The Children’s Homes Regulations 2001

Fitness of premises

31.—(1) The registered person shall not use premises for the purposes of a children’s home unless they are in a location, and of a physical design and layout, which are suitable for the purpose of achieving the aims and objectives set out in the home’s statement of purpose.

(2) The registered person shall ensure that all parts of the children’s home used by children are—

(a) adequately lit, heated and ventilated;

(b) secure from unauthorised access;

(c) suitably furnished and equipped;

(d) of sound construction and kept in good structural repair externally and internally;

(e) kept clean and reasonably decorated and maintained; and

(f) equipped with what is reasonably necessary, and adapted as necessary, in order to meet the needs arising from his disability of any disabled child accommodated in the home so as to enable him to live as normal a life as possible.

(3) The registered person shall ensure that the children’s home is kept free from offensive odours and make suitable arrangements for the disposal of general and clinical waste.

(4) The registered person shall ensure that there are within the children’s home for use by children accommodated there in conditions of appropriate privacy—

(a) a sufficient number of wash basins, baths and showers supplied with hot and cold running water; and

(b) a sufficient number of lavatories,

for the number and sex of children accommodated.

(5) The registered person shall provide for the number and needs of children accommodated in the children’s home—

(a) sufficient and suitable kitchen equipment, crockery, cutlery and utensils;

(b) adequate facilities for the preparation and storage of food; and

(c) so far as is practicable, adequate facilities for children to prepare their own food if they so wish, and are of an age and ability, to do so.

(6) The registered person shall ensure that there are within a children’s home adequate facilities for laundering linen and clothing, and, for children wishing to do so, to wash, dry and iron their own clothes.

(7) The registered person shall ensure that there is provided within a children’s home—

(a) adequate communal space for sitting, recreation and dining; and

(b) such facilities for private study as are appropriate to the age and educational needs of the children accommodated.

(8) The registered person shall ensure that each child is provided with sleeping accommodation which is—

(a) suitable to his needs including his need for privacy; and

(b) equipped with furniture, storage facilities, lighting, bedding and other furnishings including window and floor coverings suitable to his needs.

(9) The registered person shall ensure that no child shares a bedroom with an adult, nor (except in the case of siblings) a child who is of the opposite sex or of a significantly different age to him.

(10) The registered person shall provide for persons working at the children’s home—

(a) suitable facilities and accommodation, other than sleeping accommodation, including—

(i) facilities for the purpose of changing;

(ii) storage facilities;

(b) sleeping accommodation where the provision of such accommodation is needed in connection with their work at the home.