Notifications of Serious Events (Ofsted)

Overview

The notification of serious events is a critical component of safeguarding, accountability, and regulatory compliance within children's social care. Providers have a legal responsibility to notify Ofsted of certain incidents and events that affect the welfare, protection, or safety of children and young people. However, uncertainty often exists regarding what constitutes a notifiable event, when notifications should be submitted, and how organisations can use serious incidents as opportunities for reflection, learning, and service improvement.

This practical and regulatory-focused seminar explores the requirements surrounding notifications to Ofsted across children's homes, supported accommodation, and fostering services. Participants will develop confidence in identifying notifiable incidents, completing accurate and timely notifications, and embedding effective reporting systems that support safeguarding, organisational learning, and regulatory compliance. The course encourages professionals to view notifications not simply as a compliance task, but as an important component of effective safeguarding and quality assurance practice.

Course Content

This course provides a comprehensive overview of notification requirements within children's social care and explores the purpose of serious event notifications within the wider safeguarding and regulatory framework. Participants will examine why notifications are required, how they support transparency and accountability, and the role they play in enabling regulators and safeguarding partners to understand significant incidents affecting children and young people.

The seminar explores what constitutes a notifiable event and examines the range of incidents that may require notification to Ofsted and other relevant agencies. Participants will consider common areas of uncertainty, including safeguarding incidents, serious injuries, allegations, police involvement, missing episodes, and other significant events. The session will explore practical approaches to making informed decisions when assessing whether an incident meets notification thresholds and how professional judgement should be applied in complex situations.

The course also examines how to complete notifications that are accurate, proportionate, and informative. Participants will explore the information that should be included, common errors and omissions, and approaches to ensuring notifications clearly communicate the circumstances, actions taken, safeguarding considerations, and immediate responses. Practical examples and case discussions will be used throughout the session to strengthen understanding and build confidence in completing notifications effectively.

The seminar further considers how notifications should be integrated within wider safeguarding, governance, and quality assurance systems. Participants will explore how incidents can be reviewed, analysed, and used as opportunities for organisational learning, workforce development, service improvement, and risk management. The course encourages services to develop a culture where notifications contribute to reflective practice and continuous improvement rather than being viewed solely as a regulatory requirement.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the purpose and importance of notifying serious events to Ofsted and other relevant agencies.

• Identify incidents and events that meet the threshold for notification across children's homes, supported accommodation, and fostering services.

• Apply professional judgement when assessing whether an incident requires notification.

• Complete clear, accurate, and timely notifications that meet regulatory expectations.

• Recognise common errors and omissions and implement strategies to improve reporting quality.

• Understand how notifications contribute to safeguarding, accountability, and organisational transparency.

• Integrate notification processes within wider quality assurance, governance, and risk management systems.

• Utilise serious incidents as opportunities for reflection, organisational learning, and service improvement.

Intended Audience

This course is designed for professionals responsible for safeguarding, compliance, incident management, and regulatory oversight within children's social care services. It will be particularly relevant for Registered Managers, Responsible Individuals, Nominated Individuals, Deputy Managers, Team Leaders, Supervising Social Workers, Fostering Managers, Designated Safeguarding Leads, Operational Managers, Quality Assurance Leads, Directors, and other professionals involved in reporting, reviewing, or overseeing serious incidents. The course is suitable for both experienced leaders seeking to strengthen organisational systems and those newer to regulatory responsibilities who wish to develop confidence in notification processes.

Course Facilitator

Miguel Valerio is a Social Worker, trainer, consultant, and regulatory specialist with more than 20 years of professional experience across children's social care, education, leadership, and service development. His career has included roles in research and higher education, alongside extensive operational and strategic leadership within Children's Homes and Supported Accommodation services.

Miguel has worked as both a Responsible Individual for Children's Homes and a Registered Service Manager for Supported Accommodation, where he held responsibility for safeguarding, regulatory compliance, incident management, quality assurance, workforce development, and service governance. Throughout his career, he has overseen the management and reporting of serious incidents, supported services through registration and inspection processes, and developed systems that promote accountability, learning, and continuous improvement.

Through Social Care Skills, Miguel provides training, consultancy, audits, and regulatory support to providers across the sector. His training combines practical leadership experience, regulatory expertise, and reflective approaches to help professionals develop confidence in managing complex situations while maintaining compliance and a strong safeguarding culture.