Care homes

There are two main types of care home:

Care homes without nursing care

These homes are residential, which means people live in them either short or long term.

They provide:

  • accommodation
  • meals
  • personal care (such as help with washing and eating).

Care homes with nursing care

These homes are the same as those without nursing care but they also have registered nurses who can provide care for more complex health needs.

We register and inspect many different services for adults and children.

Care homes for adults are by far the biggest type of service that we register and inspect. Out of around 28,000 care services, almost 20,000 are care homes.

Children services inspected by Ofsted

Since April 2007, social care services for children have been monitored by Ofsted. 

Created: 3/22/2006 Last updated: 11/27/2007