Senior Accountability and Governance in Regulated Care
The programme is aligned to the statutory and regulatory frameworks governing both sectors, including:
- Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015
- Care Standards Act 2000
- Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014
- Care Act 2014
- Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023)
- CQC Fundamental Standards & Well-Led Framework
- Ofsted SCCIF Framework
It is designed to support senior leaders to demonstrate active oversight, strong governance, and safeguarding leadership, moving beyond compliance to deliver defensible, evidence-based decision-making that withstands inspection, audit, and enforcement scrutiny.
Delivered across 10 structured full-day modules, this programme integrates:
- Strategic leadership theory (aligned to CMI Level 7 standards)
- Regulatory interpretation across adult and children’s care
- Inspection intelligence from CQC and Ofsted
- Real-world governance and safeguarding scenarios
- Practical tools, audit frameworks, and reflective leadership activities
This programme is not operational management training. It is designed to strengthen corporate accountability, senior decision-making, and governance assurance in regulated care environments.
At a glance
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the programme, participants will be able to:
- Demonstrate corporate fitness, suitability, and accountability under regulatory scrutiny
- Translate statutory requirements into effective governance systems and assurance mechanisms
- Provide robust oversight and challenge to Registered Managers and senior operational leaders
- Lead safeguarding cultures across adult and children’s services
- Identify and respond to strategic risk, safeguarding drift, and organisational weakness
- Use performance data, audits, and intelligence to inform senior decision-making
- Evidence leadership impact through inspection-ready documentation and reporting
- Prepare confidently for CQC and Ofsted inspection, monitoring, and enforcement activity
- Meet the reflective and strategic leadership expectations of a CMI Level 7 Diploma
Participants will complete the programme with:
- A senior leadership governance and oversight framework
- Inspection-ready assurance and reporting tools
- Strengthened risk registers and escalation pathways
- Practical experience of inspection and crisis simulations
- A reflective leadership portfolio aligned to CMI Level 7
- A clear evidence base demonstrating corporate accountability in regulated care
Accreditation & Progression
On completion, delegates will be supported to achieve the CMI Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management & Leadership Practice.
Further opportunities include:
- Chartered Manager Status
- Masters-level qualifications in Strategic Leadership
Delivery will be virtual via 10 full-day live tutor sessions. 1 day per week from 9.30am – 4.30pm.
Following the classroom phase of the course, monthly tutorial sessions will be available for delegates to attend as they see fit, to gain the support whilst planning and writing their assignments.
See below for the agenda.
Agenda
Regulatory Focus:
- Children’s Homes Regs 26, 27 & 45
- HSCA 2008 Regs 5 & 17
Key Themes:
- Corporate accountability versus operational responsibility
- Fitness, suitability, and “reasonable steps” at senior level
- Oversight of Registered Managers and service leadership
- Regulatory expectations of senior leaders during inspection
Regulatory Focus:
- Regulation 17 (Good Governance)
- Ofsted leadership and management judgement
- CQC Well-Led framework
Key Themes:
- Governance structures and lines of accountability
- Board-to-practice visibility
- Risk registers, dashboards, and assurance reporting
- Culture, psychological safety, and transparency as safeguarding issues
Regulatory Focus:
- Children’s Homes Reg 27
- Regulation 5 (Fit and Proper Persons)
Key Themes:
- Supervision as strategic oversight
- Reflective and analytical challenge
- Early identification of leadership drift and fatigue
- Evidencing senior oversight for inspection
Regulatory Focus:
- Children’s Homes Reg 12
- Care Act 2014
- Regulation 13
Key Themes:
- Safeguarding culture across the life course
- Recognising early warning signs in data, incidents, and records
- Whistleblowing, duty of candour, and escalation
- Multi-agency accountability and challenge
Regulatory Focus:
- Regulation 17
- Children’s Homes Regs 44 & 45
Key Themes:
- Using audits to drive improvement, not reassurance
- Learning from incidents, complaints, and safeguarding concerns
- Evidencing improvement and leadership impact
Regulatory Focus:
- Ofsted SCCIF
- CQC KLOEs
Key Themes:
- How regulators assess senior leadership and governance
- Inspection evidence and leadership narratives
- Responding to challenge and negative findings
- Managing regulatory relationships
Regulatory Focus:
- Children’s Homes Reg 5
- Care Act partnership duties
Key Themes:
- Corporate parenting and commissioning relationships
- Escalation and professional challenge
- Managing system pressure and service instability
Regulatory Focus:
- Children’s Homes Reg 32 & Schedule 2
- Regulation 18
Key Themes:
- Safer recruitment at scale
- Workforce planning and retention
- Financial decision-making and safeguarding risk
Regulatory Focus:
- Equality Act 2010
- CQC Well-Led / Ofsted leadership expectations
Key Themes:
- Equality, diversity, and inclusion in governance
- Strategic risk management
- External scrutiny and stakeholder confidence
Regulatory Focus:
- CQC and Ofsted enforcement powers
- Duty of candour
Key Themes:
- Serious incidents and organisational crises
- Enforcement action and compliance recovery
- Leadership resilience, reflection, and CPD planning