Ofsted have published new guidance to assist providers of supported accommodation with their application to register services.
From October 28, 2023, all providers of supported accommodation will be required to adhere to mandatory national quality standards published by the government.
Compliance to these standards and regulations will be overseen by Ofsted-led registration and inspection.
The new guidance published by Ofsted, explains the registration process in detail including the type of evidence required and how services will be assessed.
Providers can submit applications to register a service from 28 April and in summer 2023 Ofsted will consult on proposals for the new inspection methodology.
Pilot inspections will then begin in the autumn and full inspections will take place later in 2024.
Yvette Stanley, National Director Regulation and Social Care said: “I am really pleased that we are taking this first step in the regulation of supported accommodation. Supported accommodation can be the right fit for some older looked after children and care leavers who are ready for independence and need varying levels of support. But for too long there hasn’t been any independent oversight of this diverse and growing sector, and the quality of supported accommodation remains far too variable.”
“We are committed to getting the regulatory balance right. We will act sensibly and proportionally, but we will always have high expectations for children. Supported accommodation should be caring, kind and nurturing. We will continue to engage with children, young people, providers and others as we develop our proposals for inspection.”
As part of this work, NCB has been appointed by DfE to deliver the Sector Awareness and Provider Preparedness programme which is supporting the sector to prepare for the introduction of the new quality standards, registration and regulation system.
Our new website showcases a wide range of different engagement, learning and development opportunities we will be offering in partnership with the Department for Education and Ofsted, including upcoming national conferences on 24th April (Manchester) and 26th April (London).
<<< Find out more on the SA&PP microsite here. >>>