All those who care for children living away from home should:
- Create and maintain a safe environment for children – one which enables the child to share any worries they may have and in which the child feels valued and respected;
- Adopt working practices that minimise situations where abuse of children may occur, including the use of technology
- Know how to implement safeguarding procedures and be trained in all aspects of safeguarding children;
- Promote the use of complaints procedures and ensure that children have ready access to a trusted adult outside their living environment.
All residential children’s homes are registered and inspected by OFSTED. They must comply with the Children’s Homes Regulations 2001 and meet the Children’s Homes National Minimum Standards 2002, both of which cover safeguarding issues.
All foster carers are approved, regulated and monitored in compliance with the Fostering Services Regulations 2002/Fostering Services (Amendment) Regulations 2009 and the Fostering Services National Minimum Standards 2002.
All prospective adopters are assessed and approved in compliance with the Adoption National Minimum Standards and Regulations 2003 and their Addendum 2005. If a child placed for adoption or adopted makes a disclosure of abuse that occurred prior to placement with the adopters, any subsequent investigation must protect the identity of the prospective adopters and the adoptive placement.
All agencies responsible for residential services, fostering services, adoption services and adoption support services must have in place the arrangements described here.
