Care Standards Act 2000
The Care Standards Act 2000 was introduced to establish an improved basic standard in residential care homes, nursing homes, and voluntary healthcare services (including private hospitals and clinics and private primary care premises). The Act applies to care homes for adults (ages 18 to 65) and older people.
To achieve this, the Act introduced several oversight bodies for social care in England (where it is regulated by an independent National Care Standards Commission) and Wales (where it is regulated by a department under the National Assembly for Wales). The Act also established a mandatory inspection process for care environments.
Certain parts of the Act introduced standards regarding the physical environment of the facilities. This includes aspects such as building maintenance requirements, usable floor space parameters (for each room) and sanitary appliance requirements (including en suite toilets and washing facilities).
In 2003, the Government relaxed some of these requirements due to issues associated with the costs of compliance. It was thought that some of the modifications would cause some facilities to close due to the investment required to make the facilities comply.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- A guide to installing thermostatic mixing valves: what, why and how.
- Care home.
- Hospital.
- Hot water safety in health and social care settings.
- Sheltered housing definition.
- The future of healthcare construction may be modular.
- Types of building.
[edit] External resources
- Legislation.gov.uk, Care Standards Act 2000.
Featured articles and news
Futurebuild and UK Construction Week London Unite
Creating the UK’s Built Environment Super Event and over 25 other key partnerships.
Welsh and Scottish 2026 elections
Manifestos for the built environment for upcoming same May day elections.
Advancing BIM education with a competency framework
“We don’t need people who can just draw in 3D. We need people who can think in data.”
Guidance notes to prepare for April ERA changes
From the Electrical Contractors' Association Employee Relations team.
Significant changes to be seen from the new ERA in 2026 and 2027, starting on 6 April 2026.
First aid in the modern workplace with St John Ambulance.
Ireland's National Residential Retrofit Plan
Staged initiatives introduced step by step.
Solar panels, pitched roofs and risk of fire spread
60% increase in solar panel fires prompts tests and installation warnings.
Modernising heat networks with Heat interface unit
Why HIUs hold the key to efficiency upgrades.
Reflecting on the work of the CIOB Academy
Looking back on 2025 and where it's going next.
Procurement in construction: Knowledge hub
Brief, overview, key articles and over 1000 more covering procurement.
Sir John Betjeman’s love of Victorian church architecture.
Exchange for Change for UK deposit return scheme
The UK Deposit Management Organisation established to deliver Deposit Return Scheme unveils trading name.
A guide to integrating heat pumps
As the Future Homes Standard approaches Future Homes Hub publishes hints and tips for Architects and Architectural Technologists.
BSR as a standalone body; statements, key roles, context
Statements from key figures in key and changing roles.
Resident engagement as the key to successful retrofits
Retrofit is about people, not just buildings, from early starts to beyond handover.