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Inspections Clinic: Registering homes and managers

Changes by Ofsted will give residential care providers more flexibility in how they register children’s homes and managers, but a campaigner tells Jo Stephenson it could undermine the quality of care.
Roughly one in 10 managers manage more than one home. Picture: Christine Bird/Adobe Stock
Roughly one in 10 managers manage more than one home. Picture: Christine Bird/Adobe Stock

Moves to enable more flexibility in the management of children’s homes have sparked controversy within the sector.

Until recently, Ofsted guidance made it clear applications for one manager to manage more than one children’s home would only be considered in “exceptional” circumstances.

However, updated guidance now states the regulator may consider registering a manager to manage two homes if “satisfied that the manager has the experience, qualifications and skills to manage each home and the care of children effectively and on a daily basis”.

According to Ofsted, 288 managers currently manage more than one children’s home.

Last month, the regulator published new guidance on the registration of so-called “multi-building” children’s homes, allowing providers to accommodate up to six children in four buildings under a single registration (see box).

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