Inspection Plans Affirmed by Ofsted for Accommodation Support Providers
Ofsted Announces First Round of Inspections for Supported Accommodation
Ofsted, the Office for Standards in Education, has confirmed that the three-outcomes model will be used for the first round of inspections of supported accommodation for looked after children and care leavers. This announcement comes after a consultation period that ran from 10th July to 8th September 2023, which received 280 responses.
Sir Martyn Oliver, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, emphasized the significance of supported accommodation for young people transitioning to independence. He acknowledged that the quality of provision in these accommodations is crucial, as inconsistent service delivery can adversely affect some children's experiences and limit their progress.
For the first time, Ofsted will inspect supported accommodation in the interest of the young people who need it. The inspections were originally planned to start in April 2024 but will now begin in September 2024. Providers will be given two working days' notice before inspectors arrive on site.
The three summary outcomes are as follows:
- Feedback from consultation respondents has informed the final inspection guidance for supported accommodation. This guidance will help ensure that the inspections are fair and effective in evaluating the quality and safeguarding of children's and young people's accommodation and support.
- The second outcome summary has been adjusted to ensure the quality of providers is captured accurately. Ofsted recognizes the importance of assessing the quality of providers to ensure that young people receive the best possible support.
- Inconsistent quality of service delivery adversely affects some children's experiences, and this may limit their progress. Ofsted's inspections aim to identify and address these issues to improve the experiences and progress of children in supported accommodation.
Sir Martyn Oliver also stated that high-quality and nurturing support in supported accommodation can be transformative for young people. He emphasized that too much provision of subpar quality is not acceptable.
Ofsted has published guidance for inspecting supported accommodation for looked after children and care leavers aged 16-17. Information gathered in the two days before inspectors arrive, including conversations with young people and professionals, will form part of the inspection evidence.
It is important to clarify that social housing does not undergo Ofsted-style inspections. Instead, it is regulated and inspected by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) against national consumer standards. Supported accommodation for looked after children and care leavers, on the other hand, is inspected by Ofsted, which evaluates local authority children's services, including such accommodation.
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