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Care Inspectorate WalesArolygiaeth Gofal Cymru

CIW registration for domiciliary care in Wales

To run a home care agency in Wales you must register a domiciliary support service with Care Inspectorate Wales before you support anyone. You apply through CIW Online with a Statement of Purpose, a two year business plan and cash flow, and a Responsible Individual who CIW interviews. We prepare all of it with you, written for Welsh law, not adapted from England.

Packages from £500 to £8,500 + VAT, fixed before we start.

Book a consultation0333 577 0877Package brochure (PDF)

CIW registration at a glance

  • Up to 14 weeksfor CIW to decide a new application
  • £0CIW registration or annual fee
  • 6 weeksto add or change a Responsible Individual
  • 7 regionsyou choose the areas you will serve

Source: Care Inspectorate Wales registration guidance, updated 25 March 2026. You submit through CIW Online and CIW makes the decision.

CIW registration is not CQC with a Welsh address

Wales has its own law, its own regulator and its own workforce register. An English registration does not let you provide care in Wales. These are the differences that catch providers out.

  • EnglandCare Quality Commission (CQC)

    Regulator

    WalesCare Inspectorate Wales (CIW)

  • EnglandHealth and Social Care Act 2008

    Law

    WalesRegulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016

  • EnglandThe regulated activity of personal care

    What you register

    WalesA domiciliary support service, with each region you serve as a condition

  • EnglandNominated individual

    Key accountable person

    WalesResponsible Individual, with legal duties to visit and review

  • EnglandRegistered manager, registered with CQC

    Manager

    WalesManager registered with Social Care Wales

  • EnglandNo register for care workers

    Care workers

    WalesMust register with Social Care Wales within 6 months

  • EnglandAnnual CQC fee, set by the size of the service

    Regulator fees

    WalesNo CIW registration or annual fee

  • EnglandCQC says it can take a few months

    Decision time

    WalesUp to 14 weeks for a new application

  • EnglandOne overall rating plus five key questions

    Ratings

    WalesA rating for each theme, no overall rating

  • EnglandEnglish

    Language

    WalesWelsh language Active Offer expected

What our CIW registration package includes

Everything a domiciliary support application needs, written for Wales. Take the full package or only the parts you need, from £500 + VAT.

  • Statement of Purpose

    Written to CIW's guide and Schedule 2 of the Registration Regulations 2017, covering the areas you will serve, your staffing and your Welsh language offer.

    • Aims and objectives
    • Who you support
    • Areas you serve
    • Staffing
    • Welsh language
    • Complaints

  • Two year business plan and cash flow

    Built around Welsh council commissioning, Real Living Wage pay and the regions you choose.

  • Wales policies and procedures

    Aligned to RISCA, the 2017 regulations, the Wales Safeguarding Procedures and the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, in your brand.

    Wales policies

  • Responsible Individual interview coaching

    One to one coaching on the four interview areas and the Welsh language, with mock interviews built around your documents.

  • CIW Online application support

    We check every upload before you submit and help you answer CIW's questions during assessment.

  • Your first year

    Templates for Responsible Individual visits and quality of care reviews, annual return support, ratings readiness and policy updates.

    • Three monthly visit notes
    • Six monthly quality review
    • Annual return
    • Policy updates

  • Brand and website

    Logo, printed materials and a care website, with Welsh where you want it.

    Branding

How to register a home care agency with CIW, step by step

Seven steps from first document to Notice of Decision. Plan for four to six months in total.

Before you apply

  1. Step 1

    Prepare your application pack

    Statement of Purpose, two year business plan, cash flow, structural plan, policies, DBS, references and insurance. Usually several weeks.

  2. Step 2

    Create your CIW Online account

    Sign up on CIW Online, then phone CIW to verify your identity and receive your activation PIN.

After you submit

Up to 14 weeks

  1. Step 3

    Submit everything at once

    Complete the online form and upload every document in a single submission.

  2. Step 4

    Completeness check and allocation

    CIW checks the application is complete, accepts it and allocates a registration inspector.

  3. Step 5

    Quality assessment

    An initial assessment of quality within three weeks of allocation. CIW may ask for more information.

  4. Step 6

    Responsible Individual interview

    The Responsible Individual completes a questionnaire and a suitability interview. CIW may also ask for a premises checklist or visit.

  5. Step 7

    Notice of Decision

    CIW grants registration with your conditions. You must not provide a service until you have it. A refusal starts with a Notice of Proposal and 28 days to respond.

What CIW asks for in a domiciliary support application

Everything is uploaded through CIW Online in one submission. Missing or out of date items are the main reason applications stall.

CIW's Register a service page
  1. 1

    Statement of Purpose

    We prepare

    One for each service, to CIW's guide and Schedule 2 of the 2017 regulations, including your Welsh language offer.

  2. 2

    Business plan for two years

    We prepare with you

    Your service model, the areas you will serve, staffing and how you will grow.

  3. 3

    Detailed projected cash flow

    We prepare with you

    Month by month, showing you can pay staff before income arrives.

  4. 4

    Structural plan of your organisation

    We prepare

    Who reports to whom: provider, Responsible Individual, manager, staff.

  5. 5

    DBS certificate for the Responsible Individual

    You provide

    Enhanced, under 3 months old at submission or on the DBS Update Service.

  6. 6

    Medical reference for the Responsible Individual

    You provide

    On CIW's template, uploaded with the application.

  7. 7

    Bank reference

    You provide

    On CIW's template, for the individual or the organisation.

  8. 8

    Annual accounts for the last two years

    You provide

    If your organisation has traded. New companies explain why there are none.

  9. 9

    Two references for the Responsible Individual

    You provide

    Required for individual applicants and Responsible Individuals.

  10. 10

    Certificate of insurance

    You provide

    Liability insurance for the service, required by the regulations.

CIW's list also includes floor plans, which mainly apply to accommodation based services. CIW provides templates for the Statement of Purpose, medical reference and bank references.

Choose the areas of Wales you will serve

When you apply, you name the areas your domiciliary support service will cover, from the seven Regional Partnership Board areas. Each area becomes a condition of your registration and is inspected as a separate service, so choose the areas you can staff and manage well.

Drawn roughly in place, not to scale. Select an area to see its councils.

North Wales

6 council areas

  • Isle of Anglesey
  • Gwynedd
  • Conwy
  • Denbighshire
  • Flintshire
  • Wrexham

The Responsible Individual: the role CIW tests hardest

Every organisation registering with CIW designates a Responsible Individual. For a company, CIW expects a director registered at Companies House, or a senior officer with the authority to hire, set pay and make investment decisions. The role carries legal duties of its own, and a new Responsible Individual takes about six weeks to approve.

What CIW asks at the suitability interview

  1. 1How you will appoint a suitable manager, and report the appointment
  2. 2How you will oversee management, including when the manager is away
  3. 3How often you will visit the service, and what you will check
  4. 4How you will monitor and improve quality, including quality of care reviews

CIW also asks how you will promote the Welsh language. We coach you on all of it, around your own documents.

A Responsible Individual's year

The minimum the regulations require, for a year starting in April

  1. Apr
  2. May
  3. JunVisit
  4. Jul
  5. Aug
  6. SepVisitReview
  7. Oct
  8. Nov
  9. DecVisit
  10. Jan
  11. Feb
  12. MarVisitReview

Visit the service, at least every three monthsQuality of care review and report, at least every six months

  • Supervise management

    Oversee how the service is run day to day, through the manager.

  • Annual return

    Within 56 days of the year end, and on your website within 91 days.

The Interview Prep Hub

Practise any time, until you pass.

Your own revision portal, with you from the day you join to the morning of your CIW interview. Use it on your laptop or your phone, and your progress comes with you.

Six ways to practise. Each one built around what CIW actually asks.

  • Question bank. Questions for responsible individuals, built around the four areas of CIW’s suitability questionnaire.

  • Model answers. A full answer for every question, with the key points to hit and a tip from our team.

  • Mock interviews. Fifty questions against the clock, so the real interview already feels familiar.

  • Flashcards. Five spare minutes is enough. Flip a card, check the answer, mark what you knew.

  • Notification drills. Decide what CIW must be told, and what you record and handle yourself.

  • Judgement drills. Match scenarios to CIW’s themes, and put key processes in the right order.

Mock interviews

Rehearse out loud, before it counts.

Fifty questions in thirty minutes, with audio and video recording so it feels like the real call. After each answer, mark yourself honestly and check the key points CIW listens for.

  • 30 minute timed simulation
  • Audio and video recording
  • Mark yourself after every answer

The Prep Hub comes with our CIW interview preparation package: three hours one to one with Millicent and Hub access until you pass, £750 including VAT.

CIW interview preparation

Social Care Wales registration for your team

In Wales the regulator registers the service, and Social Care Wales registers the people. Your manager and every care worker must be on the Social Care Wales register, and your recruitment process has to track it.

Care workers and their manager reviewing records together at a team meeting

Your manager

£80 a year

Social Care Wales fee

  • Must be registered with Social Care Wales as a social care manager; CIW asks for the number
  • Level 5 leadership and management qualification, or three years to gain it once registered
  • Completes the All Wales Induction Framework for managers where needed

Your care workers

£30 a year each

Social Care Wales fee

  • Must register with Social Care Wales within six months of starting
  • Register with an accepted qualification, or your employer confirms their skills
  • Up to six years to gain a Level 2 or 3 qualification, most within three
Social Care Wales registration
Care worker chatting with an older woman over tea in her kitchenShwmae, sut mae?
  • Providing the Active OfferServices offered in Welsh without people having to ask.
  • Working towards itA clear plan, with progress CIW can see.
  • Not making a significant effortReported by CIW at inspection.

Mwy na geiriau · More than just words

The Welsh language Active Offer

The Active Offer means providing care in Welsh without the person having to ask for it. For many older people, being able to use their first language is part of good care. CIW asks about it at the Responsible Individual interview and reports on it at every inspection, using the three levels shown.

What it looks like in a new home care agency

  • Ask every person their language choice at the first assessment, and record it
  • Say in your Statement of Purpose what you can offer in Welsh
  • Badge Welsh speakers and match them with people who choose Welsh
  • Offer key documents, such as care plans and complaints information, in Welsh

You do not need a fully Welsh speaking team to register. CIW expects awareness, a plan and steady progress.

After registration: how CIW inspects and rates you

CIW schedules a domiciliary support service for inspection at least every 18 months, sooner for new services or where there are concerns, and may give short notice. Since April 2025 it has published a rating for each theme, with no overall rating. Domiciliary support is not rated on environment.

  • 18

    months

    Routine inspection

  • 12

    months

    Early inspection

  • 6

    months

    Priority inspection

Where something is wrong, CIW records areas for improvement or issues a priority action notice, the first step of enforcement.

How a CIW report rates a home care agency

  • Well-being

    ExcellentGoodRequires improvementRequires significant improvement

  • Care and support

    ExcellentGoodRequires improvementRequires significant improvement

  • Leadership and management

    ExcellentGoodRequires improvementRequires significant improvement

Each theme gets one of the four ratings. The Welsh language Active Offer is reported at every inspection too.

How much does CIW registration cost?

Care Inspectorate Wales charges nothing to register a domiciliary support service, and no annual fee. Your costs are preparing a strong application and setting up the business.

Plan your pay rates early. The Welsh Government funds councils to pay social care workers at least the Real Living Wage, £13.45 an hour for 2026 to 2027, so your business plan should price council work on that basis. Keep enough cash to pay staff for the weeks before councils and families pay you.

£0

paid to CIW, to register or each year

£13.45

Real Living Wage for care workers, 2026 to 2027

Registering in Wales

Typical set up costs

  • CIW application fee£0
  • CIW annual fee£0
  • Form a limited company£100
  • Enhanced DBS check, each£41
  • Social Care Wales: manager£80 a year
  • Social Care Wales: each care worker£30 a year
  • ICO data protection fee£52 a year
  • Insurance£1,000 to £3,000 a year
  • Plan, policies, Statement of Purpose, coaching£500 to £8,500 + VAT

Figures checked October 2026. Social Care Wales and DBS fees can change; confirm before you budget.

Watch, read and download

Our team explains registering in Wales, and the brochure has the whole package in one PDF.

CIW registration in Wales: what's different and what catches providers out

How registering in Wales differs from CQC: the regional areas, Social Care Wales registration, the Responsible Individual, the Active Offer and CIW ratings.

CQC vs CIW vs RQIA: what's the difference in UK care regulation?

Which regulator applies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and how their registration and inspection differ.

Package brochure

CIW domiciliary care agency set up package

PDF, 0.7 MB

  • Business planning and set up
  • CIW registration and interview preparation
  • Forms, documents and policies
  • Brand, website, recruitment and marketing
Download the brochure

Some of the providers we have worked with

Client reviews

What care providers say about working with us

Care providers describe working with us, in their own words, on Trustpilot and Google.

Trustpilot

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  • First of all i want to give Millicent…

    First of all i want to give Millicent her flowers. I recently became a registered manager ( OLIVE BRANCH CARE & SUPPORT LTD) because of her. She knows her stuff, she takes you through the whole process, the Q&A with encouragement and guidance. I am usually a nerve wreck, but I made it. I couldn't not have wished for a better person than her. THANK YOU MILLICENT. YOU ARE THE BEST.

    Audrey Eastwood

    3 October 2026

    Read full review by Audrey Eastwood on Trustpilot

  • Excellent Support Throughout Our CQC Registration Journey

    Care Sync Experts provided excellent support throughout our CQC registration journey for Tailored Healthcare 4 You Limited. The team was professional, knowledgeable and very supportive throughout the process. They provided valuable guidance with our application, policies, supporting documents and preparation for the CQC registration process. What I particularly appreciated was their willingness to answer questions, explain requirements clearly and provide support whenever we needed clarification. Their guidance helped us navigate what can be a detailed and demanding registration process with greater confidence. We are very grateful for their contribution towards the successful CQC registration of our company and would happily recommend Care Sync Experts to other care providers looking for professional CQC registration support. Thank you to the entire team for your continued support.

    Philip

    3 September 2026

    Read full review by Philip on Trustpilot

  • Thanks to Care Sync Experts

    Care Sync Experts supported with well tailored documentations for the CQC application, good prep/training for the CQC interview and prompt communication throughout the CQC registration stages which led to the success of Novaedge application I had an excellent experience working with Care Sync Experts on my CQC registration application. From the very beginning, their team demonstrated exceptional professionalism, knowledge, and commitment to ensuring my application met the required CQC standards. They provided clear guidance throughout the entire process, helped me prepare all the necessary documentation, and ensured I was fully ready for every stage of the application. Their attention to detail, prompt communication, and willingness to answer every question gave me confidence and made what could have been a stressful process much smoother. I truly appreciated their personalised support and expertise. Thanks to their dedication, I felt well-prepared throughout my CQC registration journey. I would confidently recommend Care Sync Experts to anyone seeking reliable and professional support with CQC registration and healthcare compliance.

    Novaedge Services Limited

    25 July 2026

    Read full review by Novaedge Services Limited on Trustpilot

  • The Experience that I have had with…care sync was a 5 star experience

    The Experience that I have had with Care Sync experts is so excellent and effortless. Care sync experts assisted me with the CQC registration of my company. It was a 5 star experience. Coming from a healthcare background myself, I worked with a group of dedicated experts who knows what there are doing. I will like to thank Colin who handled my registration process with the Care sync expert team in such a way that the process looked so simple.

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    21 July 2026

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  • Care Sync Experts are reliable

    Care Sync Experts are reliable, honest and operate with integrity. All the staff are knowledgeable and supportive whenever you need guidance. I recommend them for all those loking for CQC support services.

    customer

    12 June 2026

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  • I am genuinely grateful that I chose Care Sync

    I am genuinely grateful that I chose Care Sync Experts to support me in establishing my domiciliary care company, Precious Care. From my very first conversation with them, it was clear that they truly understood my needs. Their knowledge, expertise, and professionalism were evident from the start—they really do live up to their name. The support provided to me and my wider team was exceptional and truly limitless. No matter how small the question, they were always available, approachable, and ready to help. From day one, Millicent and Collins made us feel valued and important. Speaking with them felt like talking to people I had known for years—warm, reassuring, and always willing to go the extra mile. Every phone call ended with clarity and confidence. Millicent’s guidance, training, and ongoing support were outstanding and made the entire process smooth and stress‑free. Without hesitation, I would recommend Care Sync Experts as the go‑to professionals for anyone seeking EXPERT support in this field.

    PN

    27 March 2026

    Read full review by PN on Trustpilot

  • CQC interview confidence building

    I found the material I was given very informative. This helped build my confidence during my CQC interview preparation. The staff responded to my inquiries timeously

    Lilian Muzorewa

    23 February 2026

    Read full review by Lilian Muzorewa on Trustpilot

  • 100% Support: How Care Sync Experts Made Our CQC Certification A Reality

    I couldn’t be more grateful for Care Sync experts exceptional support during our CQC interview presentations. From the very beginning, Millicent and Collins were not only professional but also incredibly approachable and dedicated. Every time we needed assistance, they were right there ready to help with guidance, expert advice, and all the information required to ensure our success. When our interview dates kept changing, Care Sync flexibility truly set them apart. They rescheduled sessions without hesitation and even provided extra sessions, going far beyond what we had paid for. Their unwavering commitment was a crucial factor in us achieving our CQC certification. Thanks to their 100% support, Victory Growth Care Services is now proudly registered with CQC. I wholeheartedly recommend Care Sync expats for anyone looking for top-notch, dependable support in navigating the complexities of CQC interviews. Their team truly makes a difference!

    Shaz K

    12 February 2025

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  • Outstanding Tender Writing Services

    I recently used Care Sync Experts for the first time to complete a tender, and I am thrilled to say that they won it for me! Their team is absolutely brilliant. They took care of everything with professionalism and expertise, making the whole process smooth and successful. I would 100% recommend Care Sync Experts to any provider looking for someone to write their tender. Their work is of a high standard, and I couldn’t be happier with the results.

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  • Outstanding Service and Exceptional Results!

    I had the pleasure of working with Care Sync Experts for various projects, including website development, tender submissions, and branding materials such as brochures and leaflets. From start to finish, their professionalism and attention to detail have been nothing short of remarkable. They designed and developed my website with a keen understanding of my needs, creating a sleek, user-friendly platform that perfectly represents my brand. But they didn't stop there, their expertise in handling tenders is unparalleled. Of the six tenders they managed for me, they won five. This impressive success rate speaks volumes about their strategic approach and deep industry knowledge. I highly recommend Care Sync Experts to anyone looking for top notch services in web development, tender management, and branding. They have truly elevated my business, and I look forward to continuing our partnership!

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Croeso · Welcome

Ready to register your home care agency in Wales?

Tell us where you are and which areas you want to serve. We will map out your application, your Responsible Individual preparation and your timeline, at a fixed price.

Book a consultation0333 577 0877
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CIW registration FAQs

Last reviewed

CIW registration is permission from Care Inspectorate Wales to run a regulated care service in Wales, such as a domiciliary support service (home care agency). It is required by the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016, and it is an offence to provide a regulated service without it. You apply online through CIW Online.
Anyone who wants to provide a regulated service in Wales, including care homes, domiciliary support services, adult placement, fostering and adoption services and residential family centres. The service provider registers, as an individual, partnership or organisation, and an organisation designates a Responsible Individual who CIW also assesses. Childcare and play services register with CIW separately.
CIW says an initial application can take up to 14 weeks, and longer if it needs more information. A new Responsible Individual or a change to your registration takes about 6 weeks. Preparing a complete application usually takes several weeks before that, so plan for 4 to 6 months from start to registration.
Care Inspectorate Wales does not currently charge a registration or annual fee. Your costs are preparation and set up: a business plan, policies and Statement of Purpose, DBS checks (£41 for an enhanced check), insurance, and Social Care Wales registration for your manager (£80 a year) and care workers (£30 a year each). Our packages are £500 to £8,500 + VAT.
CIW asks for a Statement of Purpose for each service, a DBS certificate for the Responsible Individual that is under 3 months old or on the Update Service, a medical reference for the Responsible Individual, a bank reference, a business plan for the first two years, a detailed projected cash flow, annual accounts for the last two years if you have them, and a structural plan of your organisation. CIW provides templates for several of these.
The Responsible Individual is the person CIW holds accountable for overseeing the service. For a company it is normally a director registered at Companies House. They must visit the service at least every three months, review the quality of care at least every six months and report to the provider, and supervise how the service is managed. CIW assesses them with a questionnaire and a suitability interview.
CIW's suitability questionnaire and interview cover four areas: how you will appoint a suitable manager, how you will oversee the management of the service including when the manager is absent, how often you will visit the service, and how you will monitor and improve quality, including quality of care reviews. CIW also asks how you will promote the Welsh language.
Yes. The manager of a domiciliary support service must be registered with Social Care Wales as a social care manager, which costs £80 a year. Managers without the full qualification have three years to gain the Level 5 qualification in leadership and management for health and social care.
Yes. Domiciliary care workers in Wales must register with Social Care Wales, and the regulations give new staff six months from their start date. Registration costs £30 a year. Workers can register with an accepted qualification, or their employer can confirm their skills, and they then have up to six years to gain the qualification.
The Active Offer means providing a service in Welsh without the person having to ask for it, under the Welsh Government's More than just words framework. CIW expects your Statement of Purpose to say what Welsh language service you provide, asks the Responsible Individual about it at interview, and reports at every inspection whether you provide the Active Offer, are working towards it or are not making a significant effort.
You choose the areas you will serve from the seven Regional Partnership Board areas: North Wales, Powys, West Wales, West Glamorgan, Cwm Taf Morgannwg, Cardiff and Vale, and Gwent. Each area becomes a condition of your registration and is inspected as a separate service.
CIW's routine inspection interval for a domiciliary support service is 18 months, or sooner if there are concerns, and it may give short notice. Since April 2025 CIW publishes ratings of Excellent, Good, Requires improvement or Requires significant improvement for well-being, care and support, and leadership and management. There is no overall rating.
Every registered provider submits an annual return to CIW within 56 days of the end of its financial year, signed by the provider and each Responsible Individual. Since 1 April 2026 the annual return must also be published on the provider's website within 91 days of the year end.
CQC regulates care in England under the Health and Social Care Act 2008, with a registered manager and a nominated individual, and charges annual fees. CIW regulates care in Wales under RISCA 2016, with a Responsible Individual who carries legal duties, managers and care workers registered with Social Care Wales, ratings for each theme, the Welsh language Active Offer, and no regulator fees. An English registration does not cover Wales.
You can, but CIW needs the office address, phone and email of the service, and you must keep records secure and confidential. Make sure your lease or mortgage allows a business use and that your insurance covers it. Choose the base that suits the areas you plan to serve.
No. You can choose single services such as a Statement of Purpose, a business plan, Wales policies or Responsible Individual interview coaching, from £500 + VAT, or the full package. We agree a fixed price after a consultation. You submit the application through CIW Online, and CIW makes the decision.
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