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3.11.2 Regulation 33 Visits

Contents

  1. Legal Framework
  2. Implementation of Regulation 33 in Peterborough
  3. Distribution and Status of Reports By Visitors
  4. Regulation 33 visits and Inspections
  5. Children’s Homes Run By Peterborough City Council


1. Legal Framework

1.1

Children’s Homes Regulations 2001, Regulation 33 (2) states “Where the registered provider is an organisation or a partnership, the home shall be visited in accordance with this regulation by -

  1. The responsible individual or one of the partners, as the case may be:
  2. Another of the directors or other persons responsible for the management of the organisation or partnership; or
  3. an employee of the organisation or partnership who is not directly concerned with the conduct of the home.
1.2 Regulation 33 (3) states that visits “shall take place at least once a month and may be unannounced.”
1.3

Regulation 33 (4) states “The person carrying out the visit shall –

  1. interview, with their consent and in private, such of the children accommodated there, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as appears necessary in order to form an opinion of the standard of care provided in the home;
  2. inspect the premises of the children’s home, its daily log of events and records of any complaints; and
  3. prepare a written report on the conduct of the home.


2. Implementation of Regulation 33 in Peterborough

2.1 This document is an acknowledgement of the importance that the Peterborough City Council attaches to the duties of the registered provider, to its corporate parenting responsibilities and to children in residential care having access to officers independent of the line management of the home.
2.2 The Responsible Individual in Peterborough is Maureen Phillips, Assistant Director – Specialist Services. To meet the requirement in 33 (2) (b) the Corporate Parenting Panel has decided that elected Council Members will visit each of the 5 children’s homes at least quarterly. Regulation 33 (2) (c) will be met by a pool of independent Regulation 33 visitors who will be drawn from employees within Children Services. All Regulation 33 visitors will have a current Criminal Record Bureau check.
2.3 To meet the statutory requirements of the Children’s Homes Regulations 201 and National Minimum Standards each home will have a Regulation 33 once each calendar month. These visits will generally be unannounced.
2.4 The visits must be recorded on Specialist Services Regulation 33 report (a template for this can be accessed via the forms button at the top of this chapter). Any immediate action that the Visitor feels needs to be taken should be reported to Safeguarding Manager or Service Manager within 1 working day. The visitors will always follow up issues raised in previous reports.  All progress or lack of progress on issues raised will be recorded on the report sheet.


3. Distribution and Status of Reports By Visitors

3.1 Typewritten Reports by visitors should be sent to Margaret Godwin, Safeguarding Administrator within 5 working days of the visit taking place and no later than the 25th day of the month.
3.2 Regulation 33 visit reports will be passed to the Manager of the Children’s home for them to formally respond to within 10 working days of them receiving the report.
3.3 The completed Regulation 33 report will be circulated to the Regulatory Authority, The Assistant Director, Specialist Services and the Service Manager responsible for the Children’s Home by the 15th of the following month.  An annual report will be presented to members.
3.4 The reports are not for publication by virtue of Paragraph 6 (Care of a Child) of Part 1 of Schedule A of the Local Government Act 1972.


4. Regulation 33 visits and Inspections

4.1

Regulation 33 visitors should remember that the visit is NOT an inspection but a visit to ensure that someone not involved in the daily conduct of the home provides an independent report to the responsible authority. Visitors should also be aware that the following inspections take place:

  • Six-monthly Health & Safety audits.
  • Annual domestic and catering standards audit.
  • Annual announced inspections by the Regulatory Authority.
  • Annual unannounced inspections by the Regulatory Authority.

5. Children’s Homes Run By Peterborough City Council

Cherry Lodge, Clayton, Orton Goldhay,
Peterborough PE2 5SD
Telephone: 01733 391941

Clare Lodge. 104 Welmore Road, Glinton,
Peterborough. PE6 7LU
Telephone: 01733 253246
Clare Lodge website

12 Dogsthorpe Road, Dogsthorpe,
Peterborough, PE1 3AA
Telephone: 01733 746502

165 London Road, Fletton,
Peterborough, PE2 9DS
Telephone: 01733 746525

The Manor. Derby Drive,
Peterborough PE1 4NG
Telephone: 01733 746533

Thanks to Milton Keynes for their ideas


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