§ Mr. Galeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he intends to take, in the light of the recent attempts at arson at Worth House, Herne Bay, and 430W public complaints concerning the standard of supervision at Ava Lodge, Sydney House School, Westgate-on-Sea, to implement powers of inspection of private children's homes and to ensure that these and similar establishments are adequately staffed at all times by qualified personnel and properly run.
CurrieThere are differences between the two establishments named by my hon. Friend, although I understand that they are in common ownership. They were the subject of a joint visit by an officer of the social services inspectorate and Her Majesty's inspectors of schools in September 1986.
Worth House is a privately run home and therapeutic centre for young people with emotional and other problems, most of whom are in the care of local authorities.
Regulations providing power of registration and governing the conduct of privately run children's homes accommodating at least one child in the care of a local authority will be introduced later this year. There are existing powers under section 74 of the Child Care Act 1980 which provide for the inspection of premises accommodating children in care and the children themselves, but these do not provide a power of registration or closure. The powers under section 74 are in addition to the duty of placing authorities to consider the needs of children in their care and to determine the most suitable and appropriate placement for them.
Sydney House School, Westgate-on-Sea, has been registered by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science as an independent school under part 3 of the Education Act 1944. Under section 77 of the Act such establishments are open to inspection by Her Majesty's inspectors of schools.