Registering children’s homes in an emergency: priority applications

Introduction

We will prioritise applications to register children’s homes that are needed urgently because local authorities require:

• (LAs) need an emergency placement for a named childchild/children. orThese children,can or

• localonly provision to meet an identified urgent sufficiency need

We will continue to consider all applications, but provision that meets the priority categories will be considered sooner.from:

We

• providers maywho prioritiseare applicationsaccommodating froma localchild, authoritieswho oris privatesubject providersto whosea applicationdeprivation meets one of theliberty followingorder criteria:

  • the provision applied for has received capital funding from thea Departmentcourt, forin Educationan tounregistered develop new children’s homes

    home

  • the provision that is being specifically opened exclusively as part of the response to accommodate unaccompanied asylum-seekingasylum seeking children who are being transferred under the national transfer scheme

  • aprovision child who is subject to a deprivation of liberty order from a court is being accommodated in a children’s home that is currently unregistered  

  • the provision is needed in exceptional circumstances in response to an emergency situation –- in this case the Ofsted Senior His Majesty’s Inspector (HMISHMI) in the region will determine whetherif we can prioritise the application

  Exceptional circumstances 

  Exceptionalcan circumstances may include: 

  • applications for children’s homes in areas where there is extremely high demand and insufficient placement options; this will be determined using information such as sufficiency data, which may include our Children’s social care in England 2025 data 

    prioritised.

  • provision that will offer highly specialist care for children with complex support needs and/or disabled children, for example those leaving secure children’s homes or long stays in hospitals 

  • provision that was historically registered incorrectly and has been instructed to register with an alternative regulator 

  Our approach to prioritising applications

  The safety and well-being of children remain paramount to our decision-making. Prioritising does not mean that we will reduce our examination of your suitability to operate. We will not register any premises, providers or individuals that we do not consider to be suitable. We cannot relax or disapply any element of the Care Standards Act or the requirements of the associated regulations when considering a priority application.

  We will take a reasonable and proportionate view of any application and will amend the processes we use to reach a decision about registration. The safety and well-being of children remain paramount in our decision-making.

  If you already have registered provision with Ofsted, we will use the information you have previously supplied. We will also consider the quality of any existing registered provision in our decision-making.

  Timeframe Before you apply

  IfWe youhave givemade ussome thetemporary rightchanges informationto atour theregistration rightprocess timefor andall showchildren’s thatsocial youcare. areYou fullymay preparedsubmit andyour readytemporary tohealth open,self-declaration weform willat makethe asame determinationtime about your priority application as soonsubmitting asthe possible.full Inhealth general,declaration thisform will usually take a minimum of 2 to 6your months. GP.

  We willcan keeponly processingprioritise allyour otherapplication applicationsif asyour quicklyproposed asservice possible. We have an exceptionally high volume of new registration applications to process. This means it is likelyready to takeprovide acare minimumand ofaccommodation 6and tohas 18staffing monthsin toplace, reachas afar decisionas onis newreasonably applications. practicable.

  Contacting your Ofsted region

  You must contact your local Ofsted region and speak to a Senior HMISHMI or Regulatory Inspection Manager (RIM) to explain your intention to register. If you are a private or voluntary provider, you must ask the commissioning localLA authority to email confirmation to Ofsted that the application relates to a specific child or children. The Senior HMISHMI/RIM will not be able to give any guarantee that the application will be successful.

  If you are a localLA authority wanting to apply to register, you should email the Senior HMISHMI/RIM to let them know what you intend to do.

  If you are applying because you are providing care and accommodation for a child who is subject to a deprivation of liberty order from a court, you should email the Senior HMISHMI/RIM, including a copy of the local authority commissioning form. It is also helpful to ask the child’s local authority to email Ofsted to alert us that your application is being submitted.

  Include in your email:

  • the name of the localLA/provider authority/provider making the application

  • the name of the person within the localLA/provider authority/provider organisation who is responsible for the application

  • the name of the proposed manager

  • the name of the proposed responsible individual

  • any detail about timescale

  • a number that the Senior HMISHMI/RIM can contact you on to discuss your intention to apply

  If you decide to pursue the application, the Senior HMISHMI/RIM will email you a self-declaration form for you to confirm that your application is urgent.

  We can consider accepting the application without a named proposed manager if both the following apply:

  •  we we have received confirmation that the High Court has used its powers of inherent jurisdiction to authorise the Deprivation of the Liberty of a child (DoL) or that local authorities are seeking to accommodate unaccompanied asylum-seekingasylum seeking children who are being transferred under the national transfer scheme

  • the child is placed in an unregistered children’s home

  This means that we will consider accepting an application without a manager’s SC2SC2. form. However, we cannot accept an application without a completed SC1 form.SC1.

  We expect to receive the manager’s SC2 application within 12 weeks.weeks, Ifor we do not, we will consider closingsending back the whole application through our ‘unable to determine’ process. Any fee you have paid will not be refunded.application.

  Important temporary process for submitting documents

  Before you fill out your online application, you must complete the statement of self-declaration form. form.

  We can accept priority applications without all of the policies and documents we usually require with the SC1. 

  When you are completing your online application, you will be asked the following question: ‘Do you have these policy documents to upload for your new children’s home?’

  Priority applicants must tick ‘yes, I have these documents’, even if you do not have all of them ready yet.

  It will ask you to upload the following documents:

  • statement of purpose

  • equalities policy

  • copy of certificate of insurance

  • children’s guide

  • missing child policy

  • safeguarding policy

  • behaviour management policy

  • prevention of bullying policy

  • complaints procedure

  • location assessment of the local area

  Each time, you must either upload the document that has been requested or a copy of your completed self-declaration form and a copy of the local authority’s confirmation that a named child requires urgent accommodation.

  You must upload the self-declaration form at least once, and the local authority confirmation at least once,once. instead of the required policy document. If you have prepared all the requested documents, please choose 2 of these to submit to us later and upload the forms in their place.

  This is so that we can receive your self-declaration form and the local authority confirmation with your application and avoid any potential delays to your registration.

  Once you submit your application, email the Ofsted applications team on SCadmin@ofsted.gov.uk to confirm that you have submitted it. This will ensure that your application is prioritised.

  Applications from providers accommodating a child, who is subject to a deprivation of liberty order, in an unregistered children’s home

  If you are a provider accommodating a childchild, who is subject to a DoL order you must:

  • complete the online SC1 form

  • submit a signed and dated cover statement with the SC1, to provide a brief explanation of the reasons why it is urgent and meets the priority criteria

  Read our guidance on placing children who are subject to a DoL order for more information.

  Applications from those that already have registered provision (local(LAs authorities or private/voluntary providers)

  If the information relating to people connected with your previous application has not changed, we do not need that information again. If you put forward people who are currently known to or registered with us, this will speed up the application.

  You must complete the online SC1. You must also submit a signed and anydated SC2scover togetherstatement with allthe otherSC1, to provide a brief explanation of the reasons why the application is urgent and meets the priority criteria.

  The following information requiredis essential for us to accept your application:

  • the relevant fee
  • the name and address of the property
  • the number and needs of children you want to register for
  • for each person who is part of the registration, either the number from their last DBS certificate (with an update service reference number) or a new DBS certificate
  • the names and contact details of the referees (if these are the same as detailedthose used in your last application, we will not contact them again but use the Registrationinformation guidethey forpreviously children’ssupplied)
  • a socialcompleted careadditional serviceshealth self-declaration form, togetherthat withconfirms you have submitted a health declaration form to your GP
  • address and employment details of your last post of employment before your current one

  Applications from LAs that do not already have registered provision

  You must complete the online SC1. You must also submit a signed and dated cover statement,statement with the SC1, to provide a brief explanation of the reasons why theit application is urgent and meets the priority criteria.

  The applicationfollowing process

  information is essential for us to accept your application:
  • the relevant fee
  • the name and address of the property
  • the number and needs of children you want to register for
  • for each person who is part of the registration, either the number from their last DBS certificate (with an update service reference number) or a new DBS certificate
  • the names and contact details for referees for provider, responsible and individual and proposed manager with those referees willing and able to provide a prompt response to our requests for information
  • a completed additional health self-declaration form that confirms you have submitted a health declaration form to your GP
  • address and employment details of their last post of employment before their current one.

  Your responsible individual and the proposed manager should complete an online SC2. This includes:

  • the relevant fee
  • the names and contact details of the referees used in your last application. We will not contact those referees but draw from the information they previously supplied. If the manager is not already registered with Ofsted, they should have identified two appropriate referees who are willing and able to provide a prompt response to our requests for information.
  • a completed additional health self-declaration form that confirms you have givensubmitted a health declaration form to your GP
  • address and employment details of their last post of employment before their current one

  Documents

  If you already have registered provision, you may want to adapt existing documents, policies and procedures to make them specific to the proposed provision.

  You do not need to submit the following documents in your initial application. You can present these later during the registration process:

  • the certificate of insurance
  • statement of purpose
  • children’s guide
  • location risk assessment

  These documents must be specific to this application.

  We need to see evidence of either planning permission or evidence that it is not required, but you can send us allthis while the necessaryapplication informationis processed.

  You can adapt policies already in operation in your application,other registered provision, with appropriate amendments as required for the new provision. This includes policies on safeguarding; complaints; missing children; behaviour management (including restraint); and prevention of bullying.

  Private providers need to submit financial referees, business plans and annual accounts in relation to the Seniorincome HMIand hasexpenditure confirmedfor the proposed setting. They should also update any previously submitted financial information that may be out of date. LAs do not need to do this.

  The application meetsprocess

  If you have given us all the prioritynecessary criteria,information in your application, we will notify you that the application can be progressed.  progressed.

  If information is missing and we cannot progressaccept the application, we will contact you quickly to see how we can resolve this.

  Once you have paid the application fee,is accepted, we will beginsend out all necessary checks. We will chase responses from referees and willmay ask you to do so too.

  The allocated inspector will then contact you and help you to ensure that all other required documentation, staffing details and information will be available at the registration visit and interviews.

  Timeframe

  If you give us the right information at the right time and demonstrate that you are fully prepared and ready to open, we will determine your application as soon as possible.

  Refusing applications

  We are legally unable to grant your application to register if it has not demonstrated that your proposed arrangements will comply with the relevant regulatory requirements.

  Review 

  We will review this policy regularly. The first review will be in April 2026.