Education and Child Matters

I AM L.I.P

I am a Litigant In Person

Residential Care

 

WHAT IS RESIDENTIAL CARE?

Residential care is when a child (who cannot live with their own family) is cared for in local authority accommodation where many children are resident.

It is a form of group care. 

Residential care is also a way of providing a short term break for a disabled child.

Residential care is often provided when other types of care such as kinship care or foster care have been unsuccessful.

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE TO KINSHIP CARE

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE TO FOSTERING

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE TO PRIVATE FOSTERING

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBPAGE FOR THE CHILDREN’S HOMES (ENGLAND) REGULATIONS 2015

WHAT IS ANOTHER NAME FOR RESIDENTIAL CARE?

A children’s home.

UP TO WHAT AGE CAN RESIDENTIAL CARE BE PROVIDED FOR CHILDREN?

Residential care is provided for children up to the age of 16 years. Sometimes the age can extend to 18 years.

HOW CAN A CHILD BE PLACED IN A RESIDENTIAL CARE HOME?

A child will be placed in a residential care home if:

  1. The court grants a care order for the child stating the child will live in a residential care home.
  2. Under a voluntary accommodation agreement between the local authority and the parents of the child or a person who has parental responsibility for the child. Under this agreement, accommodation is provided by the local authority for a child who has been abandoned or their parents cannot care for them. A child aged 16 or 17 years can agree to a voluntary accommodation agreement themselves. 

A voluntary accommodation agreement is not a court order.

WILL AN ASSESSMENT (A CARE PLAN) BE DONE BEFORE A RESIDENTIAL PLACE IS OFFERED TO A CHILD?

Yes a local authority assessment will be conducted before a child is offered a residential place. The assessment will involve the child, their parents or the individual who has parental responsibility for the child, social workers and the residential care staff.

This assessment is called a care plan. A care plan will detail the following pieces of information:

  1. Why is the child living in residential care?
  2. What is expected to happen with the child while in residential care?
  3. What is expected to happen by the time the child leaves residential care? 

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE CHILD WHEN THEY LEAVE RESIDENTIAL CARE?

The following can happen to a child:

  1. The child may go and live with their parents or the individual who has parental responsibility for them.
  2. The child can be placed with foster parents/family.
  3. The child can be placed in kinship care.
  4. The child can be transferred to another residential care home.
  5. The child, if old enough, may get support to live on their own.