From 31 March 2026, we are introducing new notifications for providers of adult/older people’s care home services. This is in order to comply with the Care Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 and associated regulations, and to ensure people’s rights and wellbeing – including their right to maintain meaningful connection with those important to them - are supported.
In normal circumstances, there should be no restrictions on visits into or out of a care home. Homes should not operate booking systems and should not normally impose any limitations on the number of visitors or on the frequency, timing, or duration of visits or trips out of the care home.
You must notify us within 24 hours of any situation where restrictions have been placed upon visits.
- If the restriction is related to an outbreak of an infectious disease, you should complete the questions within the existing outbreak notification.
- If the restriction is for any other reason, you should complete the new notification titled “Non-outbreak related visiting restrictions (care homes )”.
Your notification should include:
- details of the reason(s) for the restrictions
- date restriction(s) started and expected end date
- if outbreak related, which Health Protection Team has been contacted for advice.
- confirmation that visits are being supported where it is likely that the resident will have died or undergone serious deterioration before restrictions are lifted, and/or to avoid serious harm to health and wellbeing.
- confirmation that visits by Essential Care Supporters and named visitors are being supported.
- how details of the restrictions, their reasons, and the expected end date have been communicated to people experiencing care and their family carers.
- who else you have notified.
If you have any questions, please contact your caseholding inspector or the Meaningful Connection, Visiting and Anne’s Law Team at