(1)The Commission for Social Care Inspection (referred to in this Act as “the CSCI”) shall have the general duty of keeping the Secretary of State informed about—
(a)the provision in England of registered social care services; and
(b)in particular, the availability and quality of the services.
(2)The CSCI shall have the general duty of encouraging improvement in the quality of registered social care services provided in England.
(3)The CSCI shall make information about registered social care services provided in England available to the public.
(4)When asked to do so by the Secretary of State, the CSCI shall give him advice or information on such matters relating to the provision in England of registered social care services as may be specified in his request.
(5)The CSCI may at any time give advice to the Secretary of State on—
(a)any changes which the CSCI thinks should be made, for the purpose of securing improvement in the quality of registered social care services provided in England, in the standards set out in statements under section 23;
(b)any other matter connected with the provision in England of registered social care services.
(6)In the exercise of its functions under this Act the CSCI must have particular regard to the need to safeguard and promote the rights and welfare of children.
(7)The Secretary of State may by regulations confer additional functions on the CSCI in relation to the provision in England of registered social care services.
(8)In this section, “registered social care services” means services of the kind provided by persons for whom the CSCI is the registration authority.]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 5B inserted (20.11.2003 for certain purposes and 1.4.2004 otherwise) by Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 (c. 43), ss. {104}, 199; S.I. 2004/759, art. 4(2)