The Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) has announced a reform to the way in which social services are reviewed and inspected.

The main elements of the new inspection system are:

• Local authorities will be required have an annual improvement plan for social services, which they will have to report on how it is being delivered in a public annual report;
• CSSIW will undertake a review and analysis of evidence underpinning the annual report including evidence from other inspectorates and regulators;
• The analysis will result in an individual Inspection and Review Plan for each authority; and,
• All authorities will receive announced and unannounced visits annually.

The new framework will be implemented from April 2009.

Further information is available on the Welsh Assembly Government website.