Public Service Regulation 

This is where the Institute posts material related to the regulation of public services, including health, education, justice, social care, housing and those working in the charity sector. If you have material to add, or would like to help curate this page, please contact us. 

Organisations involved in health and care services regulation include:

Organisations involved in the regulation of education include: 

  • Ofsted, the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills, inspects services providing education and skills for learners of all ages, and inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people.

  • Ofqual, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation, regulates qualifications, examinations and assessments in England.

  • The Office for Students is the independent regulator of higher education in England. 

  • Qualifications Wales regulates qualifications, other than degrees, in Wales.

Organisations involved in the regulation of community safety and justice include: 

  • The Independent Office of Police Conduct oversees the police complaints system in England and Wales, investigating serious matters, including deaths following police contact.

  • HMICFRS is Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services which independently assesses the effectiveness and efficiency of police forces and fire & rescue services.

  • The Commissioner for the Retention and Use of Biometric Material (the ‘Biometrics Commissioner’) provides independent oversight and scrutiny of the retention and use by the police in England and Wales of DNA samples, DNA profiles and fingerprints.

  • A Scottish Biometric Regulator is being created to oversee how policing bodies take, store, use and dispose of data such as finger-prints, DNA samples and facial images.

  • The Forensic Science Regulator ensures that forensic science services across the criminal justice system are subject to an appropriate regime of scientific quality standards.

Organisations involved in the regulation of planning and housing include: 

  • The Planning Inspectorate deals with planning appeals, national infrastructure planning applications, examinations of local plans and other specialist casework in England and Wales.

  • The Regulator of Social Housing regulates registered providers of social housing to promote a viable, efficient and well-governed social housing sector.

  • The Scottish Housing Regulator protects the interests of tenants, people who are homeless, and others who use social landlords’ services.

Organisations regulating charities include: 

  • The Charity Commission registers and regulates charities in England and Wales, to ensure that the public can support charities with confidence.

  • OSCR, the Scottish Charity Regulator, is the independent regulator and registrar for Scotland’s charities, including community groups, religious charities, schools, universities, grant-giving charities, and major care providers.

  • The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland is the independent regulator of charities in Northern Ireland.

  • The Fundraising Regulator is the independent regulator of charitable fundraising in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Further reading and information: