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

1. Planning for Care	Size:
Statement of the home’s purpose

	OUTCOME Children and young people are guided through and know what services they can expect from the home, how they will be cared for and who they are likely to share with, and a clear statement of how the home operates is available for parents and others needing this information.
	STANDARD 1
1.1	The home has a written Statement of Purpose and a children’s guide which accurately describe what the home sets out to do for children it accommodates, and the manner in which care is provided.
1.2	The Statement of Purpose provides all the information required in Schedule 1 of the Children’s Homes Regulations 2001 – SI 2001 No. 3967. The Statement of Purpose is in a form that can be understood by placing social workers, staff, and any parent or person with parental responsibility for a child. All those working in the home are aware of the contents of the Statement of Purpose, and a copy is easily accessible.
1.3	The children’s guide to the home is in a form (or forms) appropriate to the age and understanding of the children in the home. For some disabled children, young children and those for whom English is not the preferred language, alternative methods of communicating the children’s guide are sought, e.g. Makaton, pictures, tape recording, translation into another language. The guide includes a summary of what the home sets out to do for children, and is provided to children on admission to the home. The children’s guide contains information on how a child can secure access to an independent advocate and about how to make a complaint.
1.4	The home’s policies, procedures and any written guidance to staff accurately reflect the Statement of Purpose.
1.5	The registered person [in the case of a local authority, the elected members] formally approves the Statement of Purpose of the home, and reviews, updates and modifies it where necessary, at least annually. Any proposed significant changes or modifications are notified to the Commission before implementation. [Regulations 4 and 5]