How Ofsted inspects children’s social care

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• Author:UK Government
• Published:March 2017 (Last updated)
• Country:

Guidance on how Ofsted inspects children’s social care

Information for local authority services, adoption and fostering agencies, residential centres and other children’s social care services.

Published by: Ofsted
Published on 3 December 2014, Last updated on 31 March 201

Ofsted registers and inspects some types of social care services; other types are inspected but do not have to register with Ofsted.

The two groups are listed below. The links go to the relevant inspection guidance including the inspection framework/handbook.

Social care services that Ofsted registers and inspects:

• Adoption support agencies.
• Children’s homes.
• Secure children’s homes.
• Independent fostering agencies.
• Residential family centres.
• Residential holiday schemes for disabled children.
• Voluntary adoption agencies.

Social care services that Ofsted inspects

• Boarding schools and residential special schools.
• Cafcass, the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service.
• Further education colleges.
• Local authority children’s service.
• Secure training centres.

During the inspection

Inspectors will carry out tasks depending on the service. Tasks usually include:

• discussions with children and young people.
• observing staff.
• talking to staff and, where possible, parents, guardians, advocates and other professionals.
• checking premises and equipment to make sure they are safe.
• reading files.
• checking records, procedures and other documents.