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Why the standards exist
Since 28 October 2023, any provider in England offering supported accommodation to looked-after children and care leavers aged 16 and 17 must be registered with Ofsted. The rules are set out in the Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023, and placing a young person in unregistered supported accommodation is not allowed.
The regulations set four quality standards. Ofsted inspects providers against them, and they give commissioners a clear way to compare services.
1. The leadership and management standard
Leaders must create a culture that puts young people's wellbeing and development first. In practice, that means:
- Running the service in line with its published statement of purpose
- Enough capable, safely recruited staff, with supervision, training and development
- A clear process for referrals and admissions, including emergency placements
- Making sure each young person knows their entitlements, such as education and care-leaver rights, and is helped to access them
- A workforce plan and a business continuity plan
2. The protection standard
Young people must be protected and helped to keep themselves safe. Providers must:
- Give every young person 24-hour access to help in a crisis
- Have child protection policies that are put into practice and regularly reviewed
- Make sure staff can recognise and respond to risk and work well with other agencies
- Cooperate closely with the placing local authority, including attending meetings
- Support young people's safe relationships with family and friends
3. The accommodation standard
Young people must live somewhere comfortable, secure and homely. Providers must:
- Assess the location of each home at least once a year
- Keep homes well maintained, near local services, and compliant with health, safety and fire requirements
- Give each young person a private, secure bedroom with space for their belongings and access to a phone or the internet
- Only use CCTV in communal areas, for safeguarding, with the local authority's consent and with young people told in advance
- Provide a written agreement explaining young people's rights and how to raise a concern
4. The support standard
Support must be tailored to each young person. Providers must:
- Involve young people in decisions about their support and how the service is run
- Write a support plan with each young person, based on their referral and care or pathway plan, and review it regularly
- Help young people access outside services and advocacy, and speak up for them when agreed support isn't being provided
- Give each young person an accessible written guide when they arrive
- Support education, training or employment, and plan carefully for moving on
The six-monthly quality of support review
Providers must review the quality of their support at least every six months. The review considers young people's views and complaints, feedback from placing authorities and staff, and how well young people have been prepared for moving in and moving on.
The provider writes a report with an action plan, sends a copy to Ofsted, and makes it available to placing authorities on request. Commissioners can ask to see it.
How In House works to the standards
In House is registered with Ofsted (URN 2824105). Our statement of purpose, safeguarding, missing child, behaviour management, complaints and business continuity policies are written to the regulations, and every young person receives our Young Person's Guide when they arrive.
Young people have their own bedroom in a small shared home with two to four residents, at least three hours of support every day through our Independence Pathway, and access to our 24/7 emergency phone line. Commissioners can request our statement of purpose and policies from info@inhousesa.org.
Related guides
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