Children Services

Dispelling Myths About Inspections and the Need for Suitable Homes. There is a growing need for highly specialised homes that can provide good quality, nurturing care for children with multiple and complex needs. In some cases, these children are deprived of their liberty – many have mental health needs that are not being met elsewhere.  Ofsted knows that some providers are worried about caring for some children and the perceived ‘impact’ on inspection grades. Ofsted knows that the progress of many children will not be linear, with new crises arising and risks identified. They want to see homes and services adapt and respond appropriately to children, and we know this takes time and tenacity. But ultimately, this should not affect the grading of a home. In context, provision for children with the highest level of need continues to be good and outstanding in line with other provider types.   What...

November 2022 Strong leadership and a stable workforce are imperative to the survival of a children’s home. Ofsted is aware that there are many committed leaders and staff delivering excellent care across children’s residential care. However, they know that high levels of staff turnover and not enough experienced staff continue to be a real problem, meaning that some of the most vulnerable children are still being left without the consistent level of care they require. Ofsted has recently been concerned about the impact of high staff turnover, particularly that of registered managers, on the care delivered in recently opened children’s homes. The early days of a new home can be challenging as staff settle into new roles, teams establish themselves and, most importantly, children come to live in the new home. With this in mind, Ofsted has decided to strengthen its oversight, for example, by asking new homes to inform...