Week 1: arrive
- Meet every child, and learn what they enjoy, hope for and would change.
- Meet each staff member one to one.
- Read the statement of purpose, every child's plans and risk assessments, the last Ofsted report and the latest Reg 44 and Reg 45 reports.
- Get access to the recording system and Ofsted's registered contact inbox, and arrange cover for it.
- Save the safeguarding contacts: the LADO, children's services, police and on-call.
Weeks 2 to 4: learn
Learn the routes you cannot get wrong: allegations against staff, Reg 40 notifications and Reg 35 restraint records. Write your home's version of each, with names and numbers, and leave a copy in the office. The first review with the responsible individual (RI) falls at week 4.
Weeks 5 to 8: run it
Run the monthly rhythm yourself: supervisions, team meeting, Reg 44 actions, restraint and incident patterns, and a report to the RI. This is the moment for the RI to observe you leading a supervision and reviewing an incident record.
Weeks 9 to 12: own it
Turn to inspection readiness: can every staff member explain the statement of purpose, and can you tell each child's story of progress with evidence? The final RI review at week 12 should end in a signed completion record for the HR file.
The rules behind the plan
- Reg 28: two years' relevant experience in the last five, one year supervising staff, and the Level 5 Diploma within three years of starting to manage.
- Reg 33: induction and a probation period for permanent staff, practice-related supervision, and an appraisal at least once a year.
- Reg 13: the leadership and management standard the whole plan serves.
Questions
Should current managers do an induction too?
A shorter version works well: score the starting point with the RI, complete any area that scores low, and finish with the same observed checks and sign-off as a new manager.
Who signs off a manager's induction?
Usually the responsible individual or the manager's line manager, after observing practice and reviewing the evidence.
This guide explains the law in plain English. It is not legal advice, and your home's policy may set tighter timescales.