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social care professionals

Providing good experiences for children with complex needs

An image of a woman showing a child something on a laptop. Next to it, text reads "Blog post: Providing good experiences for children with complex needs"

***Update: we have also released a podcast on this topic*** In January, we published a new research report on children with complex needs in children’s homes. The report was based on a national survey of local authorities and children’s home …

Ofsted's response to Stable Homes, Built on Love

Ofsted’s consultation response Last month Ofsted submitted its response to the government’s consultation Stable Homes, Built on Love. I am sure many of you did the same. There’s a lot in the proposals that we welcome. With additional resources and …

Foster Care Fortnight 2023

A woman and two men sitting with a young child, smiling and talking.

As we begin another Foster Care Fortnight, I want to again offer our rightful appreciation to the people providing incredible yet often unremarked-on foster care to tens of thousands of children every year.

Fostering a child is an incredibly generous and selfless thing to do even in the best of circumstances. But in the tough context we currently live in, it is a remarkable act.

Ofsted's 2023 priorities for social care

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Care Review, social care professionals, social care regulation, Uncategorized

2022 saw the publication of several reviews looking at the children’s social care sector. The Care Review, the Competition and Markets Authority market study, and the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel all made major recommendations for reform. In our own …

Getting ready to regulate 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 …

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

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 …

Foster Care Fortnight – 9 to 22 May 2022

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 …