The Children’s Homes Regulations 2001

Regulation 4(1)

SCHEDULE 1 MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

1.  A statement of the overall aims of the children’s home, and the objectives to be attained with regard to children accommodated in the home.

2.  A statement of the facilities and services to be provided for the children accommodated in the children’s home.

3.  The name and address of the registered provider, and of the registered manager if applicable.

4.  The relevant qualifications and experience of the registered provider and, if applicable, the registered manager.

5.  The number, relevant qualifications and experience of persons working at the children’s home, and if the workers are all of one sex, a description of the means whereby the home will promote appropriate role models of both sexes.

6.  The arrangements for the supervision, training and development of employees.

7.  The organisational structure of the children’s home.

8.  The following particulars—

(a) the age-range, sex and numbers of children for whom it is intended that accommodation should be provided;

(b) whether it is intended to accommodate children who are disabled, have special needs or any other special characteristics; and

(c) the range of needs (other than those mentioned in sub-paragraph (b)) that the home is intended to meet.

9.  Any criteria used for admission to the home, including the home’s policy and procedures for emergency admissions, if the home provides for emergency admissions.

10.  If the children’s home provides or is intended to provide accommodation for more than six children, a description of the positive outcomes intended for children in a home of such a size, and of the home’s strategy for counteracting any adverse effects arising from its size, on the children accommodated there.

11.  A description of the children’s home’s underlying ethos and philosophy, and where this is based on any theoretical or therapeutic model, a description of that model.

12.  The arrangements made to protect and promote the health of the children accommodated at the home.

13.  The arrangements for the promotion of the education of the children accommodated there, including the facilities for private study.

14.  The arrangements to promote children’s participation in recreational, sporting and cultural activities.

15.  The arrangements made for consultation with the children accommodated about the operation of the children’s home.

16.  The arrangements made for the control, restraint and discipline of children.

17.  The arrangements made for child protection and to counter bullying.

18.  The procedure for dealing with any unauthorised absence of a child from the children’s home.

19.  A description of any electronic or mechanical means of surveillance of children which may be used in the children’s home.

20.  The fire precautions and associated emergency procedures in the children’s home.

21.  The arrangements for the children’s religious instruction and observance.

22.  The arrangements for contact between a child and his parents, relatives and friends.

23.  The arrangements for dealing with complaints.

24.  The arrangements for dealing with reviews of placement plans.

25.  The type of accommodation, including the sleeping accommodation, provided, and, where applicable, how children are to be grouped, and in what circumstances they are to share bedrooms.

26.  Details of any specific therapeutic techniques used in the home, and arrangements for their supervision.

27.  A description of the children’s home’s policy in relation to anti-discriminatory practice as respects children and children’s rights.

Regulations 6, 8, 26

SCHEDULE 2 INFORMATION REQUIRED IN RESPECT OF PERSONS SEEKING TO CARRY ON, MANAGE OR WORK AT A CHILDREN'S HOME

1.  Proof of identity including a recent photograph.

2.  Either—

(a) where the certificate is required for a purpose relating to section 115(5)(ea) of the Police Act 1997 (registration under Part II of the Care Standards Act 2000) (1), or the position falls within section 115(3) or (4) of the Police Act 1997(2), an enhanced criminal record certificate issued under section 115 of that Act; or

(b) in any other case, a criminal record certificate issued under section 113 of that Act,

including, where applicable, the matters specified in section 113(3A) or (3C) or 115(6A) or (6B) of that Act(3).

3.  Two written references, including a reference from the person’s most recent employer, if any.

4.  Where a person has previously worked in a position whose duties involved work with children or vulnerable adults, so far as reasonably practicable verification of the reason why the employment or position ended.

5.  Documentary evidence of any relevant qualifications.

6.  A full employment history, together with a satisfactory written explanation of any gaps in employment.

7.  Details of any criminal offences—

(a) of which the person has been convicted, including details of any convictions which are spent within the meaning of section 1 of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974(4) and which may be disclosed by virtue of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975(5); or

(b) in respect of which he has been cautioned by a constable and which, at the time the caution was given, he admitted.

Regulation 28(1)

SCHEDULE 3 INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE CASE RECORDS OF CHILDREN ACCOMMODATED IN CHILDREN'S HOMES

1.  The child’s name and any name by which the child has previously been known, other than a name used by the child prior to adoption.

2.  The child’s date of birth and sex.

3.  The child’s religious persuasion, if any.

4.  A description of the child’s racial origin, cultural and linguistic background.

5.  The child’s address immediately prior to entering the home.

6.  The name, address and telephone number of the child’s placing authority.

7.  The statutory provision (if any) under which he is provided with accommodation.

8.  The name, address, telephone number and the religious persuasion, if any, of the child’s parents.

9.  The name, address and telephone number of any social worker for the time being assigned to the child by the placing authority.

10.  The date and circumstances of all absences of the child from the home, including whether the absence was authorised and any information relating to the child’s whereabouts during the period of absence.

11.  The date of, and reason for, any visit to the child whilst in the home.

12.  A copy of any statement of special educational needs maintained in relation to the child under section 324 of the Education Act 1996(6), with details of any such needs.

13.  The date and circumstances of any measures of control, restraint or discipline used on the child.

14.  Any special dietary or health needs of the child.

15.  The name, address and telephone number of any school or college attended by the child, and of any employer of the child.

16.  Every school report received in respect of the child while accommodated in the home.

17.  Arrangements for, including any restrictions on, contact between the child, his parents, and any other person.

18.  A copy of any plan for the care of the child prepared by his placing authority, and of the placement plan.

19.  The date and result of any review of the placing authority’s plan for the care of the child, or of his placement plan.

20.  The name and address of the general practitioner with whom the child is registered, and of the child’s registered dental practitioner.

21.  Details of any accident or serious illness involving the child while accommodated in the home.

22.  Details of any immunisation, allergy, or medical examination of the child and of any medical or dental need or treatment of the child.

23.  Details of any health examination or developmental test conducted with respect to the child at or in connection with his school.

24.  Details of any medicines kept for the child in the home, including any medicines which the child is permitted to administer to himself, and details of the administration of any medicine to the child.

25.  The dates on which any money or valuables are deposited by or on behalf of a child for safekeeping, and the dates on which any money is withdrawn, and any valuables are returned.

26.  The address, and type of establishment or accommodation, to which the child goes when he ceases to be accommodated in the home.

Regulation 29(1)

SCHEDULE 4 OTHER RECORDS WITH RESPECT TO CHILDREN'S HOMES

1.  A record in the form of a register showing in respect of each child accommodated in a children’s home—

(a) the date of his admission to the home;

(b) the date on which he ceased to be accommodated there;

(c) his address prior to being accommodated in the home;

(d) his address on leaving the home;

(e) his placing authority;

(f) the statutory provision (if any) under which he is accommodated.

2.  A record showing in respect of each person working at the home—

(a) his full name;

(b) his sex;

(c) his date of birth;

(d) his home address;

(e) his qualifications relevant to, and experience of, work involving children;

(f) whether he works at the home full-time or part-time (whether paid or not), and if part-time, the average number of hours worked per week; and

(g) whether he resides at the home.

3.  A record of any persons who reside or work at any time at the children’s home, who are not mentioned in the records kept in accordance with paragraphs 1 or 2.

4.  A record of all accidents occurring in the children’s home, or to children whilst accommodated by the home.

5.  A record of the receipt, disposal and administration of any medicine to any child.

6.  A record of every fire drill or fire alarm test conducted, with details of any deficiency in either the procedure or the equipment concerned, together with details of the steps taken to remedy that deficiency.

7.  A record of all money deposited by a child for safekeeping, together with the date on which that money was withdrawn, or the date of its return.

8.  A record of all valuables deposited by a child and the date of their return.

9.  Records of all accounts kept in the children’s home.

10.  A record of menus served.

11.  A copy of the staff duty roster of persons working at the children’s home, and a record of the actual rosters worked.

12.  A daily log of events occurring in the home.

13.  A record of all visitors to the home and to children accommodated in the home, including the names of visitors and the reasons for the visit.

Regulation 30(1)

SCHEDULE 5 EVENTS AND NOTIFICATIONS

Column 1	Column 2
Event:	To be notified to:
	Commission	Placing authority	Secretary of State	Local authority	Police	Health authority
Death of a child accommodated in the home	yes	yes	yes	yes		yes
Referral to the Secretary of State pursuant to section 2(1)(a) of the Protection of Children Act 1999(7) of an individual working at the home	yes	yes
Serious illness or serious accident sustained by a child accommodated in the home	yes	yes
Outbreak of any infectious disease which in the opinion of a registered medical practitioner attending children at the home is sufficiently serious to be so notified	yes	yes				yes
Allegation that a child accommodated at the home has committed a serious offence		yes			yes
Involvement or suspected involvement of a child accommodated at the home in prostitution	yes	yes		yes	yes
Serious incident necessitating calling the police to the home	yes	yes
Absconding by a child accommodated at the home		yes
Any serious complaint about the home or persons working there	yes	yes
Instigation and outcome of any child protection enquiry involving a child accommodated at the home	yes	yes

Regulation 34(1)

SCHEDULE 6 MATTERS TO BE MONITORED BY THE REGISTERED PERSON

1.  In respect of each child accommodated in the children’s home, compliance with the placing authority’s plan for the care of the child (where applicable) and the placement plan.

2.  The deposit and issue of money and other valuables handed in for safekeeping.

3.  Daily menus.

4.  All accidents and injuries sustained in the home or by children accommodated there.

5.  Any illnesses of children accommodated in the home.

6.  Complaints in relation to children accommodated in the home and their outcomes.

7.  Any allegations or suspicions of abuse in respect of children accommodated in the home and the outcome of any investigation.

8.  Staff recruitment records and conduct of required checks for new workers in the home.

9.  Visitors to the home and to children in the home.

10.  Notifications of the events listed in Schedule 5.

11.  Any unauthorised absence from the home of a child accommodated there.

12.  The use of measures of control, restraint and discipline in respect of children accommodated in the home.

13.  Risk assessments for health and safety purposes and subsequent action taken.

14.  Medicines, medical treatment and first aid administered to any child accommodated in the home.

15.  In the case of a qualifying school, the standards of educational provision.

16.  Duty rosters of persons working at the home, and the rosters actually worked.

17.  The home’s daily log of events.

18.  Fire drills and tests of alarms and of fire equipment.

19.  Records of appraisals of employees.

20.  Minutes of staff meetings.

(1)

Section 115(5)(ea) is inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000, section 104, on a date to be appointed. Sections 113 and 115, as amended, have not yet been brought into force.

(2)

A position is within section 115(3) if it involves regularly caring for, training, supervising or being in sole charge of persons aged under 18. A position is within section 115(4) if it is of a kind specified in regulations and involves regularly caring for, training, supervising or being in sole charge of persons aged 18 or over.

(3)

Sections 113(3A) and 115(6A) are added to the Police Act 1997 by section 8 of the Protection of Children Act 1999 (c. 14) on a date to be appointed, and amended by sections 104 and 116 of, and paragraph 25 of Schedule 4 to, the Care Standards Act 2000. Sections 113(3C) and 115(6B) are added to the Police Act 1997 by section 90 of the Care Standards Act 2000 on a date to be appointed.

(4)

1974 c. 53.

(5)

S.I. 1975/1023. Relevant amendments have been made by S.I. 1986/1249, S.I. 1986/2268 and S.I. 2001/1192.

(6)

1996 c. 56. Section 324 is amended by section 140(1) of, and paragraph 77 of Schedule 30 to, the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (c. 31), and section 9 of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 (c. 10).

(7)

1999 c. 14.