DESCRIPTION
This article explains Regulation 30 and how supported accommodation providers can implement ongoing quality assurance to meet Ofsted expectations. It covers audits, feedback, service improvement and documentation best practices.
When
June 2025
Who
Paula Martinez
As supported accommodation for 16- and 17-year-olds becomes a regulated activity under Ofsted, many providers are adjusting not only to new compliance requirements but to a new way of thinking about their role. One of the less-discussed but absolutely essential parts of this regulatory shift is Regulation 30 of The Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023. It’s the part that requires providers to take responsibility for their own quality assurance and continuous improvement—and Ofsted will expect to see evidence that this is not just happening on paper, but embedded into the life of the service.
Regulation 30 states that the registered provider must maintain an effective system for monitoring, reviewing and improving the quality of care and support provided to young people. Unlike residential children’s homes, supported accommodation services typically operate with lower levels of daily oversight and fewer staff, which makes a well-structured quality assurance process even more vital. This isn’t just about meeting a regulation—it’s about ensuring young people in semi-independent settings receive safe, meaningful support that genuinely prepares them for adulthood.
In practice, implementing Regulation 30 means establishing a cycle of regular checks, feedback mechanisms, issue tracking and demonstrable improvement. Ofsted inspectors will want to see that you’re not only identifying areas where the service can do better, but that you’re actually taking action and following through.
To do this effectively, the first step is to set up a system for reviewing key areas of provision. This includes examining support delivery, safety and safeguarding practices, staff performance, training needs, communication with external agencies, young people’s voice and complaints handling. Each of these areas should be reviewed on a recurring basis—often monthly or quarterly—by a senior person not involved in day-to-day operations, such as the Responsible Individual. Their findings should be captured in a structured report that highlights both strengths and areas for development.
These reviews must not be seen as just tick-box exercises. They need to be informed by real data, such as daily logs, incident records, complaints, staff supervision notes and case discussions. For example, if several young people have disengaged from support in a particular property over the last quarter, the QA process should identify this trend, explore possible causes, and recommend practical changes to improve engagement. Equally, if a pattern of late incident logging is found, this should trigger action to retrain staff or improve workflows.
Young people’s feedback should also be central to the Regulation 30 process. Ofsted will expect to see that providers are actively seeking and acting on the views of young people—not only during reviews, but as part of everyday practice. This might include structured interviews during placement reviews, exit feedback when young people move on, or informal comments collected by staff during keywork sessions. Crucially, feedback should be analysed thematically and contribute directly to your service improvement plans.
Providers also need to demonstrate how quality assurance findings lead to real changes. That might mean updating a policy, providing staff with additional training, improving physical living spaces, or developing a new tool for tracking outcomes. It’s not enough to write up an issue—the system must show how that issue was addressed, and whether the intervention worked. This creates a loop of continuous improvement that builds resilience in the service and prepares you for inspection.
Recording this process properly is just as important as carrying it out. All reviews, findings and actions should be documented in a way that is accessible and can be presented to Ofsted. A digital platform like OVcare can significantly reduce the admin burden here, allowing managers to log QA reviews, assign and monitor actions, and store supporting evidence in a centralised, time-stamped format. This creates transparency and auditability, which are both critical when inspectors want to see how you are learning from experience and adapting your practice.
Another benefit of using digital systems for quality assurance is that they allow for pattern recognition across multiple homes or service areas. For example, if three different properties report inconsistent staff handovers, a central dashboard can highlight this as a cross-service issue, prompting leadership to introduce a standardised shift handover protocol or provide refresher training.
Regulation 30 is ultimately about leadership. Ofsted is not expecting perfection, but they are expecting evidence that you know your service well, that you’re honest about its weaknesses, and that you are doing something about them. Strong quality assurance shows that you are safeguarding proactively, not reactively. It shows you are listening to young people, valuing staff input and building a culture where improvement is continuous and embedded—not just rushed when inspection is due.
In a newly regulated space like supported accommodation, Regulation 30 offers providers a real opportunity to shape the identity of their service, build trust with local authorities, and ultimately deliver safer, stronger outcomes for the young people they support. Whether you’re running a single property or a multi-site provision, a robust and well-documented quality assurance process is not just a regulatory requirement—it’s a cornerstone of effective care.
Regulation 30 states that the registered provider must maintain an effective system for monitoring, reviewing and improving the quality of care and support provided to young people. Unlike residential children’s homes, supported accommodation services typically operate with lower levels of daily oversight and fewer staff, which makes a well-structured quality assurance process even more vital. This isn’t just about meeting a regulation—it’s about ensuring young people in semi-independent settings receive safe, meaningful support that genuinely prepares them for adulthood.
In practice, implementing Regulation 30 means establishing a cycle of regular checks, feedback mechanisms, issue tracking and demonstrable improvement. Ofsted inspectors will want to see that you’re not only identifying areas where the service can do better, but that you’re actually taking action and following through.
To do this effectively, the first step is to set up a system for reviewing key areas of provision. This includes examining support delivery, safety and safeguarding practices, staff performance, training needs, communication with external agencies, young people’s voice and complaints handling. Each of these areas should be reviewed on a recurring basis—often monthly or quarterly—by a senior person not involved in day-to-day operations, such as the Responsible Individual. Their findings should be captured in a structured report that highlights both strengths and areas for development.
These reviews must not be seen as just tick-box exercises. They need to be informed by real data, such as daily logs, incident records, complaints, staff supervision notes and case discussions. For example, if several young people have disengaged from support in a particular property over the last quarter, the QA process should identify this trend, explore possible causes, and recommend practical changes to improve engagement. Equally, if a pattern of late incident logging is found, this should trigger action to retrain staff or improve workflows.
Young people’s feedback should also be central to the Regulation 30 process. Ofsted will expect to see that providers are actively seeking and acting on the views of young people—not only during reviews, but as part of everyday practice. This might include structured interviews during placement reviews, exit feedback when young people move on, or informal comments collected by staff during keywork sessions. Crucially, feedback should be analysed thematically and contribute directly to your service improvement plans.
Providers also need to demonstrate how quality assurance findings lead to real changes. That might mean updating a policy, providing staff with additional training, improving physical living spaces, or developing a new tool for tracking outcomes. It’s not enough to write up an issue—the system must show how that issue was addressed, and whether the intervention worked. This creates a loop of continuous improvement that builds resilience in the service and prepares you for inspection.
Recording this process properly is just as important as carrying it out. All reviews, findings and actions should be documented in a way that is accessible and can be presented to Ofsted. A digital platform like OVcare can significantly reduce the admin burden here, allowing managers to log QA reviews, assign and monitor actions, and store supporting evidence in a centralised, time-stamped format. This creates transparency and auditability, which are both critical when inspectors want to see how you are learning from experience and adapting your practice.
Another benefit of using digital systems for quality assurance is that they allow for pattern recognition across multiple homes or service areas. For example, if three different properties report inconsistent staff handovers, a central dashboard can highlight this as a cross-service issue, prompting leadership to introduce a standardised shift handover protocol or provide refresher training.
Regulation 30 is ultimately about leadership. Ofsted is not expecting perfection, but they are expecting evidence that you know your service well, that you’re honest about its weaknesses, and that you are doing something about them. Strong quality assurance shows that you are safeguarding proactively, not reactively. It shows you are listening to young people, valuing staff input and building a culture where improvement is continuous and embedded—not just rushed when inspection is due.
In a newly regulated space like supported accommodation, Regulation 30 offers providers a real opportunity to shape the identity of their service, build trust with local authorities, and ultimately deliver safer, stronger outcomes for the young people they support. Whether you’re running a single property or a multi-site provision, a robust and well-documented quality assurance process is not just a regulatory requirement—it’s a cornerstone of effective care.
