Care standards guidance

About us

The jurisdiction is part of the First-tier-Tribunal Health, Education and Social Care Chamber. The Chamber President is His Honour Judge Phillip Sycamore. The Deputy Chamber President with responsibility for the Care Standards jurisdiction is Judge John Aitken. Our judges and members are appointed by the Lord Chancellor. The jurisdiction covers England and Wales.

The jurisdiction is administered by Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service and the jurisdiction’s administration is undertaken by the Secretariat offices based in Mowden Hall, Darlington.

The Chamber President and his senior judicial management team work closely with the Secretariat to manage the jurisdiction. It is important to note that the Tribunal operates completely independently of all Government Departments.

Cases we handle

We consider appeals against a decision made by the Secretary of State to restrict or bar an individual from working with children or vulnerable adults and decisions to cancel, vary or refuse registration of certain health, childcare and social care provision.

You can appeal to us if you:

Have received a decision you do not agree with about your registration as:
- A child minder or other child care provider
- A care home provider or manager
- A children’s home provider or manager
- An independent healthcare provider or manager
- The provider of an agency that delivers personal or nursing care in someone’s home
- The provider of an agency that delivers fostering or adoption services
- A social worker or social care worker in Wales
- Have been barred from teaching or otherwise working with children by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills *See note.
- Have been barred from working with vulnerable adults by the Secretary of State for Health *See note

All appeals against a decision of the ISA will be considered by the Administrative Appeals Chamber of the Upper Tribunal, not the FTT – Care Standards. Download the appropriate appeal application form and guidance.

The General Social Care Council (GSCC) closed on 31 August 2012 but we will continue to hear cases arising from GSCC decisions made before 31 July 2012.

Care standards tribunal forms

We consider against the following:

Decisions of the Secretary of State for Education and Skills to:

Include an individuals’ name on the Protection of Children Act List;
Restrict or prohibit someone from teaching or otherwise working with children in schools or other education establishments;
Cancel the registration of an independent school;

Decisions of the Secretary of State for Health to:

Include an individuals’ name on the Protection of Vulnerable Adults List

Decisions of the Care Quality Commission and the Welsh Assembly Government in respect of:

Care homes
Residential Family Centres
Domiciliary Care Agencies
Nurses Agencies
Fostering Agencies and Voluntary Adoption Agencies
The registration of private and voluntary healthcare provision such as independent hospitals, clinics and medical agencies.
NHS providers in respect of regulations on healthcare associated infections

Decisions of the Chief Inspector for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) and the Welsh Assembly Government in respect of the:

Registration under the Early Years Childcare Register
Registration under the General Childcare Register
Disqualification and refusal to waive disqualification from registration as a child minder or day care provider;
Registration of Children’s homes; and:
A refusal to waive disqualification of a person from providing, managing or having a financial involvement in a children’s home or; being employed in a children’s home.

Decisions of the Care Council Wales in respect of:

The registration of social workers
The registration of social care workers.

Applications

We also deal with applications from people with a Order issued by the Courts disqualifying them from working with children who wish to have the disqualification revoked. Such applications will be handled by the Health, Education and Social Care Chamber under the First–tier Tribunal (Health, Education and Social Care Chamber) Rules.