Planned visits
Homes and visitors work well together.
Independent Reg 44 visits
How we visit
Unannounced visits
We see the home as it really runs.
Why the mix
Real scrutiny, not a timetable the home always controls.
Regulation 44 says an independent visit may be unannounced. It does not say every visit must be a surprise.
We use both. Some visits are planned so homes and visitors can work well. Some are unannounced so we see the home as it really runs.
That mix matches what Ofsted looks for in effective independent monitoring: real scrutiny, not a timetable the home always controls.