§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the responsibilities for(a) the registration and (b) the inspection of children's homes which have fewer than four children, and which take in children entirely from outside the area of the social services authority in which they are located. [34090]
§ Mr. BowisChildren's homes run by voluntary organisations are required to register with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and are inspected by the social services inspectorate irrespective of the numbers of children accommodated.
The registration and inspection of small children's homes run by private organisations that provide accommodation for fewer than four children is being considered within the current review of the inspection and regulation of social services.
Authorities placing children in those homes, as in any other homes, have a statutory duty under the Arrangements for Placement of Children (General) Regulations 1991 to ensure that the homes are suitable and that they promote and safeguard the child's welfare. The Department of Health issued guidance to local authorities about the application of these regulations in LAC(93)16, copies of which are available in the Library.
The local authority in which the home is situated has the duty to investigate, with a court order if necessary, any concerns that a child in such a home is at risk.