Policy paper
Safeguarding children with disabilities in residential settings: government response
Government response to the review into safeguarding children with disabilities and complex health needs in residential settings by the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
The response sets out how the government is addressing the panel’s recommendations in the phase 2 report on safeguarding children with disabilities in residential settings. These settings were operated by the Hesley Group.
The response draws on reforms to special education needs and disability (SEND) and alternative provision and to children’s social care.
The response makes clear that we need to:
- keep disabled children in residential settings safe
- continue to reform safeguarding
- improve support in the community
- improve commissioning
- develop a stable and well-trained workforce
We’ve written open letters to:
- providers of residential settings
- Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission
- safeguarding partners, including local authorities, integrated care boards and police chief constables
We’re asking the responsible bodies with statutory duties to:
- review their working practices
- consider any further changes they need to make
Published 18 December 2023