The Residential Family Centres Regulations 2002

Visits by registered providerE+W

25.—(1) Where the registered provider is an individual, but is not in day to day charge of the residential family centre, he shall visit the residential family centre in accordance with this regulation.

(2) Where the registered provider is an organisation or a partnership, the residential family centre shall be visited in accordance with this regulation by—

(a)the responsible individual or one of the partners, as the case may be;

(b)another of the directors or other persons responsible for the management of the organisation or partnership; or

(c)an employee of the organisation or partnership who is not directly concerned with the conduct of the residential family centre.

(3) Visits under paragraph (1) or (2) shall [F1, as far as reasonably practicable,] take place at least once a month and may be unannounced.

(4) The person carrying out the visit shall—

(a)interview, with their consent and in private, such of the residents and persons working at the residential family centre as appears necessary in order to form an opinion of the standard of care provided in the residential family centre;

(b)[F2as far as reasonably practicable,] inspect the premises of the residential family centre F3... and records of any complaints; and

(c)prepare a written report on the conduct of the residential family centre.

[F4(4A) Where paragraph (4B) applies any interview carried out under paragraph (4)(a) may be carried out by telephone, video-link or by other electronic means.

(4B) This paragraph applies where complying with paragraph (4)(a)—

(a)would be contrary to any guidance relating to the incidence or transmission of coronavirus published by Public Health England or the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, or

(b)is not reasonably practicable for a reason relating to the incidence or transmission of coronavirus.

(4C) In paragraph (4B) ‘coronavirus’ means severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

(4D) The person carrying out the visit under paragraph (1) and (2) must keep a record of any interview carried out in accordance with paragraph (4A).]

(5) The registered provider shall supply a copy of the report required to be made under paragraph (4)(c) to—

(a)the [F5Chief Inspector];

(b)the registered manager; and

(c)in the case of a visit under paragraph (2)—

(i)where the registered provider is an organisation, to each of the directors or other persons responsible for the management of the organisation; and

(ii)where the registered provider is a partnership, to each of the partners.

Textual Amendments

F1Words in reg. 25(3) inserted (temp. until 25.9.2020) (24.4.2020) by virtue of The Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/445), regs. 1(2), 3(4)(a) (with Pts. 12, 13)

F4Reg. 25(4A)-(4D) inserted (temp. until 1.10.2021) (25.9.2020) by virtue of The Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/909), regs. 1(3), 2(2) (with reg. 8) (as amended (30.3.2021) by S.I. 2021/261, regs. 1(2), 4)