1. Myths and Landscapes Jeremy Gleaden, Senior HMI, Social Care Policy
National Children’s Commissioning and Contracting Training Conference Programme
Myths and Landscapes
Jeremy Gleaden, Senior HMI, Social Care Policy
10 June 2016

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3. The changing landscape of children’s social care
Direction of the Secretary of State (not seen full removal yet)
Voluntary Trusts
Delegation of functions (whole and part)
Joint managed authorities
Social enterprise local authority owned company
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4. The changing landscape of children’s social care
Innovation programme (two phases now)
Regional adoption agencies
Combined authorities
Children and Social Work Bill – exemptions
Response to children in need
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5. Myths “Ofsted requirements”
Legislation/regulation/statutory guidance/practice guidance/national and local policy
Inspection frameworks describe the key features of “good”
Limiting judgements
Inspectors expect the traditional service model
New landscape will likely need updated legislative framework for inspection and regulation
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6. Innovation programme
“Ofsted will not stifle innovation” Children’s Innovation Summit July 2014 (Debbie Jones, Ofsted National Director Social Care)
Recognise fears of innovators
Innovation doesn’t always succeed & risk of distracting
Positive conversations with DfE and programmes with local authorities, regulated settings and others – which continue
What matters? Experiences and progress of children and improved outcomes.
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7. Myths – Children’s homes
Myth: Ofsted prefers smaller children’s homes
Reality: As part of the registration process, the applicant for registration has to demonstrate how they intend to meet the needs of the children they wish to care for, understand the ethos and nature of care to be offered and that this is appropriate in relation to the size of the building and staffing arrangements.
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8. Myths – Children’s homes
Myth: Admitting a child or young person with ‘difficult’ behaviour can affect inspection judgements.
Reality: This is not the case. Providers should know whose needs they can meet and only accept into their homes the children they know that they can care for. It is about progress and experiences – where children are new to the home, we will be looking at the quality of their experience. If a provider can demonstrate that they can meet the needs of the children placed there, that care planning is robust and children are making progress and having positive experiences, this will not adversely affect the judgement at inspection.
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9. Myths – Children’s homes
Myth: Ofsted expect providers to hold ‘folders for Ofsted’
Reality: Inspectors encourage managers to show their ‘best evidence’, which demonstrates that their work is making a difference to the progress and experience of children. Recording is only part of the evidence base – we expect only the records required in legislation.
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10. Myths – Children’s homes
Myth: If a provider makes a complaint, it will adversely affect their next inspection judgement.
Reality: Our complaints process is open and transparent, with cases escalated to internal review also considered by a scrutiny panel that includes an external sector representative. If a provider makes a complaint, this will not adversely affect the judgement at the next inspection. Complaints can help us to learn and improve our practice.
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11. Myths – Children’s homes
Myth: There are quotas of inspection judgements.
Reality: Each inspection is an event in its own right and inspectors judge each individual home based on the practice they see and the progress and experiences of children. There are no ‘quotas’ of judgements regionally or nationally and there are no rewards or incentives for inspectors to make specific judgements.
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12. Myths – Children’s homes
Myth: You can’t be judged outstanding at your first inspection.
Reality: There are no rules that state you cannot be outstanding at your first inspection as a children’s home. Where practice and the progress and experiences of children meet the criteria for outstanding then this is the judgement the inspector will make.
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13. Thank you Questions? Discussion