Register a children’s social care service (SC1)
Source: gov.uk (2025-08-01)

Apply to register a children’s home, adoption or fostering agency, residential family centre, residential holiday scheme or supported accommodation service.

Before you apply to register, read the relevant guidance for your service type to ensure you understand the requirements and process:
- adoption support agencies (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adoption-support-agencies-introduction-to-registration)
- children’s homes or secure children’s homes (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-a-childrens-home)
- independent fostering agencies (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/introduction-to-independent-fostering-agencies)
- residential family centres (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/introduction-to-residential-family-centres)
- residential holiday schemes for disabled children (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/introduction-to-residential-holiday-schemes-for-disabled-children)
- supported accommodation service (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-a-supported-accommodation-service-guidance-for-applicants)
- voluntary adoption agencies (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/introduction-to-voluntary-adoption-agencies)
Who can register

You can register as an individual provider, organisation or partnership.

If you hold a governance or management role in a children’s social care service, for example, as a manager, responsible individual or director, you may need to complete the Apply to be associated with a children’s social care service (SC2) (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/register-if-youre-connected-with-a-childrens-social-care-service-sc2) form.

Check the policy document for your provider type from the list above to find out whether this applies to you.

Before you apply

Gather everything you need before you start. You can save your progress and come back to it later if you don’t have all the information.

If you are applying to register a residential holiday scheme for disabled children, do not use this form.

Contact us at xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) instead.

Due to the exceptionally high number of applications, it is taking us longer than usual to process new submissions. If you are applying to register, it is likely to be several months before you receive a decision.

To help avoid further delays, please ensure that you provide all required information both at the time of application and throughout the process.

Register (https://forms.ofsted.gov.uk/submissions/new-form/register-a-childrens-social-care-service)

Fees

You must pay a fee to register (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-childrens-social-care-provider-registration-fee).

Once you are registered, you must pay the same fee annually (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childrens-social-care-annual-fees-for-providers).

What happens next

You will receive a submission reference number by email, confirming that your application has been accepted.

We will contact you if we have any questions about your application.

Contact us

If you need help with the form, call xx-xxxx-xxxx (8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday) or email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

If you need an accessible version, you can email us at xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).