Care Inspectorate Wales - regulation & compliance solicitors

Our experience

Our specialist CIW solicitors provide a wide range of services to CIW registered care providers and managers in the social care and childcare sectors. Our CIW lawyers regularly act for care providers and managers in Wales in relation to the following:

Registration

It is against the law for a provider to carry out social care or childcare services in Wales without registration with the CIW. We can advise providers on whether they require CIW registration and provide assistance where an application to register is refused.

Inspections

Our CIW solicitors have a wealth of experience in supporting providers to successfully challenge the factual accuracy of draft inspection reports and ratings. We assist with challenges to draft inspection reports at stages one and two of the CIW inspection report process. We also assist providers with complaints about the conduct, attitude or behaviour of an inspector in line with the CIW complaints process.

Enforcement action

Our CIW solicitors can support you in successfully challenging notices of proposal or notices of intention to cancel registration, suspend registration, impose or vary conditions of registration and improvement notices, via written or oral representations. We also have significant experience of advising and representing social care and childcare providers in relation to appeals before the first-tier tribunal (Care Standards Chamber).

Criminal investigations & prosecutions

We regularly advise and represent social care and childcare providers in criminal investigations, including attending interviews under cautions and prosecutions at the Magistrates and Crown Courts, as well as assisting providers with robust written responses and advising on cautions and penalty notices.

Inquests

Where the coroner calls an inquest into the death of a person who lived or used your service, we can act for individuals or businesses who have been granted interested party status or have been called as a witness to an inquest.

Why choose the CIW solicitors at Stephensons?

Our firm has developed an excellent reputation in the social care and childcare sectors and we pride ourselves on achieving the best possible results for our clients. We have a proven track record of successfully defending and representing numerous providers and managers across the social care and childcare sectors, including care homes, nursing homes, domiciliary care services, nurseries, pre-school and after school clubs, childminders, and children’s homes. We pride ourselves on delivering excellent results and have assisted our clients with retaining their registration, challenging an inspection report, avoiding a criminal prosecution, and improving the overall ratings of a service.

We recognise that enforcement action, and even inspections, can be a stressful and frustrating time and our experience allows us to provide clear and strategic advice at all stages. We regularly prepare cases at very short notice and understand the needs and anxieties of our professional clients at risk of losing their registration and in some cases, their business and reputation.

If you require CIW advice or support from our specialist CIW solicitors, you should seek specialist legal advice as soon as possible in order to protect your interests. For a confidential discussion with a member of our team, please contact us on 0161 696 6250 or complete our online enquiry form.