On 24 March 2021 the three Chief Inspectors published a joint statement about the CQC’s future approach. In the statement they outline changes that will take effect from April 2021, and what they mean for providers from all sectors. The main message from the statement is that the CQC will continue to respond to risk …
From 28 January 2021, Ofsted-registered childminders, nannies, nurseries and all other childcare providers must use an online notification form to inform Ofsted about significant events. Providers should no longer notify Ofsted by phone or email and should instead use the online notification form to notify Ofsted of significant events. Significant events Childcare providers should notify …
Childcare providers must notify Ofsted of significant events online Read More »
Ofsted confirmed on 3 December 2020 that it will not return to conducting rated visits of children’s social care providers until April 2021. It will continue to publish reports which it states will provide commissioners with the information required to make decisions about what is going well in services and what is required to improve. …
Ofsted will resume visits to children’s services again this month. Most visits were suspended in March 2020 because of Covid-19 restrictions but in August 2020, Ofsted confirmed that visits to children’s services would be resuming again from 1 September 2020. These “Assurance Visits” will be undertaken as part of Ofsted’s phased return to routine inspections. …
A reminder to providers: Ofsted to resume “Assurance Visits” Read More »
Our solicitors Caroline Barker, Samantha Cox and Maddi Gaunt discuss Ofsted, its functions and characteristics and how providers might deal with any intervention by this notoriously difficult regulator.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIPNzyUo4zg
In a recent announcement, Daniel Muijs, Ofsted’s Deputy Director of Research and Evaluation, has summarised Ofsted’s upcoming plans for research into the children’s care sector. In the announcement, Mr Muijs says “As a responsible organisation, we also need to know whether our frameworks and methodologies are being implemented as intended and are having the outcomes …
Ofsted announces research plans for the coming 2 years Read More »
The government published new guidelines yesterday intended to clarify the registration arrangements for service providers who offer services to children which may be caught by either Ofsted or CQC registration requirements, or both. The guidance applies to both inspectors at each regulator and providers of both CQC regulated services and those children’s services which are …
New guidance published registration of children’s care services Read More »
Ofsted published a release of their periodical review of inspection judgments of children’s homes between 1 April 2019 and 31 August 2019 at the end of November 2019. Ofsted regulates children’s homes (which includes children’s care homes, secure children’s homes and residential special schools registered as children’s homes) and inspects them under a “social common …
Ofsted publishes Children’s social care statistics Read More »
Paul Ridout, Laura Paton and Jenny Wilde (all lawyers at Ridouts) discuss the importance of challenging regulator inspection reports and how providers of health and social care services can give themselves the best chance of forcing amendments to inaccurate reports.
Chief Inspector of Ofsted, Amanda Spielman, has said there has been an increase in legal challenges to its reports. Ms Spielman told MPs that the rise in challenges was mainly coming from private organisations, such as apprenticeship providers, nurseries and children’s homes. There has been a particular rise in the number of tribunals involving children’s …
Ridouts is a team of specialist health and social care lawyers, providing dedicated legal advice for care homes, GP practices, children’s homes, dental practices, domiciliary and home care agencies, supported and independent living services and both private and NHS hospitals.
info@ridout-law.com • +44 (0) 207 317 0340
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