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3.12.3 Regulation 33 Visits to Children's Homes

Contents

  1. Legal Framework
  2. Implementation of Regulation 33 in Hillingdon
  3. Distribution and Status of Reports By Visitors
  4. Regulation 33 Visits and Inspections


1. Legal Framework

1.1

Regulation 33 (2) of the Children’s Homes Regulations 2001 states “Where the Registered Provider is an organisation or a partnership, the home shall be visited in accordance with this regulation by -

  1. The Responsible Individual or one of the partners, as the case may be:
  2. Another of the directors or other persons responsible for the management of the organisation or partnership; or
  3. an employee of the organisation or partnership who is not directly concerned with the conduct of the home.
1.2 Regulation 33 (3) states that visits “shall take place at least once a month and may be unannounced.”
1.3

Regulation 33 (4) states “The person carrying out the visit shall –

  1. interview, with their consent and in private, such of the children Accommodated there, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as appears necessary in order to form an opinion of the standard of care provided in the home;
  2. inspect the premises of the children’s home, its daily log of events and records of any complaints; and
  3. prepare a written report on the conduct of the home.


2. Implementation of Regulation 33 in Hillingdon

2.1 This document is an acknowledgement of the importance that the London Borough of Hillingdon attaches to the duties of the registered provider, to its corporate parenting responsibilities and to children in residential care having access to officers independent of the line management of the home.
2.2 The Responsible Individual in Hillingdon is the Head of Safeguarding. To meet the requirements of Regulation 33 (2) the London Borough of Hillingdon has decided that visits to each of Hillingdon's 4 children’s homes will be made by a pool of independent Regulation 33 visitors who will be drawn from employees within Education and Children's Services. All Regulation 33 visitors will have a current Criminal Records Bureau check.
2.3 Each home will have a Regulation 33 visit once each calendar month. These visits will generally be unannounced, unless the visitor wishes to meet particular people for whom a warning of the visit is required.

The same visitor is likely to visit the same home over the course of a year so that the children and staff become familiar enough with the visitor to feel comfortable.
2.4

On every visit, checks of the home’s daily log, records of complaints, disciplinary measures and use of Restraint must be made together with an assessment of the physical condition of the building, furniture and equipment of the home, and the provision of an opportunity for any child or member of staff to meet, in private if they wish, with the visitor.

The following will also be monitored:

  • In respect of each child placed in the children’s home, compliance with the placing authority’s plan for the care of the child (where applicable) and the child's Placement Plan/Placement Information Record;
  • The deposit and issue of money and other valuables handed in for safekeeping.
  • Daily menus.
  • All accident and injuries sustained in the home or by children placed there.
  • Any illnesses of children in the home.
  • Complaints in relation to children in the home and their outcomes.
  • Any allegations or suspicions of abuse in respect of children placed in the home and the outcome of any investigation.
  • Staff recruitment records and conduct of required checks for new workers in the home.
  • Visitors to the home and to children in the home.
  • Notifications of the events listed in Schedule 5, Children Homes Regulations 2001.
  • Any Unauthorised Absence from the home of a child placed there.
  • The use of measures of control, Restraint and discipline in respect of children placed in the home.
  • Risk assessments for health and safety purposes and subsequent action taken.
  • Medicines, medical treatment and first aid administered to any child in the home.
  • Duty rosters of persons working at the home and the rosters actually worked.
  • Fire drills and tests of alarms and of fire equipment.
  • Records of appraisals of employees.
  • Minutes of staff meetings..
2.5 The visits must be recorded in writing. Any immediate action that the visitor feels needs to be taken should be reported to the registered manager of the home, the Team Manager, Residential Services and the Service Manager, Resources within one working day. The visitors will always follow up issues raised in previous reports.  All progress or lack of progress on issues raised will be recorded on the report sheet.


3. Distribution and Status of Reports By Visitors

3.1 Reports by visitors should be sent to the Deputy Director, Children and Families within 5 working days of the visit taking place.
3.2 Regulation 33 visit reports will then be passed to the registered manager of the children’s home for a formal response within 10 working days of receiving the report.
3.3 The Regulation 33 visit report will also be circulated to the Regulatory Authority, the Service Manager, Resources and the Team Manager, Residential Services. 
3.4 An annual report will be presented to members.
3.5 The reports are not for publication by virtue of Paragraph 6 (Care of a Child) of Part 1 of Schedule A of the Local Government Act 1972.


4. Regulation 33 Visits and Inspections

4.1

Regulation 33 visitors should remember that the visit is NOT an inspection but a visit to ensure that someone not involved in the daily conduct of the home provides an independent report to the Responsible Individual.

4.2

Visitors should also be aware that the following inspections and quality audits take place:

  • Monthly quality audits by the registered manager and the Team Manager, Residential Services
  • Annual announced inspections by the Regulatory Authority
  • Annual unannounced inspections by the Regulatory Authority
  • Visits by elected members
  • The health and safety audit
  • The domestic and catering standards audit

End