Ofsted inspections are the part of oversight people know about. There is another layer that runs every month and gets far less attention.
Under Regulation 44 of the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015, an independent person must visit each home at least once a month. The visit may be unannounced. They can speak to children, staff and families in private, look round the premises, and read the records.
They then have to give an opinion in writing on two questions: whether children are effectively safeguarded, and whether the home promotes their wellbeing. That report goes to the registered manager, to our Responsible Individual, to placing authorities and to Ofsted – not only to us. We do not get to approve it first.
Ours are carried out by Grahams Consultants, an external social care consultancy, so the visitor is independent both of this organisation and of the day-to-day running of the homes. Extracts from what Regulation 44 visitors have said are published on our feedback page, including where they have asked us to improve something.
If you are placing a child and you want to understand how a particular home has been monitored, ask us and we will talk you through it.