Unannounced inspections of contact referral and assessment services take place annually. There will be at least one inspection of safeguarding and looked after children services in the three-year period following 1 April 2009. Ten days notice is the maximum period of notice given.
The timing of inspections will also be influenced by evidence from other inspection and regulation, including the annual unannounced inspection of contact, assessment and referral. Where the inspection judges overall effectiveness of safeguarding or looked after children to be inadequate a further inspection may follow.
