Changes to children's social care services: guidance for managers
Updated 26 April 2022
Applies to England
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-childrens-social-care-services-that-are-registered-andor-inspected-by-ofsted/changes-to-childrens-social-care-services-guidance-for-managers
This covers all managers except for those in voluntary adoption agencies.
It is an offence to manage a children’s social care service (other than a voluntary adoption agency) without being registered.
See section 11(1) of the Care Standards Act 2000 for more information.
New managers
If you’re a new manager of a registered service, you must apply for registration. You should do this as soon as possible from the date your appointment takes effect. Apply to register using the SC2 form.
We monitor all services without a registered manager. If you fail to submit a complete application for registration as soon as possible, we will write to you and we may take enforcement action against you.
After you apply
Ofsted will:
- do fitness checks
- interview you
- assess whether your skills, knowledge and qualifications meet the requirements of regulation
- make a decision to register or refuse you
Find out more about the application process.
Leaving managers
If you’re leaving your position, you must apply to voluntarily cancel your registration before you leave.
Ofsted may take action against you if you fail to tell us that you will stop, or have stopped, managing a service.
Interim managers
If you are in charge of a service for an interim period without registration, you are known as the interim manager.
You must register with Ofsted as soon as possible if either of the following apply:
- you are expected to be in day-to-day charge for more than 90 days
- you are appointed to be the registered manager of the service