National Minimum Standards for Children's Homes

1.	Planning for care
2.	Quality of care
3.	Complaints and protection
4.	Care and control
5.	The home itself
6.	Staff and visitors
7.	Secure children's homes

Introduction.
This part of the site gives you a brief summary of the rules contained in the Children's Homes National Minimum Standards. It gives some examples of things that staff in children's should or must do when caring for children. If you would like more detailed information please see the full version of the Standards.

1. Planning for care.

Children's guide. There must be a guide for children telling them important things about the home, e.g. how to make a complaint and how to contact an inspector. They must be given this when they move in. An adult version of the guide is called the Statement of Purpose.

Placement plans. Every child living in a children's home must have a plan that sets out:

• Health needs
• Care needs (to keep them safe and well)
• Physical or emotional needs
• Cultural, religious and racial needs
• Educational needs
• Leisure needs such as hobbies
• Contact with family, friends and other important people in their lives.

Staff must work with young people to make sure that the things in the plan are being done.

Review meetings. Check that things in the plan are being done. Children must be help and support they need to be involved in reviews.

Leaving the home. When children leave a home, either to go to another placement or when leaving care, this must be done in a sensitive planned way. Those young people leaving care must have a leaving care plan (additional explanation by character).