The Children’s Homes Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005

PART IVPREMISES

Fitness of premises

30.—(1) The registered provider shall ensure that the premises used for the purposes of a children’s home are of a physical design and layout 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 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 the disability of any disabled child accommodated in the home.

(3) The registered person shall ensure that the children’s home is kept free from offensive odours and make 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)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 –

(a)with an adult; nor

(b)except in exceptional circumstances, and only after a comprehensive risk assessment has been carried out, with a child.

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

(a)suitable facilities and 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.

(11) Where part of a children’s home is used as secure accommodation as defined in the Children (Secure Accommodation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996(1), care must be taken to ensure the restriction of liberty of any child does not impinge on the liberty or wellbeing of other children accommodated at the children’s home.

Fire precautions

31.  The registered person shall have in place a current risk assessment and fire management plan that is revised and actioned as necessary or whenever the fire risk has changed, and shall –

(a)take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of fire equipment;

(b)provide adequate means of escape;

(c)make arrangements –

(i)for detecting, containing and extinguishing fires;

(ii)for giving warnings of fires;

(iii)for evacuation in the event of fire;

(iv)for the maintenance of all fire equipment; and

(v)for reviewing fire precautions, and testing fire equipment, at suitable intervals;

(d)make arrangements for persons working at the home to receive training from a competent person in fire precaution and in fire prevention; and

(e)ensure, by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that the persons working at the home and children accommodated there, are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire.