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Guidance

Social care common inspection framework (SCCIF): supported accommodation

Guidance on how Ofsted inspects supported accommodation for looked-after children and care leavers aged 16 and 17.

Updates to this page

From:
Ofsted
Published:
29 February 2024
Last updated:
28 October 2026
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  1. Updated to clarify the inspection notification process.

  2. Clarification on inspection timeframe and length of inspection for different sized providers.

  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. 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. In ‘The onsite-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 and references to Ofsted’s pausing process.

  6. First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Social care common inspection framework (SCCIF): supported accommodation for looked-after children and care leavers aged 16 and 17

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Details

This framework sets out Ofsted’s process for inspecting supported accommodation for looked-after children and care leavers aged 16 and 17.

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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