Ofsted: Social Care – Registering Unregulated Provisions
                     Ofsted: Social Care – 
Registering 
Unregulated Provisions
Unregulated provision – strict control is essential to safeguard young people’s safety, 
security, and well-being.
Amanda Spielman, Ofsted Chief Inspector, agreed to the government’s request in 
December 2021 that unregulated provisions for 16- and 17-year-old children in care 
and care leavers should be registered with Ofsted.
Although supported accommodation is still unregulated, it is difficult to foresee 
when inspections will begin. Quality control and regulatory supervision are 
essential.
What Is Known About Supported Accommodation
In February 2022, Ofsted sent a survey to local authorities to help them prepare for 
their work in the unregulated provision sector. They received a whopping 97% 
response rate which showed:
There are around 1,100 unregulated supported accommodation providers in 
England, with approximately 66% of them operating in a single local authority area 
and approximately 46% supporting only one or two young people.
Regarding young persons in unregulated supported living, it was discovered 
that:
They lived in around 3,400 settings, with approximately 1,700 being 16 years old 
and approximately 5,300 being 17 years old.
Provision was very local or regional, with 92% of people living in the same region 
as their residence.
As anticipated, it is a tremendously diverse sector with a wide range of 
accommodation options. Supported accommodation can refer to single occupancy 
flats or more extensive hostel-style facilities that accommodate people over 18 who 
may have care experience. This can include ‘supported lodgings’ in a private house 
or relatively small group living arrangements.
The number of young people living in supported accommodation is increasing.
Based on their results, Ofsted estimates that there are around 7,000 looked-after 
children aged 16 and 17 living in supported accommodations. This figure is close to 
the total number of children living in England’s children’s homes. This statistic is 
gradually increasing and is more than double the total number of children in care 
reported to be in semi-independent or independent accommodation in 2014.
Local authorities have difficulties locating appropriate support and care for 
children and young people. The lack of sufficiency adds to the increase in the 
number of young people living in supported accommodation. To address this issue, 
Ofsted will work collaboratively with the government and colleagues from across 
the sector.
The findings of Ofsted are critical in determining policy thought. Inspections will 
always focus on young people’s experiences. Whatever type of help young people get 
should be tailored to their specific requirements, and any decisions made on their 
behalf must be made with their best interests in mind. When practice falls short, 
regardless of the wider policy context, necessary enforcement will be implemented.
Preparation for Regulating
The government expects to implement the supported accommodation regulations in 
January 2023, at the same time as it publishes quality standards. Ofsted will begin 
registering supported accommodation providers in April 2023 and conducting 
inspections in April 2024.
Ofsted will consult widely on their inspection proposals and will share more 
details soon. When they consult, they will do all necessary to ask the relevant 
questions. Considering this, they expect to have the assistance of care experts to 
co-design their consultation. Their thoughts are centered on what constitutes 
good support. The inspections must reflect the priorities and aspirations of 
young people.
Policies and procedures are the formal practices implemented by an 
organisation in order to ensure that employees are well-trained, supervised 
and properly equipped when they perform their work duties. Our 
policies and procedures for supported living and 
home health care policies and procedures are constantly reviewed and 
updated by our professional, experienced policy writers and administrators 
to ensure they meet changes in the legislative framework. To know more 
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