Children want to participate in care home inspections
Joe Lepper
Monday, September 19, 2011
Children living in residential care want to be more involved in inspections, according to a survey by the children's rights director for England.
The survey of 224 children in a residential care setting, carried out by children’s rights director Dr Roger Morgan, asked for their views of how inspections are carried out.
Suggestions for inspectors included that they spend more time talking to children and broaden the range of children they speak to. Of those surveyed, 75 said they did not even know their care home had been inspected.
Other suggestions for inspectors were that they should give children more information about why inspections are necessary.
The survey was carried out in April just before Ofsted changed its inspection regime for children’s care homes.
All inspections are unannounced under this new regime. There is also a greater focus on children’s views.
Morgan said: "Though the survey was carried out before recent changes were made to Ofsted’s inspection in these areas, it has raised particular issues about the time inspectors spend talking and listening to children.
"I will be conducting a follow-up survey to see whether the new systems put in place have addressed their concerns. It is absolutely essential that their voices are heard."
Children in residential care also want inspections to focus on how "homely" the setting is and to focus on observing how staff get on with children and each other.
Suggestions for inspectors included that they spend more time talking to children and broaden the range of children they speak to. Of those surveyed, 75 said they did not even know their care home had been inspected.
Other suggestions for inspectors were that they should give children more information about why inspections are necessary.
The survey was carried out in April just before Ofsted changed its inspection regime for children’s care homes.
All inspections are unannounced under this new regime. There is also a greater focus on children’s views.
Morgan said: "Though the survey was carried out before recent changes were made to Ofsted’s inspection in these areas, it has raised particular issues about the time inspectors spend talking and listening to children.
"I will be conducting a follow-up survey to see whether the new systems put in place have addressed their concerns. It is absolutely essential that their voices are heard."
Children in residential care also want inspections to focus on how "homely" the setting is and to focus on observing how staff get on with children and each other.
