Consultation: Inspection of residential family centres

What is it all about? It seeks views on proposals for a revised framework for inspections of residential family ?centres. Ofsted is developing the framework to ensure inspections support improvement and focus on what makes the greatest contribution to helping families. It will judge the extent to which assessments are “robust, accurate and support sound decision making”, and determine whether parents and children are protected by the quality of services provided.

What are the main points? The Department for Education is revising the national minimum standards and associated regulations for residential family centres. The consultation on the proposed changes closed on 13 July and the revised ?national minimum standards and regulations are expected to come into force on 1 April 2013. The changes have resulted in Ofsted seeking to update the inspection framework so it remains consistent with legal requirements.

Under the proposed framework, inspections will focus on residential family centre assessments on parenting skills and capacity to change, and on the quality of care, support and guidance offered to parents and their children. Ofsted wants inspections to remain unannounced. It also plans to continue to inspect centres at least once in each three-year inspection cycle, but will bring an inspection forward in certain circumstances. In doing so, it will consider complaints and concerns received about the residential family centre and evidence that performance has deteriorated. Inspections will focus on overall effectiveness; quality of assessment; quality of care, support and guidance; safeguarding arrangements for children and parents; and leadership and management of the centre. Ofsted stresses that the revised minimum standards are ?exactly that, and achieving them will not necessarily mean that a residential family centre is judged to be good or outstanding.

Who can have a say? Ofsted is seeking views from those who have an interest in, or expertise relating to, family ?assessment and support. It wants to hear from people who have been directly involved with centres including children, parents and those who commission services.

When does it close? The closing date for the consultation is 9 October.

When will the results be published? A report will be published in February 2013, alongside the revised framework and evaluation schedule for the inspection of centres.