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<p>This government is clear that all supported accommodation must be safe, high-quality
and provide excellent support to our young people as they transition into adulthood.
That is why the department is investing over £142 million to introduce new mandatory
national standards and a system of Ofsted-led registration and inspection for providers
who accommodate 16 and 17-year-old looked after children and care leavers. These reforms
will drive up the quality and consistency of this provision.</p><p>In March 2023,
following extensive consultation with the sector, we announced that from 28 October
2023, all providers of supported accommodation must be registered with Ofsted, or
have submitted a full application and paid their fee in advance of this date, to legally
operate. Local authorities will be prohibited from placing children in unregistered
supported accommodation.</p><p>The department has published guidance for the sector
on the new requirements which can be found here: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1145117/Guide_to_the_supported_accommodation_regulations_March_2023.pdf"
target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1145117/Guide_to_the_supported_accommodation_regulations_March_2023.pdf</a>.</p><p>Ofsted
has also published guidance on 4 April 2023 to support providers through the registration
process, which can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/registering-a-supported-accommodation-service"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/registering-a-supported-accommodation-service</a>.</p><p>To
further support the implementation of the new requirements, the department has awarded
the National Children’s Bureau a contract up to April 2024, to provide practical support,
information, and good practice resources targeted directly at providers and local
authority commissioners.</p>
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