GovWire

We will prioritise applications to register childrens homes that are needed urgently because local authorities (LAs) need an emergency placement for a named child/children. These can only be from:

• LAs that need an emergency placement for a named child/children
• private/voluntary providers, if the LA can confirm they have directly commissioned the application because they need an emergency placement for a named child/children
• providers who are accommodating a child, who is subject to a deprivation of liberty order from a court, in an unregistered childrens home
• provision that is being specifically opened as part of the response to accommodate unaccompanied asylum seeking children who are being transferred under the national transfer scheme

Our approach to prioritising applications

Prioritising does not mean that we will reduce our examination of your suitability to operate. We will not register any premises, providers or individuals that we do not consider to be suitable. We cannot relax or disapply any element of the Care Standards Act or the requirements of the associated regulations when considering a priority application.

We will take a reasonable and proportionate view of any application and will amend the processes we use to reach a decision about registration. The safety and well-being of children remain paramount in our decision-making.

If you already have registered provision with Ofsted, we will use the information you have previously supplied. We will also consider the quality of any existing registered provision in our decision-making.

Before you apply

We have made some temporary changes to our registration process for all childrens social care. You may submit your temporary health self-declaration form at the same time as submitting the full health declaration form to your GP.

We can only prioritise your application if your proposed service is ready to provide care and accommodation and has staffing in place, as far as is reasonably practicable.

Contacting your Ofsted region

You must contact your local Ofsted region and speak to a Senior His Majestys Inspector (SHMI) or Regulatory Inspection Manager (RIM) to explain your intention to register. If you are a private or voluntary provider, you must ask the commissioning LA to email confirmation to Ofsted that the application relates to a specific child or children. The SHMI/RIM will not be able to give any guarantee that the application will be successful.

If you are a LA wanting to apply to register, you should email the SHMI/RIM to let them know what you intend to do.

If you are a provider who has been directly commissioned by a LA, the LA should email the SHMI/RIM. The LA should confirm that they are directly commissioning you to accommodate a named child or children because they need an emergency placement for them.

If you are applying because you are providing care and accommodation for a child who is subject to a deprivation of liberty order from a court, you should email the SHMI/RIM, including a copy of the local authority commissioning form. It is also helpful to ask the childs local authority to email Ofsted to alert us that your application is being submitted.

Include in your email:

• the name of the LA/provider making the application
• the name of the person within the LA/provider organisation who is responsible for the application
• the name of the proposed manager
• the name of the proposed responsible individual
• any detail about timescale
• a number that the SHMI/RIM can contact you on to discuss your intention to apply

If you decide to pursue the application, the SHMI/RIM will email you a self-declaration form for you to confirm that your application is urgent.

We can consider accepting the application without a named proposed manager if both the following apply:

• ?we have received confirmation that the High Court has used its powers of inherent jurisdiction to authorise the Deprivation of the Liberty of a child (DoL) or that local authorities are seeking to accommodate unaccompanied asylum seeking children who are being transferred under the national transfer scheme
• the child is placed in an unregistered childrens home

This means that we will consider accepting an application without a managers SC2. However, we cannot accept an application without a completed SC1.

We expect to receive the managers SC2 application within 12 weeks, or we will consider sending back the whole application.

Important temporary process for submitting documents

Before you fill out your online application, you must complete the statement of self-declaration form.

When you are completing your online application, you will be asked the following question: Do you have these policy documents to upload for your new childrens home?

Priority applicants must tick yes, I have these documents, even if you do not have all of them ready yet.

It will ask you to upload the following documents:

• statement of purpose
• equalities policy
• copy of certificate of insurance
• childrens guide
• missing child policy
• safeguarding policy
• behaviour management policy
• prevention of bullying policy
• complaints procedure
• location assessment of the local area

Each time, you must either upload the document that has been requested or a copy of your completed self-declaration form and a copy of the local authoritys confirmation that a named child requires urgent accommodation.

You must upload the self-declaration form at least once, and the local authority confirmation at least once. If you have prepared all the requested documents, please choose 2 to submit to us later and upload the forms in their place.

This is so that we can receive your self-declaration form and the local authority confirmation with your application and avoid any potential delays to your registration.

Applications from providers accommodating a child, who is subject to a deprivation of liberty order, in an unregistered childrens home

If you are a provider accommodating a child, who is subject to a DoL order you must:

• complete the online SC1 form
• submit a signed and dated cover statement with the SC1, to provide a brief explanation of the reasons why it is urgent and meets the priority criteria

Read our guidance on placing children who are subject to a DoL order for more information.

Applications from those that already have registered provision (LAs or private/voluntary providers)

If the information relating to people connected with your previous application has not changed, we do not need that information again. If you put forward people who are currently known or registered with us, this will speed up the application.

You must complete the online SC1. You must also submit a signed and dated cover statement with the SC1, to provide a brief explanation of the reasons why the application is urgent and meets the priority criteria.

The following information is essential for us to accept your application:

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