Developing the regulation of the new Supported Accommodation sector
NCERCC takes Supported Accommodation to be an aspect of Residential Child Care.
The download addresses the practice basis for the regulation of the sector and has been informed by the many presentations made by the Ofsted Supported Accommodation team and most notably the words from their slides –
“The evaluation criteria that inspectors use as benchmarks of quality will be based on: Existing research evidence, including findings from serious case reviews”.
NCERCC has used this as the guide to its thinking in considering what needs to be present and active in the regulation of the new Supported Accommodation sector.
- Supported Accommodation – a sector without the benefit of decades of accumulated knowledge and experience is a national experiment
- Supported Accommodation should be driven by principle not pragmatism and be a specialism not generic
- The most ‘appropriate placement’ and ‘matching’ must apply
- Situating Supported Accommodation in the conceptual framework of children’s social care placements.
- Safe Uncertainty
The sections that follow address the practice basis for the regulation of the sector and has been informed by the many presentations made by their Supported Accommodation team and most notably the words from Ofsted slides – “The evaluation criteria that inspectors use as benchmarks of quality will be based on: Existing research evidence, including findings from serious case reviews”. NCERCC has used this as the guide to its thinking in considering what needs to be present and active in the regulation of the new Supported Accommodation sector.
- Serious Case Reviews provide the reflective culture that is essential
- Serious Case Reviews provide the essentials for regulatory practice.
If Supported Accommodation is to be taken forwards it should be seen as a specialism, in the same way as all the others. From mainstream and long-term homes to therapeutic and mental health all Residential Child Care settings are specialist.
Supported Accommodation must be a specialist setting. It should not be a generic, we have learned the necessity, efficiency and effectiveness that follow when admissions are driven by principle not pragmatism.
If it is to be taken forwards it is for children who can successfully and demonstrably live independently without the care of and with only the limited support of adults. There must be evidence by assessment and observed experience to support this as the ‘most appropriate’ placement.
It is important to reiterate that what is being described in government documentation is a set of circumstances where it is anticipated that there will be risk and uncertainty.
NCERCC sees it is necessary for there to be reminders of the learning from tragedies in previous decades. There are features and themes that are relevant. NCERCC will be returning to this focus in its next publication regarding Supported Accommodation and a further input to the consultation regarding its regulation.
With regard to Supported Accommodation there are recurring practice implications found in the Serious Case Panel Reviews that are clear and are to be omitted only to the detriment of the children.
Leaning from the annual reports of the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel can be operationalised for regulatory activity. The download has a methodology.
There are also useful reflective materials that should be used to inform the development of the new sector and by which the policy, commissioning, regulation, provision and practice should be evaluated.
These are included in the download here.