Residential Children's home

[Patrick Dogbatse]

What are the challenges of opening and operating a children's home in the current regulation tight climate? Does anyone own a children's home that I could potentially speak with?

 

[Mr D]

Used to know an ex childrens home worker. He hated locking the kids in at night and hated the paperwork when one went missing.

 

[blueprinthub.co.uk]

What are the challenges of opening and operating a children's home in the current regulation tight climate? Does anyone own a children's home that I could potentially speak with?

I haven't the faintest clue how you would go about opening a children's home, to be honest.

Only thing I would say is to have very good (and preferably very effective!) child protection.

 

[Newchodge]

Talk to your local council about the regulation, but I would suggest that it is a nightmare with all the safeguarding and protection issues and the fact that many of the children living there will not want to be there.

 

[godoit]

Used to work in a startup one. the better bet is to go for the more challenging kids (all challenging but more challenging means more money) Ours branded as a therapeutic home at £2500 a week per room. It was no more theraputic than others but we would take the harder to place kids.

Keeping staff is the man problem. The kids are hard work and regularly go off. Your best bet is to have a chat with an ex social worker and ofsted, care inspectorate people.

Step 1 is the venue and cash. You need to have the location approved by the regulator's well before you open. You also need to show you have reserve money so the kids wont get booted out for you becoming bankrupt.

Step 2 is the reg's. Unless you have knowledge I would hire/ partner with someone. There are ridiculous ones that you wouldn't believe.

step 3 is the contacts for placing. never my bag but it was the directors role and he was ex social services so I assume had the contacts.

4 get kids. and let the fun begin.

It's obliviously a lot more complicated than that. the worst part of it is dealing with all the agencies involved with the kids rather than the kids themselves. I enjoyed spending time with the kids and still have a few fond memories.
Good luck

 

[godoit]

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-registration-as-a-childrens-social-care-provider-or-manager

Before you apply
You should not submit an application to Ofsted until you:

• are familiar with the regulations and national minimum standards for the type of establishment or agency you wish to register (these are listed at the bottom of this page)
• have a Disclosure and Barring Service certificate for everyone who needs one (this includes all those who must submit an SC2 form) obtained online via the Capita website
• have all of your policies, documents and procedures in place as detailed in the service specific regulations and this guidance (these must relate to the establishment or agency you are applying to register)
• have appointed a manager (please note that you must include their application to register with us as part of your application – if you do not, your application will be returned to you)
• have appointed a responsible individual, where necessary
• have a completed health declaration booklet for everyone who needs one
• have the relevant planning permission documentation
• have premises that meet any planning requirements and are ready to accommodate the proposed service