Ofsted warns against operating children’s homes without registration
Ofsted warns against operating children’s homes without registration
London
Ofsted on Monday issued a fresh warning for children’s homes that are operating without registration and said it is illegal as the court hasn’t provided any exemption in this regard.
Notably, Ofsted, a non-ministerial UK agency that reports to Parliament, is responsible for inspecting schools and also childcare facilities.
A UK government official said Ofsted has warned against placement of vulnerable children including deprivation of liberty orders (DoL) in unregistered homes.
The children with DoL orders have complex needs that require skilled care and supervision. But sometimes, they are kept in unregistered children’s homes without external oversight.
This has led to Ofsted issuing new guidelines that make it mandatory to register with it or the Care Inspectorate Wales.
Ofsted director for Social Care Yvette Stanley said “It’s unacceptable that some of our most vulnerable children with very complex needs are living in places with the least oversight.
In such places, we do not know if they are safe or if the people caring for them are suitable or skilled enough to meet their needs.
We know that many children deprived of their liberty are placed in illegal unregistered settings.
It is important that providers register and local authorities play their part to ensure compliance.”
Ofsted has also updated norms on how to prioritize registration of children’s homes whenever there is some emergency.
However, registration requirements and regulations must be met before a provider is deemed suitable.
