Ofsted’s inspections of Supported Accommodation providers have commenced

The ‘Social Care Common Inspection Framework (SCCIF): Supported accommodation for looked after children and care leavers aged 16 & 17’ (“SA SCCIF”) is the framework that applies to Ofsted’s inspections of Supported Accommodation providers.

At the outset of an inspection, Ofsted will call a provider by 9.30am to inform them that an on-site inspection will take place in two working days’ time. The inspection effectively starts at the point of this announcement. Ofsted will then send a follow up email setting out practical arrangements for the inspection.

During the follow-up call from the lead inspector, the provider will be able to discuss and agree plans for the inspection such as agreeing an inspection timetable and making arrangements to speak to children. Any information gathered in the two day notice period will be incorporated into the inspector’s findings. At the end of an on-site inspection a verbal feedback session will take place where inspectors will summarise their findings and provide a provisional inspection outcome.

Most inspections under SCCIF rate providers as Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement or Inadequate but this is not the case for providers of Supported Accommodation, a three outcome model is used instead.

The three outcomes are as follows:

• Outcome 1 – Consistently strong service delivery leads to typically positive experiences and progress for children. Where improvements are needed, leaders and managers take timely and effective action. The next inspection will be within approximately 3 years.
• Outcome 2 – Inconsistent quality of service delivery adversely affects some children’s experiences, and this may limit their progress. Leaders and managers must make improvements. The next inspection will be within approximately 18 months.
• Outcome 3 – Serious or widespread weaknesses lead to significant concerns about the experiences and progress of children. Leaders and managers must take urgent action to address failings. The next inspection will be within approximately 6 months. An Outcome 3 finding will lead to a case review which will take place no later than five working days after the inspection.

The outcome is a professional evaluation to assess whether the support for children is effective and determine what impact that support is having on children’s experiences and progress.

As this sector has not been regulated before, the prospect of an inspection might feel daunting for staff and providers. To help an inspection run smoothly, staff can do the following things:

• Familiarise themselves with the SA SCCIF in advance of an inspection.
• First impressions count – draw the inspector’s attention to the good things that the service is doing.
• Answer any questions that the inspector has during the inspection and offer assistance.
• If an inspector identifies any compliance issues during the inspection, take immediate action to address the issues and confirm that action has been taken.
• Take a detailed note during the verbal feedback session at the end of an inspection so that there is a clear record of what has been discussed.
• If an inspector has misunderstood anything, the feedback session acts as an opportunity to correct them.

Ofsted will normally send a provider a copy of its draft inspection report within 18 working days of the inspection. The report will provide a short summary of findings that support the outcome, followed by sections that address findings under the three main areas of evidence:

• The overall experiences and progress of children.
• How well children are helped and protected.
• The effectiveness of leaders and managers.

Providers have 5 working days from the date of service of the draft inspection report to submit a Factual Accuracy Check (“FAC”) to Ofsted if they want to challenge the report. Whilst of course it is important to cooperate with Ofsted and address any compliance issues, it is equally important to ensure that Ofsted is held to account if it gets things wrong. If providers have any concerns about the inspection process or they receive an adverse draft inspection report, they should not hesitate to seek timely legal advice.

Our lawyers at RWK Goodman can assist providers with a FAC challenge. They can also consider  if Outcome 1, 2 or 3 is reflective of the content of the draft report and whether the outcome is proportionate to the alleged findings.

RWK Goodman works closely with the National Association of Supported Accommodation Providers (NASAP), a membership body representing providers of supported accommodation across England and Wales.  We also work closely with dialogue, an organisation at the heart of helping supported accommodation providers to set up and maintain excellent services. Providers are encouraged to contact these organisations if they need any support and guidance in relation to their supported accommodation service.