Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

"child protection enquiry" means any enquiries carried out by an HSS trust in the exercise of any of its functions conferred by or under the Children Order relating to the protection of children;

"family" means a child and his parent accommodated or to be accommodated together in a residential family centre;

"general medical practitioner" means a medical practitioner providing primary medical services;

(a) is an individual who carries on the residential family centre—


(i) otherwise than in partnership with others, and satisfies the requirements set out in paragraph (3);

(ii) in partnership with others, and he and each of his partners satisfies the requirements set out in paragraph (3);



(b) is a partnership, and each of the partners satisfies the requirements set out in paragraph (3);

(c) is an organisation and—



(i) the organisation has given notice to the Regulation and Improvement Authority of the name, address and position in the organisation of an individual who is a director, manager, secretary or other officer of the organisation and is responsible for supervising the management of the residential family centre; and

(ii) that individual satisfies the requirements set out in paragraph (3).

    (3) The requirements are that—

(a) he is of integrity and good character;

(b) he is physically and mentally fit to carry on the residential family centre; and

(c) full and satisfactory information is available in relation to him in respect of the matters specified in Schedule 2.

    (4) A person shall not carry on a residential family centre if—

(a) he has been adjudged bankrupt or sequestration of his estate has been awarded and (in either case) he has not been discharged and the bankruptcy order has not been annulled or rescinded; or

(b) he has made a composition or arrangement with his creditors and has not been discharged in respect of it.

(a) promote and make proper provision for the health and welfare of residents;

(b) make such provision for the care, treatment, education and supervision of residents as is appropriate to their age and needs.

    (2) The registered person shall, for the purpose of providing care to residents, and making proper provision for their health and welfare, so far as is practicable, ascertain and take into account their wishes and feelings.

    (3) The registered person shall make suitable arrangements to ensure that the residential family centre is conducted—

(a) in a manner which respects the privacy and dignity of residents; and

(b) with due regard to the sex, religious persuasion, racial origin, and cultural and linguistic background and any disability of residents.

(a) the physical design and layout of the premises to be used as the residential family centre meets the needs of the families;

(b) the premises to be used as the residential family centre are of sound construction and kept in a good state of repair externally and internally;

(c) equipment provided at the residential family centre for use by residents or persons who work at the centre is in good working order, properly maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's guidance and suitable for the purpose for which it is to be used;

(d) all parts of the residential family centre are kept clean and reasonably decorated;

(e) adequate private and communal accommodation is provided for residents;

(f) the size and layout of rooms occupied or used by residents are suitable for their needs, and each family is provided with at least one room for its exclusive use;

(g) there is adequate seating, recreational and dining space provided separately from the resident's private accommodation;

(h) the communal space provided for residents is suitable for the provision of social, cultural and religious activities appropriate to the circumstances of residents;

(i) suitable facilities are provided for residents to receive visitors whether in communal areas or in private as the resident so chooses;

(j) there are provided at appropriate places in the premises sufficient numbers of lavatories, wash-basins, baths and showers fitted with a hot and cold water supply;

(k) suitable storage facilities are provided for the use of residents;

(l) suitable adaptations are made, and such support, equipment and facilities, including passenger lifts, as may be reasonably required are provided to meet the needs arising from the disability of any residents;

(m) secure and safe outdoor space with seating, accessible to all residents is provided and appropriately maintained;

(n) adequate ventilation, heating, cooling and lighting is provided in all parts of the residential family centre which are used by residents;

(o) the engineering services are maintained in good working order;

(p) any vehicle used by the residential family centre for transporting residents is suitable for that purpose and maintained in good working order;

(q) provision is made for the residential family centre to operate in the event of the breakdown of essential utility services; and

(r) a risk assessment to manage health and safety is carried out and updated when necessary.

    (3) The registered person shall having regard for the number of staff employed and the duties they undertake, provide for persons working at the residential family centre—

(a) suitable facilities and accommodation, including—


(i) facilities for the purpose of changing; and

(ii) storage facilities.



(b) sleeping accommodation where the provision of such accommodation is needed for persons working at the residential family centre in connection with their work.

(a) the annual accounts of the centre certified by an accountant;

(b) a reference from a bank expressing an opinion as to the registered provider's financial standing;

(c) information as to the financing and financial resources of the residential family centre;

(d) where the registered person is a company, information as to any of its associated companies;

(e) a certificate of insurance for the registered provider in respect of liability which may be incurred by him in relation to the residential family centre in respect of death, injury, public liability, damage or other loss.

    (3) The registered person shall—

(a) ensure that adequate accounts are maintained in respect of the residential family centre and kept up to date;

(b) ensure that the accounts give details of the running costs of the residential family centre, including rent, payments under a mortgage and expenditure on food, heating and salaries and wages of staff; and

(c) supply a copy of the accounts to the Regulation and Improvement Authority at its request.

(a) the registered provider, if he is an individual who manages the residential family centre himself; or

(b) the registered manager,

proposes to be absent from the residential family centre for a continuous period of 28 days or more, the registered provider shall give notice in writing to the Regulation and Improvement Authority of the proposed absence.

    (2) Except in the case of an emergency, the notice referred to in paragraph (1) shall be given no later than 28 days before and inclusive of the date on which the proposed absence commences or within such shorter period as may be agreed with the Regulation and Improvement Authority and the notice shall specify—

(a) the length or expected length of the proposed absence;

(b) the reason for the proposed absence;

(c) the arrangements which have been made for the running of the residential family centre during that absence;

(d) the name, address and qualifications of the person who will be managing the residential family centre during the absence; and

(e) in the case of the absence of the registered manager, the arrangements that have been, or are proposed to be, made for appointing another person to manage the residential family centre during that absence, including the proposed date by which the appointment is to be made.

    (3) Where the absence arises as a result of an emergency, the registered provider shall give notice of the absence within one week of its occurrence specifying the matters in sub-paragraphs (a) to (e) of paragraph (2).

    (4) Where—

(a) the registered provider, if he is an individual; or

(b) the registered manager,

(a) his full name and home address;

(b) any name by which he has previously been known;

(c) his date of birth and sex;

(d) his religious persuasion (if any); and

(e) a description of his racial origin, cultural and linguistic background;

(f) the date on which he took up residence at the residential family centre;

(g) the date on which, and the reason why, he ceased to be accommodated there;

(h) the name of the person or organisation responsible for arranging the family's stay in the residential family centre;

(i) in the case of a child, any court order to which he is subject;

(j) in the case of a child who is subject to a care order, the name, address and telephone number of—


(i) the HSS trust which is the designated authority in respect of the care order for the purposes of article 50 (1) of the Children Order; and

(ii) the officer of the authority responsible for the child's case.

     2. The name and address and telephone number of any HSS trust or authority whose duty it is to supervise the welfare of the residents.

     3. The name, address and telephone number of any social worker for the time being assigned to any member of the family.

     4. The terms of any court order under which the family is provided with accommodation in the residential family centre.

     5. The name and address of the general medical practitioner in whose list the members of the family are included.

     6. The name, address and telephone number of any school, college or place of work attended by any member of the family.

     7. The date and circumstances of any serious incident involving any member of the family, and of any disciplinary measures or physical restraint used on any member of the family.

     8. Any special dietary, dental or other health needs, including details of any allergies, of any member of the family.

     9. Details of any medicines kept for any member of the family at the residential family centre, and of any medicines administered to any resident by a person working at the residential family centre.

     10. A record of any accident affecting the resident in the centre and of any other incident in the centre which is detrimental to the care, health, safety or welfare of the resident, which record shall include the nature, date and time of the accident or incident, whether medical treatment was required and the name of the individuals who were supervising the resident.

     11. Details of any specialist communications needs of the resident and methods of communication that may be appropriate to the resident.

     12. Arrangements for, including any restrictions on, contact between any child accommodated in the residential family centre and any other relevant person, and details of any court orders relating to contact with the child by any person.

     13. Details of any period of absence from the residential family centre by any member of the family including, in the case of a child, whether the absence was authorised by the registered person.

     14. A copy of the placement plan and any revision of it.

     15. A record of any money or valuables deposited by any member of the family for safekeeping, together with the date on which that money was withdrawn, or any valuables were returned.

     16. The address, and type of establishment or accommodation, to which the family goes when leaving the residential family centre.

(a) his full name, address, date of birth, qualifications and experience and if applicable, confirmation of his registration status with an appropriate professional regulatory body;

(b) a copy of his birth certificate and passport (if any);

(c) a copy of each reference obtained in respect of him;

(d) the dates on which he commences and ceases to be so employed;

(e) the position he holds at the residential family centre, the work that he performs and the number of hours for which he is employed each week;

(f) correspondence, reports, records of disciplinary action and any other records in relation to his employment including the recruitment process under which he was appointed;

(g) the training and development activities completed by him.

     7. A copy of the duty roster of persons working at the residential family centre, and a record of whether the roster was actually worked.

     8. A record of the residential family centre's charges to residents, including any separate amounts payable for additional services not covered by those charges, and the amounts paid by or in respect of each resident.

     9. A record of all money or other valuables deposited by a resident for safekeeping or received on the resident's behalf, which—

(a) shall state the date on which the money or valuables were deposited or received, the date on which any money or valuables were returned to a resident or used, at the request of the resident, on his behalf and, where applicable, the purpose for which the money or valuables were used; and

(b) shall include the written acknowledgement of the return of the money or valuables.

     10. A record of furniture and personal possessions brought by a resident into the room occupied by him.

     11. A record of all complaints made by residents or representatives or relatives of residents or by persons working at the centre about the operation of the centre, and the action taken by the registered person in respect of any such complaint.

     12. A record of any of the following events that occur in the centre—

(a) any accident;

(b) any incident which is detrimental to the care, health, safety or welfare of a resident, including the outbreak of infectious disease in the centre;

(c) any injury or serious illness;

(d) any fire;

(e) except where a record to which paragraph 14 refers is to be made, any occasion on which the fire alarm equipment is operated;

(f) any theft or burglary.

     13. Records of the food provided for residents in sufficient detail to enable any person inspecting the record to determine whether the diet is satisfactory, in relation to nutrition and otherwise, and of any special diets prepared for individual residents.

     14. A record of every fire practice, drill or test of fire equipment (including fire alarm equipment) conducted in the centre, including staff attending, and of any action taken to remedy defects in the fire equipment.

     15. A statement of the procedure to be followed in the event of a fire, or where a fire alarm is activated.

     16. A statement of the procedure to be followed in the event of accidents or in the event of a resident becoming missing.

     17. A record of charges made to residents for transport and the amounts paid by or in respect of each resident.

     18. Where residents collectively own the vehicles—

(a) a record is kept with the amounts paid by or in respect of each resident running the vehicle;

(b) a record is kept of journeys made and names of residents being transported.

     19. A record of the programme of events and activities that includes the name of the person leading the activity and the names of those who participated.

     20. A record of all staff meetings held and the names of all those attending.

     21. A record of training undertaken as referred to in Regulation 19(5)(a).

     22. A record of all visitors to the centre, including the names of all visitors.