Take part in an inspection
Everyone has the right to have their say about the
services they use. Find out more about how to do this
below.
Do you have experience of using care services? Would you like
to take part in one of our inspections?
Find out how to become one of our Experts
by experience
You can also go to our easy to read
pages about being an Expert by experience.
These pages have pictures and sound to make them easier to
understand.
Read on for other ways to get involved in our
inspections.
Have your say about the services you use
Care homes and care services
When we inspect services, such as care homes, we sometimes let
the manager of the service know that we’re coming. But often it is
a surprise (unannounced) inspection.
You should be able to get involved in an inspection of the
service that you use.
If the service knows that we are coming we will send some
surveys for the people using the service to fill in and send back
to us.
The inspector will tell the home what date and time they are
coming and you will be able to talk to them when they visit.
Unannounced inspections
If the inspection is unannounced and you are at home, you will
have the chance to talk to the inspector. You can tell them what
you think of the service.
If you are out when the inspector comes, you can telephone them,
or write to them at the office after the visit.
The inspector will leave their contact details at the service
when they visit.
Local council services
CSCI inspects care services that councils provide.
When we do this we just look at one part of a council’s care
services, such as, services for older people, people with learning
disabilities, or for children and young people.
This is a very big inspection and we spend about two weeks in
the local area. While we are there we talk to:
- the council
- people who use the council's services
- staff at the council
- carers
- local voluntary organisations.
We send out surveys for the council to give to people using the
services to complete. You might be asked to fill one of these in
with your comments on the services you use.
We also meet with some people who use services. You might be
asked to meet with the inspector to tell them what you think of the
services the council provides.