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Guidance

Social care common inspection framework (SCCIF): independent fostering agencies

Guidance on how Ofsted inspects independent fostering agencies.

Updates to this page

From:
Ofsted
Published:
22 February 2017
Last updated:
1 April 2026
Show all updates

  1. Clarification on the length of inspection for different sized agencies. New guidance on notifying children of the inspection. Revised section on 'Evaluating the experiences and progress of children'.

  2. Minor revisions to terminology in the evaluation criteria and on-site inspection sections referencing agencies and foster carers. For use on inspections from 1 September 2025.

  3. We have clarified the list of the provider types that the SCCIF applies to, adding ‘Supported accommodation for looked-after children and care leavers aged 16 and 17’ in the Introduction section. We have also clarified the content of the inspection report in The inspection report section and our policy on publishing monitoring reports. In response to the Big Listen, we have made several changes to the inspection principles, evaluation criteria and sampling criteria that relate to improving placement stability for children and young people.

  4. We have clarified the process to raise concerns or complaints during and after an inspection. We have updated the reference to relevant legislation in the 'Frequency of inspection' section. In the ‘Start of the inspection’ section, we have clarified how the provider can request any adaptations to the inspection process due to a protected characteristic, or any reasonable adjustments due to a disability. We have made minor changes to the evaluation criteria and on-site inspection sections to reference non-speaking children.

  5. This framework has been updated to clarify that, when applying the framework, inspectors will take appropriate action to comply with Ofsted’s Equality Act duties, clarification on the opportunities for providers to discuss and/or provide information on potential equalities duties, including reasonable adjustments for individuals, clarification regarding Ofsted’s updated arrangements for publishing the report, quality assurance and handling concerns and complaints in line with Ofsted’s new complaints process in the timeframe sections, references to Ofsted’s pausing process, minor revisions to the evaluation criteria re children’s health needs, additional guidance in the ‘Request for information at an inspection’ section on a letter that can be circulated to foster carers, updated guidance on monitoring visits and updated section on reporting concerns about the administration and management of controlled drugs.

  6. Additional guidance on deferring an inspection, inspector conduct during inspections, when and how the provider can raise issues, concerns or complaints during and after the inspection, supporting the well-being of the provider’s managers and staff during inspections and visits, attendance at keeping in touch meetings, discussions with staff and feedback meetings and who the provider may share provisional and final inspection outcomes with.

  7. Guidance added to the ‘Inadequate judgements: next steps’ section on feeding back to local authorities.

  8. Minor changes to the evaluation criteria to align, where applicable, with other framework changes on children’s progress, the management of risk, the use of restraint and the need to appoint a registered manager, if the post is vacant, within 26 weeks. Small change to guidance for inspectors on recording evidence in the inspection database.

  9. Minor edits for clarity in the 'Monitoring visit' section and revised text referencing the updated 'Ofsted code of conduct' policy.

  10. Added SCCIF guidance for April 2022: updated with additional guidance for when inspectors discover possible unregistered provision.

  11. Removed guidance on assurance visits, as we are no longer carrying these out.

  12. Guidance on inspecting independent fostering agencies during COVID-19 restrictions. Updated guidance to reflect changes to Ofsted’s post-inspection processes and complaints handling (including the timeline) that we introduced in September 2020. Minor edits for readability.

  13. First published.

Applies to England

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Social care common inspection framework (SCCIF): independent fostering agencies

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This framework sets out Ofsted’s process for inspecting independent fostering agencies.

Our approach is underpinned by the following 3 principles that apply to all social care inspections:

  • to focus on the things that matter most to children’s lives
  • to be consistent in our expectations of providers
  • to prioritise our work where improvement is needed most

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