10:00 – Review of Professional Development for the children’s homes workforce, with Emmanuel Akpan-Inwang

Emmanuel is leading a review for the Department for Education on professional development for the children’s homes workforce. The review will define the purpose of residential care, determine the knowledge the workforce requires, recommend improvements to qualifications and professional development, and consider how routes into the sector and career pathways can be developed to improve recruitment, retention and progression. This session will be an opportunity for attendees to feed into and respond to the findings of the review.

11:00 – Double Discrimination, with Rod Weston-Bartholomew (Barnardo’s) and Katie Hunter (Manchester Metropolitan University)

Double discrimination is a unique piece of research that opens the lid on the realities of being Black and care experienced and navigating the criminal justice system. 
Katie’s Fellowship research used linked Ministry of Justice and Department for Education data to explore the intersections between ethnicity, care experience and youth justice involvement.

12:30 – Lunch Break

13:30 – Ofsted consultation on the 2027 SCCIF with Matthew Brazier, Paula Lahey and Katie Ratcliffe

Matthew, Paula and Katie are coming to the forum to discuss plans and ideas around inspection, the SCCIF and how we all effectively work together to support our young people.

Matthew Brazier, Senior HMI, Programme Director (SCCIF)
Matthew is a Senior His Majesty’s inspector at Ofsted and based within its social care policy team. He is leading on the reforms to the Social Care Common Inspection Framework. In recent years, he has led Ofsted’s work to regulate and inspect supported accommodation for children in care and care leavers. 

Paula Lahey, Specialist Adviser (Residential Care)
Paula joined Ofsted in 2011 with an extensive background in residential social care, working with children with disabilities. Since joining Ofsted, Paula has worked as an Inspector and as a Regulatory Inspection Manager.  Paula is Ofsted’s Specialist Adviser for residential care, working in the central team to shape national policy and develop inspectors’ practice. 

Katie Ratcliffe, Lead Professional (Regulation and Social Care)
Katie is a Lead Professional with Ofsted within Ofsted’s social care policy team and an experienced Social Care Regulatory Inspector. In her current role, Katie has lead policy responsibility for residential family Centres, including liaison with the sector and the Department for Education, registration of providers, and the training and development of new inspectors. She also contributes to participates in local authority inspections. 

15:00 – coffee break

15:15 – Contextual updates –  Chris Freestone

Chris has a background as a head teacher, Ofsted inspector, head of faculty at an FE college and currently runs our leadership programmes. She’ll explore recent updates affecting the sector and share relevant advice and publications.

16:00 – Close

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