How to apply for a 16+ supported accommodation tender
Supported accommodation for 16 and 17 year olds in care is now Ofsted regulated. The Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023 require providers to register with Ofsted and meet the supported accommodation standards. To bid for council placements you must be registered or registering, with a current Ofsted position. Councils buy through frameworks or dynamic purchasing systems and score safeguarding, the support model, staffing and outcomes for young people.
Ofsted registration under the 2023 Regulations
Since the Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023, providers of 16+ accommodation for looked-after children and care leavers must be registered with Ofsted and inspected against the supported accommodation standards. This is care support, not care, so it is distinct from a children's home, but Ofsted still regulates it. Commissioners will ask for your registration status, your statement of purpose, and how you meet the standards on leadership, protection and support. A provider operating without registration after the transition deadline is not a safe bid and will usually be excluded. Do not cite CQC here. The relevant regulator is Ofsted, and the relevant framework is the supported accommodation standards.
How councils buy 16+ provision and what they score
Local authorities commission 16+ supported accommodation through frameworks or dynamic purchasing systems, often jointly across a region. You apply through the portal, pass the selection questionnaire, then answer quality questions. They score how you keep young people safe, your readiness-for-adulthood and independence support, staffing competence, and how you reduce placement breakdown and NEET outcomes. Evidence about transitions, education and risk management carries weight. The free eligibility check confirms whether your Ofsted position and support model fit the specification before you pay for a bid.
Not sure if you qualify for a tender? We check it for free, before you pay anything, and we only take bids we believe you can win. See our children's services tender writing or text TENDER to get started.
Common questions
Is 16+ supported accommodation regulated by Ofsted or CQC?
Ofsted. The Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023 brought 16+ provision for looked-after children and care leavers under Ofsted registration and the supported accommodation standards. CQC does not regulate it.
What is the difference between a children's home and 16+ supported accommodation?
A children's home provides care and is registered under the Children's Homes Regulations 2015. Supported accommodation provides support, not care, for 16 and 17 year olds, and is registered under the Supported Accommodation Regulations 2023. Both are Ofsted regulated.
Can I bid if my Ofsted registration is still in progress?
It depends on the specification. Some frameworks accept applications with a clear registration timeline, others require registration to be complete. You cannot take placements until you are registered. We check this in the free eligibility review.
Keep reading
Service
Children's services tender writing
Children's home tenders
What is a DPS in care
SQ and PQQ in care tenders
Browse all care tender guides, or see care tender writing by service.
Got a tender to check?
Text TENDER to +44 7822 001898and we'll tell you free whether you'd qualify, before you spend a penny.