PLEASE NOTE: New Standards Published

April 2011: The Standards no longer apply, Tri.x have published a web enabled version of the new Children’s Homes and Fostering Standards, please follow this link:

www.minimumstandards.org

2. Quality of Care	Size:
Leisure and Activities

	OUTCOME Children are able to pursue their particular interests, develop confidence in their skills and are supported and encouraged by staff to engage in leisure activities.
	STANDARD 15
15.1	There are ample opportunities for children to participate in a range of appropriate leisure activities, and the registered person allocates sufficient financial resources to fund leisure activities and trips.
15.2	Children are encouraged and given opportunities to take part in activities and leisure interests which take account of their race, culture, language, religion, interests, abilities and disabilities. Birthdays, name days, cultural and religious festivals are celebrated where appropriate, and children participate with staff in planning these events together. Support is available to enable disabled children to enjoy a range of activities within and outside the home.
15.3	Leisure interests and areas in which a child has talents or abilities are considered within the child’s placement plan, and where applicable at care planning meetings and reviews. Consideration is given as to how they will be encouraged and financially supported.
15.4	There is a proper balance between free and controlled time in the structure of the day (taking into account the school day for those homes that are schools). Activities reflect the choices of the children, and children are allowed to do nothing in particular at times.
15.5	Supervised and unsupervised activities take into account the safety of children at all times and where substantial or unusual hazards are involved, a recorded risk assessment is made. Any high risk activity provided or arranged for children is supervised by persons holding the relevant qualification to supervise children’s involvement in the activity concerned (such as the qualification for instructing or supervising children awarded by the recognised national body for the activity concerned).
15.6	Children are encouraged to meet staff regularly, individually or in groups, to discuss the general running of the home, to plan activities and to make their views known. Children’s views inform the choice of any individual and group holidays, trips and outings. Staff engage with children in talking about and doing things, and sharing their experiences.
15.7	Children have access to, and a choice in the selection of, newspapers, books and magazines subject to their suitability. Children have access to suitable toys, music, books and games.
15.8	Consideration is given to individual circumstances of children in watching videos and television, and in using computer games and accessing the internet. Videos, games consoles and computer games may be watched/played only by children of the intended age range. No home shall have any videos or games certified as suitable only for over 18s. Systems and policies are in place to safeguard children when computer networking or on the internet and also to prevent the home from becoming dominated by use of the television and computers.
15.9	Trips out to events for enjoyment or interest are encouraged and/or organised by staff.
15.10	Children who wish to do so are helped to participate in the educational and leisure activities and facilities available to children and young people in the home’s locality.
15.11	Transport used by the home is not marked in such a way as to distinguish it from an ordinary car or bus, unless it has been received by the home as a charitable donation in which case it may carry the name of the donating charity. This does not prevent schools which are children’s homes from having the name of the school on the car or bus. The registered person checks that all vehicles used for transporting children, including cars belonging to members of staff, are taxed, MOTed (where appropriate), insured for the purpose and well-maintained. Homes accommodating disabled children must have vehicles appropriately adapted.
15.12	Children are encouraged and enabled to make and sustain friendships with children of their own age outside the home. This may involve friends visiting the home, and reciprocal arrangements to visit friends’ homes. [Regulation 18]