Children’s home

A children’s home is a type of residential care home where a number of looked after children and young people live together in one place, cared for by a staff team.

Some children’s homes specialise in caring for children with particular needs, such as children and young people with physical and learning disabilities, behavioural problems, mental health difficulties, or a drug or alcohol addiction.

Each child should have a ‘key worker’ from among the staff. The key worker must make sure the requirements of the child’s placement plan are implemented as part of the child’s day-to-day care.

Every children’s home must publish:

• A statement of purpose, which sets out the overall aims of the home and its objectives for the children who live there.
• A children’s guide, which explains in age-appropriate language:
  • what the child can expect and what support they are entitled to
  • how the child can get the support of an advocate
  • how the child can make a complaint.

All children’s homes must register with Ofsted.