Search results for ‘Subject term:"looked after children"’ Sort:
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What types of needs do children's homes offer care for?
- Author:
- OFSTED
- Publisher:
- OFSTED
- Publication year:
- 2022
- Place of publication:
- Manchester
This report is based on data from children's homes' statements of purpose and aims to categorise children's homes, by describing the services that they offer and the needs that they say they are aiming to meet, beyond the categories of registration recorded with Ofsted. The report examines: the variation in the types of needs different homes said they could accommodate; the degree to which the homes are generalist or specialist; what the term specialist actually means in the context of children's homes. The data shows that children's homes were not evenly distributed across the regions of England, and there were no close relationships between the children's needs, where the homes were situated and what needs those homes met; there was no link between the types of needs that homes said they could accommodate and their Ofsted inspection grades; the children who lived furthest from their home before coming into care were those in homes that stated they could accommodate children with mental health problems (44 miles), and those in homes that offered support for children who had experienced abuse and neglect (42 miles); children living in homes that stated they could accommodate complex health needs, sensory impairment and physical disabilities generally lived closer to their home prior to coming into care (an average of 26, 23, and 21 miles respectively, compared with 36 miles for all children); a very high proportion of children living in children's homes had special educational needs (80%) compared with all children looked after (52%) and all children (around 15%); the majority of homes (four fifths) said they could accommodate 2 or more areas of need, with just under one fifth saying they could accommodate only one area; providers that stated they could accommodate children with complex needs were the most common (93%), while sensory impairment (4%) and complex health needs (5%) were the least common; a large majority of the homes that stated they could accommodate children with mental health problems were owned by the private sector (90%); the percentage of homes run by local authorities or voluntary services that could accommodate the 3 least common areas of need (physical disabilities, complex health needs and sensory impairment) was higher than the percentage they ran of all homes; half (3 in 6) of all single-gender homes for girls stated that they could accommodate children who had experienced sexual exploitation, while only around 1 in 6 single gender homes for boys stated they could accommodate children who had experienced sexual exploitation. (Edited publisher abstract)
The education of children living in children's homes
- Author:
- OFSTED
- Publisher:
- OFSTED
- Publication year:
- 2021
- Place of publication:
- Manchester
Research into where children living in children’s homes receive their education and what the quality of this education is like. This study covers: the full range of school-aged children living in children’s homes, including those attending primary schools, secondary schools and further education and skills (FES) providers; a wide range of educational provision types, including state-funded, independent, mainstream and special education provisions; the period between 1 April 2018 and 31 March 2019. In a sample of 2,600 children living in children’s homes: 2,165 children (83%) attended educational provision eligible for Ofsted inspection; 9% attended unregulated provisions; 6% were not in education, employment or training; 2% attended educational provision inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI). The children in the sample were 20 times more likely to be in special education than all children nationally. This reflects the complex needs of many children entering children’s homes. When looking beyond the sample to all children living in children’s homes and attending state-funded education nationally (approximately 2,500 children), 47% had EHC plans. A further 27% were receiving SEN support. For all children nationally, the proportions were 3% and 12% respectively. (Edited publisher abstract)
Matching in foster care: making good decisions for children in care and care leavers
- Author:
- OFSTED
- Publisher:
- OFSTED
- Publication year:
- 2020
- Pagination:
- 30
- Place of publication:
- Manchester
This report sets out our findings from a small research project that explored what contributes to good matching decisions for children in foster care. This project is the first part of a wider research programme that looks at decision-making for children in care, or on the edge of care, and care leavers. Matching children to the right foster families is critically important for children’s futures. Good matching decisions can help to ensure that fostered children have a secure base, feel loved and can enjoy their lives. Findings point to the shortage of suitable carers as being the most significant barrier to making good matches. The evaluation saw many thoughtful and effective ways to address shortfalls in matches that were, on paper, less than ideal. It also saw some very creative practice. Social workers and carers regularly made great efforts to understand and meet the needs of children, and often in difficult circumstances. When discussing individual children, practitioners were able to say what had gone well and reflect on where matching practice could have been better. Support was usually readily available to practitioners to help them reflect on practice. There was little evidence, however, that this had translated into wider organisational learning that could improve overall practice across the service. There were several areas of practice that can be improved to promote good matches. Above all, the matching process must be child-centred. For example, children should be prepared well for a move. They should be involved as much as possible in creating the information that is shared with carers. Decisions should always take their wishes and feelings into account. (Edited publisher abstract)
Fostering in England, 2015-16
- Author:
- OFSTED
- Publisher:
- OFSTED
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 29
- Place of publication:
- Manchester
This release covers the numbers and profile of foster carers and foster places and placements, in both local authority (LA) and independent fostering agencies (IFA) between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2016. Data relating to types of foster care, registrations, de-registrations, to fostered children, and a range of other subjects is also included. The report indicates that there has been little change in the number of fostering households and children in foster care, although the reported number of applications fell by one third. There were 11,460 applications in 2015-16, compared to 16,920 the previous year. Although the number of care leavers went up 17 per cent to 4,025, the number who stayed living with their former foster carers increased by a higher rate (22 per cent) to 2,190. Children were more likely to experience a change in educational placement if they also experienced an unplanned ending. (Edited publisher abstract)
Inspection handbook: children's homes: guidance for the inspections of children’s homes from April 2015
- Author:
- OFSTED
- Publisher:
- OFSTED
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 94
- Place of publication:
- Manchester
This guidance is designed to assist inspectors from the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted) when conducting inspections of children’s homes. It covers: scheduling and team deployment; pre-inspection activity for full and interim report; underlying principles of inspection activity; gathering evidence; interim inspection; homes which are judged inadequate; monitoring visits; writing the report; and supplementary guidance. (Edited publisher abstract)
Children's and young person's guide to the inspection of children's homes
- Author:
- OFSTED
- Publisher:
- OFSTED
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 7
- Place of publication:
- Manchester
This guide for children and young people is a brief summary of the children’s home inspection framework. It explains why and when homes are inspected and whether inspections can make a difference. It also details the inspection process and how children can help the inspectors to understand what it is like to live in residential child care facilities. (Edited publisher abstract)
Independent visitors: children and young people's views
- Author:
- OFSTED
- Publisher:
- OFSTED
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 22p.
- Place of publication:
- Manchester
This paper reports on the views and experiences of children and young people in care of having an independent visitor, and their views about not being offered one. A local authority has to appoint someone as an independent visitor for any child they are looking after if the authority thinks it would be in the child’s best interests. An independent visitor is a volunteer who is there to visit and to ‘befriend and advise’ the child. Questionnaires were distributed to children and young people who came to consultation events on other subjects between November 2011-March 2012. A total of 361 completed questionnaires were returned (55% from girls and 45% from boys). Altogether, 104 (29%) of these children and young people said that they had an independent visitor, and the other 257 (71%) said that they didn’t. The paper includes the participants’ views on: choosing independent visitors; why they were given independent visitors; and what they want their independent visitors to do. The main quality required of a good independent visitor is to be a great listener. By far the most usual reason for not having an independent visitor is that one was never offered. Only 1 in 5 of those without an independent visitor thought they would say no if they were offered one.
Q&A: the use of holiday accommodation for looked after children
- Author:
- OFSTED
- Publisher:
- OFSTED
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 2p.
- Place of publication:
- Manchester
A question and answer leaflet about the use and registration of holiday accommodation for looked after children.
Children's messages to the minister: a report of children's contributions to the 2009 ministerial stocktake of care, by the Children's Rights Director for England
- Author:
- OFSTED
- Publisher:
- OFSTED
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 28p.
- Place of publication:
- Manchester
This report presents the views of children and young people in care and care leavers for their views of their experiences in care. Views were collected through focus discussion groups and through a conference where two members of each Children in Care group in England attended and gave their answers to questions using an electronic keypad. The report contains the votes that the children gave at the conference, including on government ideas for improving care. All children and young people who were members of their councils Children in Care Council also completed a survey on the work of their Children's Council. A total of 437 children and young people gave their views for this report.
Fostering in England 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022
- Author:
- OFSTED
- Publisher:
- OFSTED
- Publication year:
- 2022
- Place of publication:
- Manchester
This release covers the numbers of foster carers and foster places and placements, in both local authority (LA) and independent fostering agencies (IFA); data relating to types of foster care, registrations, de-registrations and a range of other subjects; the period between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022. Since 2018, mainstream fostering capacity has decreased slightly. As at 31 March 2022, of the 43,905 fostering households in England, 36,050 were mainstream fostering households. Since 2018, the number of approved mainstream fostering households has decreased by 4% and the number of approved mainstream fostering places has decreased by 5%. During the same period, the number of filled mainstream fostering places has remained fairly static and the number of vacant mainstream fostering places has decreased by 23%. The data also shows that: there is an upward trend in fostering provision provided by family and friends households; there has been a downward trend in the number of applications for mainstream fostering over the last 5 years - in both sectors a relatively large number of enquiries are not translating into applications; there is increasing use of IFAs for mainstream foster care provision; LA households tend to stay registered for longer than IFA households. (Edited publisher abstract)