Children’s Homes Social Care Training by E-Learining

The majority of children in care will go into foster placements - it's the closest to ordinary family life.  But children's homes remain a possibility and nine percent of young people go there.  Generally, the number of children in the home will be small, typically less than 6.  

Largely children will be sent to a children's home rather than a foster family if they are older than fourteen, or if there are emotional & behavioural difficulties issues that need addressing. 

Failure to reach ‘Quality Standards’

The Children’s Home Regulations updated in 2015 describe what should happen in children's homes.  It includes how to give children medication how to prevent bullying, offering healthy food, helping children protect their valued possessions, build a network of contacts and make good plans for the future.  

There are really outstanding children's homes across the England.  Ofsted says that seventy-seven percent of children's homes are "good" or “outstanding”.  In real terms what this still means is that nearly one in four offers a "requires improvement" or worse service for looked-after young people.   This needs to be secure for young people. 

Children's homes and the law

The number of young people who go into the care system with no criminal record but who come out of it with criminal records for assaults on staff, damage to property, breaking curfew and being late, is very large.  By default of being in care, these young people are being given a criminal record, but no parent would report their child in most of these situations. 

Training for staff 

An important part of any residential care workers role in Children’s homes is to develop effective and understanding relationships with vulnerable young people, this can only be done through determination, empathy and interactive and engaging training. Training enables children's homes staff to develop the skills needed to respond effectively to children, balancing behaviour management with helping children develop self-efficacy and life skills to be successful beyond leaving care.

To learn more about training services offered within Children’s Homes and Fostering call The Social Care Training Hub on 0161 870 6200 or visit www.thesocialcaretraininghub.co.uk