Annual returns

This year’s annual returns have now closed. We would like to thank everyone who submitted their annual return to us by the deadline Sunday, 2 March 2025. The information you have provided will help us plan, inform and carry out our inspections and improvement work.

Each year, we ask service providers to complete an annual return to help us plan, inform and carry out our inspections and improvement work. 

We also publish a number of annual statistical publications and share some of the information with other organisations, such as the Scottish Social Services Council and the Scottish Government.

The intelligence we gather through annual returns helps us target our improvement activity and support within social care. It is a great source of baseline data across a variety of health and wellbeing indicators which we use to identify, drive and track improvement, for example infection control, nutrition and the recruitment and retention of staff.  The data also helps us to identify trends and topics by both geographical area or service type, so that we can see where best to focus our improvement support work, for example, improvement workshops or new resources and guidance for care services across the sector.

All service types must complete their annual returns electronically, using our eForms system. We would encourage services to check their eForms account to make sure that their email address is up to date to ensure they are notified when the annual returns go live.

Even inactive services must submit an annual return.

Some services have told us it can be difficult to get in touch with us during our usual contact centre opening hours. This year, our contact centre will be opening late, between 16:00-19:00, on the below days to help services with queries about annual returns. There will be limited staff available, so we ask for your patience while we answer your calls.

• Thursday 23 January
• Thursday 30 January
• Thursday 6 February 
• Thursday 13 February 
• Thursday 20 February 
• Thursday 27 February 

Our contact centre will still be open Monday to Friday 09:00 – 16:00. Call us on 0345 600 9527.

We no longer automatically downgrade services for failing to submit an annual return. This is because we do not believe that non-submission is necessarily a reflection of poor quality of service. We will, however, continue to publish details about submission or non-submission of annual returns within inspection reports. We also reserve the right to make a formal requirement relating to submission of an annual return, or in cases of serious or persistent non-compliance, to issue an improvement notice under s62 of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010, requiring its submission.

Please note that where the manager of the service has changed, you must formally notify the Care Inspectorate of the correct details. This can be done using our online digital portal.  

Related documents

If you have any questions about the annual returns, please read our frequently asked questions.

Find out what has changed in the 2024 annual return. 

Changes to registration, variations and cancelled services

Apply to vary conditions of registration

If you need to vary, (add, amend or remove) the conditions of registration of your service, you should in the first instance discuss this with the inspector responsible for your service.  You will now be able to make an application to vary the conditions of your registration on the portal.  Note, you are currently only able to have one application for variation in progress at a time.

Unless otherwise agreed with us, the date the variation is to take effect from must not be less than three months after the date of application.  We can only grant or refuse an application to vary a condition – we cannot change the detail of the variation that you have originally requested.  However, whilst the application is still in progress you can update/amend the application yourself within the portal.  Where you subsequently decide that you no longer wish the variation request to be progressed, for instance, if it is no longer necessary due to a change of circumstances, then you should discuss this with whoever has been dealing with your application.  You must then withdraw the application via the portal, and we will receive automatic notification of this.

Guidance for childminders on applying to increase capacity in childminding settings

Notifiable events - when is formal regulatory action, including Variation, required - guidance for care service providers

Inactive services

We have implemented a revised policy on ‘Inactive Care Services’.

Services registered with the Care Inspectorate must operate within the legal framework laid out within the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010, (the “Act”).  We have adopted a policy where any service can make an application to stop operating for up to 12 months, without having to cancel their registration.  Where such an application is granted, a service will be referred to as ‘inactive’.

Reasons for a service to be treated as inactive would be limited to:

• refurbishment of premises
• provider has caring responsibilities for a limited period of time
• provider maternity leave
• provider health issues.

There may be, on occasion, other exceptional circumstances, which we may consider on an individual basis.

During a period of inactivity, a provider must continue to submit an annual return, pay continuation fees, submit notifications and ensure the service continues to meet all of the legal requirements under the Act.  Prior to the service becoming operational, the provider must notify us in advance that their service is operational and ensure the service is ‘fit’ to operate and meets the needs of the service users.

Applications for inactive care service status and notifications of intention to become operational should be submitted using the digital portal. 

The relevant forms are available via your portal account.  Select the “apply to become inactive / active” option on the right hand side of your menu page.  If you require any assistance please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.or contact 0345 600 9527 Monday to Friday 09:00 - 16:00.

Cancel a service

Any registered service can voluntarily apply to cancel their registration.

If you are a care service, and want to cancel your registration, you must complete our application to cancel a care service form before we can progress with your cancellation. You can submit your request through our digital portal.

When we receive your application to cancel your service, we will contact you to discuss the following:

• arrangements to ensure effective communication about the closure to people experiencing care and their families
• transition arrangements for the people experiencing care
• arrangements to ensure sufficient levels of staff and provision of services continue to be provided up to the point of closure.

Cancelled services

We have an obligation to publish a list of all care services that have been previously registered and that are now cancelled.

You will be able to check here for a list of all cancelled services.  This is updated monthly to reflect any new cancellations.

Cancelled services 28 February 2025

If you require any further information about these services please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or contact 0345 600 9527.