Residential Family Centres: National Minimum Standards

General Introduction

This document contains the National Minimum Standards (NMS) applicable to residential family centres. The NMS, together with the Residential Family Centres Regulations 2002, as amended, form the basis of the regulatory framework under the Care Standards Act 2000 (CSA) for the conduct of residential family centres.
Residential family centres are defined in section 4(2) of the CSA as establishments at which:

a) accommodation is provided for children and their parents;
b) the parents’ capacity to respond to the children’s needs and to safeguard their welfare is monitored or assessed; and
c) the parents are given such advice, guidance and counselling as is considered necessary.

The values statements below explain the important principles which underpin these standards:

Values

• Each parent and child is valued as an individual and has his or her wishes and feelings listened to and taken into account.
• Each parent has a fair assessment of their parenting skills and capacity, and is given individualised support, in line with their abilities, needs and background.
• Each child feels protected and safe, and benefits from effective parenting.
• Parents and children with disabilities and particularly complex needs have these fully recognised and taken into account.
• There is a genuine partnership between all those involved in residential family centres to deliver the best outcomes for parents and children, including the Government, local authorities, family courts and other statutory agencies, such as CAFCASS.