SC1 Readiness, are you ready? SCORECARD

How Ready Are You to Submit Your SC1 Children’s Home Application?

Rate yourself from 1–5 for each area:
1 = Not in place
2 = Some work completed
3 = Partially complete, needs improvement
4 = Mostly complete, minor gaps
5 = Fully complete, confident and Ofsted-ready

SECTION 1 — REGULATORY DOCUMENTATION

1. Policies & Procedures (total 45+)

• ⬜ Policies aligned with Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015
• ⬜ Policies tailored to your model of care
• ⬜ Behaviour management & restraint policy aligned with training
• ⬜ Safeguarding policy aligned with local authority procedures
• ⬜ Admissions, emergency placements & matching policies
  Score (1–5): _______

2. Statement of Purpose

• ⬜ Clearly defines your care model & specialism
• ⬜ Realistic and aligned to staffing & training
• ⬜ Admission criteria clearly outlined
• ⬜ Matching process described and evidence-based
  Score (1–5): _______

3. Children’s Guide

• ⬜ Accessible & reflective of your ethos
• ⬜ Age-appropriate and trauma-informed
• ⬜ Consistent with the SoP
  Score (1–5): _______

SECTION 2 — PROPERTY & LOCAL AREA

4. Location Risk Assessment

• ⬜ Risks identified using trusted data sources
• ⬜ Clear mitigation strategies
• ⬜ Risks linked to policies & practice
• ⬜ Evidence of how risks will be monitored
  Score (1–5): _______

5. Property Suitability

• ⬜ Room sizes appropriate
• ⬜ Fire safety and layout considered
• ⬜ Security, boundaries & environmental risks assessed
• ⬜ Property matches admissions criteria
  Score (1–5): _______

SECTION 3 — STAFFING & LEADERSHIP

6. Staffing Model & Rotas

• ⬜ Sustainable rota for first 12 weeks
• ⬜ Clear contingency plan
• ⬜ Demonstrates 1:1 or 2:1 capacity (if relevant)
• ⬜ Staffing aligns with Statement of Purpose
  Score (1–5): _______

7. Responsible Individual (RI) & Registered Manager (RM) Readiness

• ⬜ Fully understand Ofsted expectations
• ⬜ Confident for pre-registration interview
• ⬜ Clear leadership experience & qualification pathway
• ⬜ Able to defend SoP & application details
  Score (1–5): _______

SECTION 4 — SAFER RECRUITMENT

8. Recruitment Processes

• ⬜ Clear safer recruitment policy
• ⬜ Job descriptions & interview frameworks ready
• ⬜ Shortlisting templates & scoring criteria
• ⬜ Evidence of structured, safe practice
  Score (1–5): _______

9. Pre-Employment Checks

• ⬜ DBS processes in place
• ⬜ Right-to-work checks understood
• ⬜ Complex referencing for managers planned
• ⬜ Overseas checks (if needed) understood
  Score (1–5): _______

SECTION 5 — FINANCIAL READINESS

10. Financial Forecast

• ⬜ 12+ months projections
• ⬜ Staffing costed accurately
• ⬜ Contingency planning
• ⬜ Realistic occupancy assumptions
  Score (1–5): _______

11. Fee Structure

• ⬜ Fees aligned with model of care
• ⬜ Understanding of LA cost pressures
• ⬜ Ability to justify specialist fees
  Score (1–5): _______

SECTION 6 — REFERRALS & OCCUPANCY PLANNING

12. Referral Strategy

• ⬜ Registered on LA portals
• ⬜ Referral template prepared
• ⬜ Process for matching & decision-making
• ⬜ Understanding of LA placement pathways
  Score (1–5): _______

13. Service Specialism & Positioning

• ⬜ Clear specialism (e.g., solo trauma, ASD, CCE/CSE risk)
• ⬜ Can articulate your niche confidently
• ⬜ Understand where you fit in the market
  Score (1–5): _______

SECTION 7 — APPLICATION QUALITY

14. SC1 Application Alignment

• ⬜ SC1 answers match all documents
• ⬜ No contradictions in staffing, admissions or policies
• ⬜ Clear evidence behind statements
  Score (1–5): _______

15. Organisation of Documentation

• ⬜ All documents version-controlled
• ⬜ Stored in accessible, consistent formats
• ⬜ Application pack can be submitted immediately
  Score (1–5): _______

YOUR RESULTS

Add up your scores:

Total Score	Rating	Meaning
60–75	⭐ Excellent Readiness	You are close to Ofsted-ready; minor refinements needed.
45–59	⭐ Moderate Readiness	Good foundations, but significant gaps remain in key areas.
30–44	⭐ At Risk	Likely to encounter delays, queries or rejections without support.
Below 30	⭐ Not Ready	High risk of SC1 rejection, major rewrites or extended timelines.

What Your Score Really Means

• A “high score” means you’re well-prepared — but remember, Ofsted will still challenge weak areas.
• A “moderate score” is the most common for new providers — this is where expert guidance makes the difference.
• A “low score” means you can still register, but you’ll need structure, support and technically correct documentation to avoid delays.

Final Note: You Don’t Need to Do It Alone

Outsource 24 supports providers with:

• Full SC1 managed service
• Operational plans
• Policies, procedures & specialist expertise
• Location risk assessments
• Pre-registration preparation
• Recruitment & compliance
• Referral strategy & occupancy planning

If your score is under 60, structured support will significantly reduce risk, delays and stress.