Involves completing two forms: ‘Apply to register a children’s social care service’ (SC1) and ‘Connect to a children’s social care service’ (SC2). 

The SC1 form ‘Apply to register a children’s social care service’ consists of the following sections: 

• About your business
• Holding company or subsidiary details (if relevant) 
• Financial interests in other children social care services 
• Previous applications and registrations 
• About your service (including premise details) 
  • Location risk assessment *available on ClouDoc*
• Roles of responsibility 
• Financial information (unless you are a local authority or health authority) 
• Policies
  • Statement of purpose *available on ClouDoc*
  • Equalities policy *available on ClouDoc*
  • Young person’s guide *available on ClouDoc*
  • Contingency plan *available on ClouDoc*
  • Safeguarding policy *available on ClouDoc*
  • Complaints policy *available on ClouDoc*
  • Missing child policy *available on ClouDoc*
  • Behaviour management policy *available on ClouDoc*
•  Other documents 
  • • Business plan 
    • Cash-flow forecast 
    • Annual Report and accounts 
    • A copy of certificate of insurance 

The SC2 form ‘Connect to a supported accommodation service’ consists of the following sections: 

• About your social care service 
• Your role 
• Eligibility to work with children 
• Suitability to work with children 
• Previous applications you or your organisation has made (including refused or withdrawn applications) 
• Previous registrations (including cancelled registrations) 
• Your personal details 
• Your financial history (if you are applying to be a nominated individual, or are a partner or owner of your service) 
• Your financial interests
• Your business interests 
• Your skills and experience 
• Your employment history 
• Details of your referees 
• Documents 
  • Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate 
  • Health declaration form 
  • Suitability questionnaire 

Ofsted aims to assess SC1 & SC2 forms within 5 working days. 

Ofsted runs local authority checks on each person who has submitted a SC2 form and take up references. Your application will not move onto stage 3 until Ofsted have received: 

• References for all people connecting to the service 
• Local authority checks for all people connecting to the service 
• Any other information we have requested 

The time it takes for your application to move from stage 2 to 3 depends on the time it takes to get the required information.

Site visit and interview with relevant people by Ofsted, who aim to visit your office within 40 working days of your application moving to stage 3. You will be contacted during this time to arrange a visit and told if Ofsted cannot visit within this timeframe. 

At the site visit, Ofsted will need to see evidence that your premises meet the required standards. 

They will also visit one or more of your premises. If you are offering accommodation provided by an individual or individuals in a private residence (such as supported lodgings), they will ask to visit or speak to some of your supported lodgings ‘hosts’.

Interviews may be held in a different location to the site visit i.e. Ofsted office or other venue.

Ofsted aims to let you know if they’ve granted or refused your application within 7 working days.