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Parliament) displayed on that website is displayed in its up-to-date form, i.e., amendments made to an Act since it was originally enacted are incorporated on the version displayed.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
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
Primary legislation - criminal justice
Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1995/46/contents
Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003
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
Primary legislation - other
Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1968/49/contents
Human Rights Act 1998
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/42/contents
Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2007/14/contents
Equality Act 2010
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/contents
Housing (Scotland) Act 2001
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2001/10/contents
Housing (Scotland) Act 2006
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2006/1/contents
Housing (Scotland) Act 2010
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2010/17/contents
Equality Act 2010
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/contents
Regulatory Reform (Scotland) Act 2014
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
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
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
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
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 2024Latest 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.