Responsible Individual (Ofsted)
A Responsible Individual is the person an organisation nominates to Ofsted as accountable for supervising the management of a children’s home, and they are assessed by Ofsted for their suitability for that role.
Responsible Individual (Ofsted) in practice
The role is the children’s services counterpart to a Nominated Individual on the CQC side, and it carries real accountability rather than being a signature on a form.
Ofsted interviews the Responsible Individual as part of registration and expects them to understand the home’s model of care, its safeguarding arrangements, and how they will oversee the registered manager. Someone who cannot answer for how the home will actually operate is a problem for the application.
Where a Responsible Individual is accountable for more than one home, Ofsted will want to know how they can realistically oversee all of them.
Related terms
Related definitions
SC1 and SC2 applications
SC1 and SC2 are the Ofsted application forms for registering a children’s home or supported accommodation service: SC1 registers the provider and the service, and SC2 is completed by each person connected to it, including the manager, the responsible individual (nominated individual in supported accommodation) and directors involved in running it.
Read definitionChildren’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015
The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 are the regulations governing how children’s homes in England must be run, and they contain the quality standards Ofsted inspects against.
Read definitionQuality Standards (Ofsted)
The quality standards are the outcome-focused standards in the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 that a children’s home must meet, covering areas such as protection, education, health, positive relationships and leadership.
Read definitionRegistering with CQC or Ofsted?
Tell us what you plan to provide. We will explain what applies to your service and what it costs, with no obligation.