaluation and our approach to inspection for the 2026/27 inspection year. There will also be an opportunity to hear about quality improvement support programmes.
Date: Thursday 30 April
Time: 10:00 - 13:00
Book your place at the session here.
Self-evaluation for improvement guides
We have developed new self-evaluation guides for children and young people services, including a full reference version and a shorter summary version. These will replace ‘Self-evaluation for improvement - your guide’ and the previous guidance published with each set of self-evaluation tools. The guides bring all the information together in one place and include more detail on areas of the process that services have told us they find challenging. The summary guide gives the overarching structure, while the full guide can be used when extra detail or examples would be helpful.
You can read the draft versions here:
· Self-evaluation for improvement – summary guide
· Self-evaluation for improvement – step by step guide
We are now seeking feedback from people working in and providing children and young people's services about the content, specifically anything you feel should be added, removed, or refined. You can share your views by completing the MS Form: Self-evaluation guides: feedback survey. Please submit your response by 24 April 2026.
Thank you for your support and for taking the time to share your feedback.
Latest news and information from other organisations
Health and Social Care Standards under review
The Health and Social Care Standards are currently being reviewed in collaboration with people who work in the sector, regulators and people who use health and social care support. There will be a formal consultation period later in the year to ensure everyone has the opportunity to consider any proposed changes.
If you have any questions about the review of the Health and Social Care Standards, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Public Health Scotland consultation on the Health protection in children and young people settings, including education guidance
Public Health Scotland (PHS) is in the process of updating the Health protection in children and young people settings, including education guidance and is seeking feedback on the proposed updated guidance.
This guidance:
- is a practical guide for all staff or volunteers working in settings for children and young people in Scotland
- should provide users with all the information that they need help to prevent and respond to infectious diseases in both early years settings (including child minders) and schools.
The guidance is available on a password‑protected section of the PHS website. Please click on the relevant link and use the passwords provided to access the guidance relevant to your sector.
Early years' settings guidance:
Link: Health protection for early years childcare settings
Password: hpc623
Schools' guidance:
Link: Health protection for schools
Password: hpc623
Please respond to the version of the guidance that is most relevant to your setting. If applicable, you are welcome to respond to both versions. Feedback can be submitted by completing the below forms.
The deadline for sending back your comments is Thursday 2 April 2026.
Children’s Health Scotland national health rights survey
Children’s Health Scotland are running a national health rights survey to understand what health and health rights look like for children, young people and families across Scotland in 2026. The survey links are below.
The deadline is Monday 8 June 2026.
Visit the Children's Health Scotland website for more information.
From 1 April 2026, if you apply to join the PVG scheme your scheme membership will last for five years from the date you join. If you are an existing scheme member and you make a PVG scheme application, your membership will automatically move to a five-year membership, ending your lifetime membership. Read some FAQs here.
National Social Work Agency
The National Social Work Agency (NSWA) formally launched on 17 March 2026. Launching on World Social Work Day reflected the agency’s commitment to global social work values, marking an important milestone in strengthening trauma‑responsive, high‑quality social work practice across Scotland. For further information and future updates about the National Social Work Agency visit the website.
Digitally Enabled Workforce (DEW) webinars
From Insight to Action: Self-Assessment Tool and Dashboards in Practise - Make improvement visible and support your workforce.
Date: Thursday 9 April
Time: 13.00 – 14.00
Booking link
Digital Transformation: Leadership in Action
Date: Wednesday 22 April
Time: 14.00 – 15.00
Registration link
PDA in Technology Enabled Care
Applications are open for the PDA in Technology Enabled Care (SCQF Level 7) starting September 2026.
Delivered online with UHI Perth College and funded by Scottish Government & COSLA, this qualification is perfect for frontline staff across health, social care, social work and housing. Apply now.
We now publish our provider updates every three weeks and focus our content on Care Inspectorate news and activity.
We encourage services to follow us on social media, regularly check our website and The Hub as well as the social media and websites of other relevant organisations, to keep up to date with the latest news and guidance.
You are receiving this newsletter as we have an obligation to share relevant information and guidance with you as a registered service with the Care Inspectorate.
Find out more about our work at www.careinspectorate.com
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