This framework sets out Ofsteds process for inspecting residential family centres.
Our approach is underpinned by the following 3 principles that apply to all social care inspections:
Additional guidance on deferring an inspection, inspector conduct during inspections, when and how the provider can raise issues, concerns or complaints during and after the inspection, supporting the well-being of the providers managers and staff during inspections and visits, attendance at keeping in touch meetings, discussions with staff and feedback meetings and who the provider may share provisional and final inspection outcomes with and the actions taken when a centre is judged to be inadequate.
Updated the 'Evaluation criteria' section to clarify that monitoring and support activities of the centre are included in an inspectors assessment of the experiences and progress of families, how well they are safeguarded, and how leadership reviews and improves the effectiveness of those activities.
Minor changes to the evaluation criteria to align, where applicable, with other framework changes on childrens progress, the management of risk and the need to appoint a registered manager, if the post is vacant, within 26 weeks.Small change to guidance for inspectors on recording evidence in the inspection database.
Minor edits for clarity in the 'Monitoring visit' section and revised text referencing the updated 'Ofsted code of conduct' policy.
Added guidance for April 2022: made minor changes to the evaluation criteria on the impact of quality monitoring activities and the outcomes of assessments and additional guidance for when inspectors discover possible unregistered provision.
Updated guidance on the scheduling of inspections of centres previously judged inadequate or requires improvement to be good, to make consistent with our guidance for other provider types.
Removed guidance on assurance visits, as we are no longer carrying these out.
Added guidance on inspecting residential family centres during COVID-19 restrictions. Updated guidance to reflect changes to Ofsteds post-inspection processes and complaints handling, including timeline, that we introduced in September 2020. Minor edits for readability.
First published.