Summary of changes
Updated 30 April 2024
Applies to England
April 2024
Updated to incorporate the previous supported accommodation enforcement policy and to reflect Ofsted鈥檚 current policies.
February 2024
Added a reference to Ofsted鈥檚 code of conduct to emphasise how we expect inspectors to act when carrying out enforcement activity.
March 2022
Reviewed throughout and published in HTML for accessibility. Some information about our internal procedures has been moved to internal-only guidance.
New sections added
- 鈥楧ata protection鈥�
- 鈥極ur enforcement actions: managers鈥�
Sections updated
鈥楽afeguarding and child protection concerns鈥�: updated and clarified our role in strategy meetings.
鈥楬ow we act on information鈥�: explained how we respond to information including updated guidance on monitoring visits.
鈥楥ompliance notices鈥�: clarified how we check compliance with these.
鈥楽uspensions鈥�: this has been updated to include suspension of independent fostering agencies, and short breaks.
鈥楥ancellation and voluntary cancellation鈥�: clarified the processes and consequences of cancellation for providers and for managers
The 鈥楶rosecution鈥� section has been reviewed and updated throughout.
鈥楿nregistered social care providers鈥�: updated and clarified this section.
鈥楻eferrals to the DBS鈥�: added more information about the 鈥榟arm test鈥� and when we can refer individuals to the DBS.
October 2020
Updated Annex D: surveillance to reflect Ofsted new guidance on directed surveillance.
December 2019
Amended the 鈥榁isits to potentially unregistered settings and/or managers鈥� section to clarify our policy and to show it is under review.
October 2018
Updated sections on 鈥榃ritten representations under the Care Standards Act 2000鈥� and 鈥榃orking with other agencies and serious case reviews鈥�. Added a new annex on contacting the DCS after an inadequate judgement.
February 2018
Handbook amended to reflect the revised registration guidance updated earlier this month. Also updated to explain that Ofsted doesn鈥檛 do joint visits with other agencies but that we may visit or inspect at the same time as another agency.
October 2017
Minor updates and revisions to sections on written representations, offences, and disqualification.
December 2016
Updates to section 3.4, page 41 and section 3.5, page 47 to reflect changes to our policy when suspending providers鈥� registration and restricting accommodation.
February 2016
Handbook re-structured for ease of use.
July 2015
Updated for a suite of small changes following a review and in response to feedback from inspectors.
December 2014
This document was updated in December 2014.
October 2014
First published.