The Children’s Homes Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996

Regulation 4

SCHEDULE 1 Statement to be kept relating to children’s homes

Part I Particulars to be included in statement

1.  The purpose for which the children’s home is established, and the objectives to be attained with regard to children accommodated in the home.

2.  The name and address of the responsible body, and of the person in charge of the children’s home if different.

3.  The following details about the children for whom it is intended that accommodation should be provided—

(a) their age-range;

(b) their sex;

(c) the number of children; and

(d) whether children are selected by reference to criteria other than age or sex, and if so, those criteria.

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

5.  The experience of the person in charge of the children’s home, the staff and others working there, and details of qualifications held by any of those persons relevant to their work in the home, or to the care of children.

6.  The facilities and services to be provided within the children’s home for the children accommodated there.

7.  The arrangements made to protect and promote the health of the children accommodated there.

8.  The fire precautions and associated emergency procedures.

9.  The arrangements made for religious observance by any child accommodated there.

10.  The arrangements made for contact between a child accommodated there and his parents, any person who is not a parent of his but who has parental responsibility for him, relatives and friends.

11.  The methods of control and discipline and the disciplinary measures used there, the circumstances in which any such measures will be used and who will be permitted to authorise them.

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

13.  The arrangements for dealing with any representation (including any complaint).

14.  The arrangements for the education of any child accommodated there.

15.  The arrangements for dealing with reviews under Article 45 of the Order of the cases of every child accommodated there.

16.  The arrangements for consultation with a child regarding his future care.

17.  The arrangements for involving a child in group care decisions, commensurate with the age and maturity of the child.

Part II Persons to whom statement is to be made available for inspection

18.  The person in charge of the children’s home.

19.  The staff of the children’s home and any other person working there.

20.  The children accommodated in the children’s home.

21.  The parent of any child accommodated in the children’s home.

22.  Any person who is not a parent of a child accommodated in the children’s home, but who has parental responsibility for such a child.

23.  Any authority looking after a child accommodated in the children’s home where the authority is not responsible for the management of that home.

24.  Any voluntary organisation providing accommodation for a child accommodated in the children’s home where they are not responsible for the management of that home.

25.  The independent visitor (if one has been appointed), of any child accommodated in the children’s home.

26.  The guardian ad litem (if one has been appointed), of any child accommodated in the children’s home.

27.  Any registration authority.