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Ofsted issues revised policy for prioritising children’s homes registration applications in face of “unprecedented” demand

Ofsted has said it will no longer deal with social care registration applications “solely in order of the date they are received”, but will prioritise applications that address the shortage of placements for those children in most urgent need.

Details

In June, the regulator warned that the “unprecedented” number of applications were taking longer than usual to register - with the total number of children’s home applications in the last 12 months being “almost double” the figure for the previous year. 

In a blog post published last week, (9 October), Ofsted said: “This is clearly not a satisfactory situation for providers who are keen to begin supporting and caring for children, and for local authorities who are desperately looking for suitable homes for their children and young people.”

42Br Child

The regulator’s revised policy sets out the following criteria for urgently dealing with applications:

  • the provision applied for has received capital funding from the Department for Education to develop new children’s homes,
  • the provision is being opened exclusively to look after unaccompanied asylum-seeking children transferred under the national transfer scheme,
  • a child subject to a deprivation of liberty order is being accommodated in a children’s home that is currently unregistered,
  • the provision is needed in exceptional circumstances in response to an emergency situation.

Ofsted said: “We don’t think it makes sense to deal with applications solely in order of the date they are received. This approach would fail to fully take into account which applications are best placed to provide what children need now. The sufficiency challenges demand a considered response. 


“There is a disproportionately high number of homes in some areas while, elsewhere, there is a chronic shortage. Too many children are living too far from home, isolated from their family and friends, and not necessarily receiving the type of care that meets their specific needs. We believe it is right that we prioritise applications that address the shortage of placements for those children in most urgent need and, more generally, those areas where there is clear evidence of a lack of suitable provision.”

The regulator noted that while it will make sure the applications that meet the relevant criteria are prioritised, it will carry on progressing all applications in the system “as efficiently as [it] can”.  

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The revised policy only relates to children’s homes. However, Ofsted acknowledged “similar issues” being faced by children needing supported accommodation.

It said: “We will closely monitor the effectiveness of this approach for children’s homes in the coming months. If it has the desired impact, we will consider implementing a similar policy for supported accommodation applications in April 2026.”

Lottie Winson