Report of the Expert Group on the Quality of children’s homes, presented to DfE Ministers – December 2012

The Group’s remit 3 July Ministerial commitment

An expert working group with a broad remit to review the quality of provision being delivered within children’s homes, including the qualifications of the workforce. It will:

• review questions relating to the location of homes and models of ownership and commissioning practice;
• consider how homes can offer a more therapeutic environment to help children overcome their difficulties and what staff development is needed to manage children’s behaviour, including when it is appropriate to use restraint;
• consider the effectiveness of current arrangements to drive improvement across the sector.
   
• “The result will be a clear action plan to drive up quality with recommendations on how to improve significantly the qualifications and skills of those working in children’s homes. The group will have a remit to complete its work in December.” (Letters from Tim Loughton to Ann Coffey and Sue Berelowitz, 3 July 2012)
• This was alongside three other commitments: improving data on children who go missing from care; amending regulations to allow Ofsted to share the locations of children’s homes with the police; and making proposals on out of area placements.