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4.14.2 Regulation 33 Visits

SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER

This procedure applies to children’s homes managed by the authority. This chapter was updated in September 2008 to take account of visits from a member of the Corporate Parent Panel and new reporting arrangements to the Group Service Manager (Resources Children's Care)

AMENDMENT

A slight amendment was made to this chapter in November 2010 to reflect the frequency of visits by a member of the Corporate Parent Panel.

There is a dedicated Children’s Homes manual and it contains a chapter on this subject that is intended for the sole use of staff in Residential Children’s homes - see Bradford Children's Homes Procedures Manual, Monitoring Quality Procedure.


In keeping with Regulation 33 of the Children's Homes Regulations 2001, the authority will arrange for monthly visits to be undertaken of its children's homes.

The arrangements for these visits are that, each month, a nominated officer will visit each children's home. A member of the Corporate Parent Panel will visit 3 times a year. Visits must be carried out by someone who does not hold line management responsibility for the home, thus giving an element of objectivity.

This person must be managed outside the line management arrangements for children’s homes in Bradford.

The visits should usually be unannounced but can be announced if it is necessary to arrange to meet a particular person for example the registered manager.

The person undertaking these visits may undertake what checks and have access to what records they see fit and may focus on particular themes or issues but, as a minimum, the following must be undertaken:

  1. Meet and talk to children and a range of the staff of the home to ascertain their views, comments and any complaints about the running of the home. Regulation 33 visitors and members of the Corporate Parent Panel must be open to the disclosure of bullying and ensure that any concerns are brought to the attention of staff running the home.

    See West Yorkshire Consortium Procedures, 5.5 Bullying
  2. Read the Daily Log, records of Restraints, Incidents and Sanctions of the home and note trends and areas of good and unacceptable practice. 
  3. Read the records of Comments and Complaints (including Child Protection Complaints) held by the manager, commenting on the frequency and type made and whether they appear to have been dealt with adequately.
  4. Read and comment on the record of House and Staff Meetings, or other methods used by the manager to consult the children and staff, held in the home.
  5. Check on the physical condition and decoration of the home, including the children’s bedrooms.

The officer undertaking the visit will write a report, which the elected member will contribute to, which will be forwarded to the Group Service Manager (Resources Children's Care) within 10 days of the visit.

The report of the visit will include recommendations for change, together with proposed timescales.

The Group Service Manager (Resources Children's Care) will ensure the report is forwarded to and actioned by the manager of the home, and a copy sent to the Ofsted.

End