Notification of Serious Events

The Children's Homes Regulations also require notifications to be made to Ofsted, the placing authority and other relevant persons in the following circumstances:

1. A serious incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; and
2. There is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

‘Police involvement’ does not mean simply that police have been informed of an incident, but that the police are actively doing something concerning the incident, for example making an arrest or taking witness statements. Ofsted do not need to be notified, for example, that police have been informed that a child has gone missing, even if the police are helping staff look for the child.

Guidance on Chapter 5 of the Regulations – Policies, Records, Complaints and Notifications and What Ofsted means by a Serious Incident provide examples of incidents that are likely to be considered serious affecting the welfare of a child (and thus warrant notification to Ofsted as well as the placing authority):

• A child being the victim or perpetrator of a serious assault;
• A serious illness or accident;
• A serious incident of self-harm;
• Serious concerns over a child's missing behaviour, such as where the child is considered  to be at grave risk due to age or vulnerability, where they have been missing for a considerable period of time and their whereabouts are unknown or there is a pattern of repeated absence (Please note - Ofsted do not need to routinely know about children going missing, even if the police are called out to help look for them. However, this information should always be shared with the placing authority).

A serious illness or accident would include matters such as fractured bones, when a child loses consciousness or situations that require admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours. Ofsted do not need to be notified about injuries such as sprains, strains or falls that have happened in the course of regular childhood experiences. This is the case even if the child is taken to the local accident and emergency department to have the injury checked out, unless it results in the child being admitted to hospital for more than 24 hours. If the injury has been sustained as part of a wider incident, for example a restraint or during a child running away, it may be appropriate to notify Ofsted. However, Ofsted do not need to know if a child becomes ill and is not admitted to hospital.

Self-harm incidents that result in minor or superficial injuries do not need to be reported to Ofsted. However, the Home should have in place a system for notifying responsible authorities of any serious concerns about the emotional or mental health of a child to the extent that a mental health assessment would be requested under the Mental Health Act 1983. Ofsted should be notified if a child living in the home requires a Mental Health Assessment.

This is not an exhaustive list, and each case must be assessed individually taking into account any patterns of behaviour or unusual behaviour that may indicate an increased risk to the child.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines 'serious' as: 'significant or worrying because of possible danger or risk; not slight or negligible'. The line between what is serious, and what is not, can be blurred and is always a matter of judgement. Deciding whether an incident is 'serious' and warrants notification to Ofsted will depend on many factors, including the age of the child, the frequency of the incident(s), the nature of any injuries sustained, any additional needs the child has and the context of the Home. This includes considering the frequency of incidents and judging whether their cumulative effect makes notification appropriate even if in isolation each event would not warrant this.

It is for the registered person to judge whether the incident is sufficiently serious to make formal notifications and, if it is, which other relevant persons may be notified, for example, the police, probation service, health professionals, the local authority for the area the Home is located in (if this is not the child’s placing authority) and others involved with the care or protection of the child.

The Home’s record of the event must include a description of the action taken and the outcome of any resulting investigation.

Following a notifiable event under regulation 40 the Home should contact the placing authority to discuss the need for further action. 

Regardless of whether Ofsted are notified, the Home must share any concerns about the child or their behaviour with the placing authority, in order to safeguard the child and promote their welfare.

The notification must include details of:

1. The incident;
2. Who else has been notified; and
3. Outcomes and future actions.

Notifications should not just be a chronology of events. The notification should include a brief summary of the event, the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified, the actions taken by staff and managers at the time, and further actions planned to reduce the likelihood of a similar incident occurring again.

Registered managers and providers are responsible for the quality of the reports completed by their staff.

As part of the inspection process, Ofsted will discuss incidents to gain a shared understanding of what happened and the actions staff took to address the situation.

This conversation will be wider than the process of notifying (or not notifying) Ofsted, and will focus on the Home’s response to any incidents in terms of safeguarding practice and outcomes for children.

Ofsted do not need to be sent updates in relation to any notifications made, unless there is a significant development. Even though Ofsted are not updated, it may be appropriate to share updates with the placing authority and other relevant persons.

Ofsted will discuss incidents as part of the inspection process with aim of understanding the incident and actions taken by staff as a result and further actions planned to reduce the likelihood of a similar incident occurring again.

There may be occasions when an inspector will ask for an update following a serious incident because this would be helpful in understanding what has happened and the action taken. In these situations, the inspector is likely to ask for additional information to be sent directly by e-mail rather than through a series of further notifications.

There is no legal requirement to keep notifying Ofsted as a case progresses.

It is important that managers and providers consider the wider implications of incidents which have led to notifications. The notification should not be seen as the end of the process, rather the circumstances of the incident should be reviewed and any implications for safeguarding or outcomes for children identified. Wherever possible, actions should be planned to reduce the likelihood of similar incidents occurring again. Inspectors will ask for information on learning from notifications during subsequent inspections.