As of 1 April 2004, two new inspectorates replace the National Care Standards Commission

Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI)

The Commission for Social Care Inspection brings together the work previously undertaken by the Social Services Inspectorate, the SSI/ Audit Commission joint review team and the social care functions of the National Care Standards Commission.

The Inspectorate will:

• Carry out local inspections of all social care organisations - public, private, and voluntary - against national standards and publish reports;
• Register services that meet national minimum standards;
• Carry out inspections of local social service authorities;
• Publish an annual report to Parliament on national progress on social care and an analysis of where resources have been spent;
• Validate all published performance assessment statistics on social care;
• Publish the star ratings for social services authorities.

Go to the CSCI website: http://www.csci.org.uk/