More than nine in ten care services in Wales are meeting high quality standards under a new national ratings system, according to figures released by
Care Inspectorate Wales.
In the first seven months since the system was introduced in April, inspectors carried out 578 inspections of care homes and domiciliary support services. Ratings have so far been published for 566 services.
The new framework assesses services across four key areas — wellbeing, leadership and management, care and support, and environment — with each theme rated individually rather than issuing a single overall score.
Between April and October 2025, a total of 2,115 ratings were awarded. Of these, 1,958 ratings — 92.5% — were judged to be either “excellent” or “good”, presenting a consistently positive picture of care provision across Wales.
Officials say the ratings are designed to support continuous improvement within the care sector, while also helping people make more informed choices about the quality of care available.
The system has been widely welcomed by providers, with feedback indicating that inspections are seen as thorough, transparent and focused on helping services improve and succeed.
Minister for Children and Social Care, Dawn Bowden said: “These results demonstrate the exceptional dedication and professionalism of care providers across Wales.
It’s positive to see over nine in ten ratings show our services are delivering excellent or good care to some of our most vulnerable people.
The new ratings system provides transparency and clarity for families making important decisions about care, whilst also highlighting areas of excellence and encouraging the sector to continue improving”.
Chief Inspector of Care Inspectorate Wales, Gillian Baranski said: “I am incredibly proud of what these ratings reveal about care in Wales. These results are a testament to the exceptional dedication of care staff across Wales who make a real difference to people's lives every day.
The new ratings system is designed to recognise this excellence whilst also supporting services to improve. We're committed to working alongside all providers to help them deliver the high-quality care people in Wales deserve”. Photo by Sadasweb, Wikimedia commons.