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Blog Ofsted: social care

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Yvette Stanley

Yvette Stanley is Ofsted's National Director for Social Care.

Yvette was previously Director for Children, Schools and Families at Merton Council and has 30 years of experience in children's services.

Getting ready to regulate supported accommodation

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: care experienced, children looked after, looked after children, social care professionals, supported accommodation
Two young people cooking together

We’re fast approaching the time when we can accept applications to register as supported accommodation providers. This is a whole new area of work for Ofsted, providing important regulatory safeguards for children. Over the last year, we’ve been busy getting ready – recruiting inspectors, developing our registration guidance (due to be published soon), and planning ahead for beginning inspections in 2024.

Looking after children with complex needs: Dispelling myths about inspections and the need for suitable homes

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: children's homes, social care professionals
A girl looking out of a window through a set of blinds

There is a growing need for highly specialist homes that can provide good quality, nurturing care for children with multiple and complex needs. In some cases, these are children who are deprived of their liberty, Many have mental health needs …

Children’s homes need strong leadership and a stable workforce

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: children's homes, leaders
A man signing a form

Strong leadership and a stable workforce are fundamental for children’s homes to thrive. We know that there are many committed leaders and staff delivering excellent care across children’s residential care. However, we know that high levels of staff turnover and …

Supported accommodation – we need strong oversight to make sure young people are safe, secure and doing well

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: care experienced, children looked after, social care professionals, supported accommodation
Young people chatting and laughing in a shared kitchen.

Yvette Stanley, our National Director Regulation and Social Care, discusses the progress we have made in our plans for regulating supported accommodation, as we seek to recruit inspectors.   In December 2021, Amanda Spielman agreed to the government’s request that …

Consultation on a judgement for care leavers in our inspections of local authority children’s services

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: care leavers, children's services, inspection framework, local authorities
A group of care leavers

Yvette Stanley, our National Director for Social Care, discusses our proposal to inspect the experiences and progress of care leavers. In June we announced proposals to introduce a separate judgement about the experiences and progress of care leavers in our …

Foster Care Fortnight – 9 to 22 May 2022

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: children's services, fostering, local authorities, mental health, social care professionals
Foster carer and child sat on sofa together.

Yvette Stanley, our National Director for Social Care, celebrates foster carers’ invaluable contribution to the lives of the children they care for. This Foster Care Fortnight, as ever, we take our collective hats off to all foster carers, for the …

Enduring, positive relationships must be at the heart of the care system

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: care leavers, Care Review, social care professionals
Young person and adult talking on a park bench

Yvette Stanley, Ofsted’s National Director for Regulation and Social Care, considers the recent All-Party Parliamentary Group Spotlight Inquiry and reflects on how independent visitors can be an important source of lasting friendship and support for children in care. We have …

Our new report on care leavers’ experiences of preparing to leave care

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: care experienced, care leavers, children looked after
Boy sitting on window ledge looking outside

Yvette Stanley discusses our new research, published last week. Last week, we were pleased to launch our report, ‘Ready or not’, on the views and experiences of children in care aged 16 and 17 and care leavers on their preparation …

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About Ofsted - social care regulation and inspection blog

This blog looks at the way Ofsted inspects and regulates the social care sector: local authority children's services and social care providers, such as children's homes.

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