Children writing
Resource Type Policy & Legislation

Government legislation

Browse legislation which may be relevant to you and your service.

Important Note

The links to legislation are links to the government’s website – www.legislation.gov.uk. It is understood that the primary legislation (Acts of Parliament and Acts of The Scottish Parliament) displayed on that website is displayed in its up-to-date form, i.e., amendments made to an Act since it was originally enacted are incorporated on the version displayed.

It should however be noted that the secondary legislation (statutory instruments) is understood to be displayed in its original form and any amendments made since the date of enactment are not incorporated in the version displayed.

The Care Inspectorate does not offer any assurances that any of the legislation signposted on this website is accurately reproduced. Any person relying on it does so at their own risk and the Care Inspectorate will not be responsible for any loss or damage suffered by any party as a result of their reliance on the terms of the legislation we have referred to in this section.

Primary legislation - adults

Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2000/4/contents

Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2007/10/contents

Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2013/1/contents

Primary legislation - children and young people

Adoption (Scotland) Act 1978

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1978/28/contents

Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2007/4/contents

Foster Children (Scotland) Act 1984

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/56/contents

Children (Scotland) Act 1995

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1995/36/contents

Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2004/4/contents

Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2005

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2005/9/contents

Education (Additional Support for Learning)(Scotland) Act 2004

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2004/4/contents

Education ( Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2009

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2009/7/contents

Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2011/1/contents

Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2014/8/contents  

Limitation (Childhood Abuse) (Scotland) Act 2017

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2017/3/contents

Primary legislation - criminal justice

Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1995/46/contents

Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2003/7/contents

Primary legislation - social care/health care

Medicines Act 1968

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1968/67

Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons (Scotland) Act 1970

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1970/44/contents

Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons (Scotland) Act 1972

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1972/51/contents

National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1990/19/contents

Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1995/12/contents

Community Care (Direct Payments) Act 1996

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/30/contents

Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2002/5/contents

Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2003/13/contents

Public Health etc (Scotland) Act 2008

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2008/5/contents

Patients Rights (Scotland) Act 2011

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2011/5/contents

Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2014/9/contents 

Primary legislation - other

Secondary legislation - children and young people

Residential Establishments – Child Care (Scotland) Regulations 1996

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1996/3256/contents/made

Secure Accommodation (Scotland) Regulations 2013

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2013/205/contents/made

Support and Assistance of Young People Leaving Care (Scotland) Regulations 2003

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2003/608/contents/made

Secondary legislation - Social care/health care

Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/3998/contents/made

Misuse of Drugs (Safe Custody) Regulations 1973

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1973/798/contents/made

Misuse of Drugs and Misuse of Drugs (Safe Custody) (Amendment) Regulations 2007

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/2154/contents/made

Misuse of Drugs (Safe Custody) (Amendment) Regulations 1975

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1975/294/contents/made

Misuse of Drugs (Safe Custody) (Amendment) Regulations 1986

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/2332/contents/made

Misuse of Drugs (Safe Custody) (Amendment) Regulations 1999

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/1403/contents/made

Human Medicine Regulations 2012

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/1916/contents/made

Controlled Drugs (Supervision of Management and Use) Regulations 2013

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/373/contents/made

Equality Act (Specific Duties)(Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2016

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2016/159/contents/made

Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties and Public Authorities) Regulations 2017

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2017/353/contents/made

Secondary legislation - other

Equality Act (Specific duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2012/162/contents/made

Equality Act (Specific Duties)(Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2015

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2015/254/contents/made

Legislation - Care Inspectorate

Below is a list of the main legislation governing the carrying out by the Care Inspectorate of its functions, with links to the legislation as published on the legislation.gov.uk website


This list is not intended as an exhaustive list. Providers of care services must ensure that they are aware of, and keep up to date with, all legislation relevant to the service they provide.

Primary Legislation

Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2010/8

Secondary Legislation

The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Fees) Order 2011 – (SSI 2011/27)

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2011/27/made

The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Registration) Regulations 2011 (SSI 2011/28)

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2011/28/made

The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Applications) Order 2011 (SSI 2011/29)

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2011/29/made

The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Excepted Services) Regulations 2012 (SSI 2012/44)

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2012/44/contents/made

The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Requirements for Care Services) Regulations 2011(SSI 2011/210)

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2011/210/made

The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Requirements for Care Services) Amendment Regulations 2013 (SSI 2013/110)

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2013/110/contents/made

The Public Services Reform (Social Services Inspections) (Scotland) Regulations 2011

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2011/185/made

The Public Services Reform (Social Services Inspections) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2012

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2012/45/contents/made

The Public Services Reform (Joint Inspections) (Scotland) Regulations 2011

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2011/183/made

The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Requirements for Reports) Regulations 2011 (SSI 2011/26)

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2011/26/made

Regulation of Care (Requirements as to Care Services) Regulations 2002

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2002/114/contents/made

Looked After Children (Scotland) Regulations 2009 (SSI 2009/210)

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2009/210/contents/made

Looked After Children (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2013 (SSI 2013/14)

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2013/14/contents/made

The Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (Health and Social Care) Savings and Transitional Provisions Order 2011

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2011/121/made

The Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (Health and Social Care) Savings and Transitional Provisions (No. 2) Order 2011

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2011/169/made

National strategies and frameworks

A library of publications by the Scottish Government and other national bodies setting out relevant policy developments or direction

Adults and older people

An overview of major developments in policy areas relating to services for adults and older people

Children and young people

An overview of major developments in policy areas relating to services for children and young people

Latest adult and health bulletin

A weekly bulletin produced by our policy team providing an update on the key developments in adult social care and health.

Adult & Health Bulletin: 25 - 31 October 2024

Adult & Health Bulletin: 25 - 31 October 2024

Adult & Health Bulletin: 25 - 31 October 2024

Latest children and young people bulletin

A weekly bulletin produced by our policy team providing an update on the key developments concerning children and young people.

Children & Young People Bulletin: 25 - 31 October 2024

Children & Young People Bulletin: 25 - 31 October 2024

Children & Young People Bulletin: 25 - 31 October 2024