NCAS conference: Ofsted offers councils incentives to trial new inspection system

Lisa Pascoe, Ofsted's deputy director for social care said there are certain "carrots" on offer to councils willing to test out the proposed "lighter touch" inspection framework, which is due to replace the SIF by January 2018.

Ofsted has previously faced issues with getting councils to sign up for trials. The launch of joint targeted area inspections was previously delayed because councils turned down the opportunity to take part in trials. Ofsted had wanted to launch the inspection system in October 2015 - but it was delayed for several months.

Pascoe said councils taking part in a trial of the replacement for the SIF may not need to be inspected immediately under the new framework. Meanwhile, for authorities that are currently rated "requires improvement", it could allow them to request an early inspection if the trial indicates that they have been making progress.

Speaking at the National Children and Adult Services conference in Manchester, Pascoe said the watchdog is keen to test out proposals, which will involve a basic inspection for all councils with fuller probes conducted if concerns are identified, over the next eight months.

She told delegates that those areas that volunteer will receive a "diagnostic".

"What you do get is a key role in developing the new arrangements with us," she explained.

"The report would not be published - it would be yours to do with as you wish.

"If we have come out and done a diagnostic with you, there is the potential that means that we don't need to come so quickly in the new arrangements.

"Equally there is the potential that if you are ‘requires improvement' and we see there has been a really good trajectory and there's a likelihood you will be 'good' in the new arrangements, you might actually be saying to us could you come quite early because actually we would like to get our good now.

"So there are some carrots I can offer."

Pascoe said testing the proposed system properly is "really important" to Ofsted.

"We have got what feels like the luxury of nearly a year before we have to publish these arrangements and we want to really use it wisely with you. But we recognise that piloting is a challenge," she said.

Pascoe said she also believes that the new arrangements mean there is much more opportunity for serving practitioners to join Ofsted's inspection teams.

"If we are doing short focused visits for two or three days, [there is] much more opportunity for you to come out of your local authority and join us.

"We are also really keen to have local authority practitioners join us on the monitoring visits that we are doing now in ‘inadequate' authorities, again two days long.

She said the organisation is keen to sign up secondees to work for the watchdog for up to 20 days a year.

"We think there is just so much good that comes from you joining us, going back out there and saying what you have seen."