A quality framework for childcare agencies introducing and supplying childcare staff

For use in self-evaluation, scrutiny and improvement support

The quality framework sets out the elements that will help us answer key questions about the difference a service is making to children and their family’s lives. The primary purpose of a quality framework is to support services to evaluate their own performance. The same framework is then used by inspectors to provide independent assurance about the quality of services. By setting out what we expect to see in a high-quality service, we can also help support improvement.

Using a framework in this way develops a shared understanding of what constitutes good experiences. The quality framework also supports openness and transparency in the inspection process. In developing it, we have involved both people who experience or have experienced care and those who provide care and support.

Our frameworks are tested and evaluated to hear the views of children and people experiencing care, their carers and care providers. They are also kept under review to ensure they reflect any changes in the wider social care landscape. All of this helps us refine our frameworks and the way we use them.