The Code of Practice on Quality Assurance and Performance Management, Escalating Concerns and Closure of Regulated Care and Support Services (Appointed Day) (Wales) Order 2026

Made: 3 February 2026

The Welsh Ministers, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 146(4)(b) of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014[^f00001] (“the 2014 Act”), make the following Order.

The Welsh Ministers, as required by section 146(1) of the 2014 Act, have consulted such persons as they think fit on a draft of the Code of Practice on Quality Assurance and Performance Management, Escalating Concerns and Closure of Regulated Care and Support Services (“the Code of Practice”).

In accordance with section 146(2) of the 2014 Act, a draft of the Code of Practice was laid before Senedd Cymru[^f00002] on 1 December 2025.

In accordance with section 146(3) of the 2014 Act, within a period of 40 days Senedd Cymru did not resolve not to approve the draft Code of Practice, and the Code of Practice was issued in the form of that draft.

Title and interpretation

1

• (1) The title of this Order is the Code of Practice on Quality Assurance and Performance Management, Escalating Concerns and Closure of Regulated Care and Support Services (Appointed Day) (Wales) Order 2026.

• (2) In this Order, “the Code of Practice” means the Code of Practice on Quality Assurance and Performance Management, Escalating Concerns and Closure of Regulated Care and Support Services, a draft of which was laid before Senedd Cymru on 1 December 2025 and issued by the Welsh Ministers on 2 February 2026.

Appointed day

2

The day appointed for the coming into force of the Code of Practice is 31 March 2026.

Signed

Dawn Bowden — Minister for Children and Social Care, under the authority of Jeremy Miles, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, one of the Welsh Ministers — 3 February 2026

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Order appoints 31 March 2026 as the day on which the Code of Practice on Quality Assurance and Performance Management, Escalating Concerns and Closure of Regulated Care and Support Services (“the Code of Practice”) comes into force.

The Code of Practice is issued by the Welsh Ministers under section 145(1) of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (“the 2014 Act”).

Section 145(3) of the 2014 Act requires local authorities, when exercising social services functions, to act in accordance with any relevant requirements contained in a code issued under section 145(1) and to have regard to any relevant guidelines contained in it.

The Code of Practice is issued alongside guidance under section 169 of the 2014 Act (in relation to the exercise by local authorities and local health boards of their respective functions in accordance with partnership arrangements made under Part 8 of the 2014 Act) and guidance under section 2 of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 (in relation to the exercise of relevant functions of Local Health Boards and NHS Trusts).

The Code of Practice can be accessed on the internet at www.gov.wales or a printed copy can be obtained from the Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 2014 anaw 4 (“the 2014 Act”).

[^f00002]: Any reference in the 2014 Act to the National Assembly for Wales now has effect as a reference to Senedd Cymru by virtue of section 150A(2) of the Government of Wales Act 2006 (c. 32).