The most important aspects of a good children’s home for children and young people
Along with Welsh Government we worked with a group of children and young people to produce national guidance for care providers.
Providers in Wales who are considering registering a care home for children are expected to read this new national guidance (External link), which has been created by Welsh Government, ourselves and a stakeholder group including the Children’s Commissioning Consortium Cymru and their Young Commissioners.
We commissioned the Children’s Commissioning Consortium Cymru (known as the 4Cs) to seek the views of their Young Commissioners about what makes an excellent quality care home based on their lived experience.
The 4Cs Young Commissioners is a group of around 60 members aged between six and 19 years old, who live with a foster family or in a children’s home in Wales.
When considering setting up a care home for children, it is important to read the Young Commissioners’ Feedback Report from October 2023, alongside this guidance.
What children and young people asked for
When asked what makes a good home, children and young people talked about:
- having outdoor space;
- having input into what their home looks like or how it is decorated;
- having more than one bathroom or preferably an en suite;
- not having large formal offices for care staff, and care staff spending time with them rather than in an office;
- having an area where they can go if they become anxious, overwhelmed, or just need some time alone;
- and their bedroom feeling cosy and comfortable.
What we’re doing with this guidance
When we’re registering or inspecting care homes for children, we expect to see this national guidance has been taken into account, when planning and delivering care home services for children and young people.
Chief Inspector for CIW, Gillian Baranski said:
“This kind of national guidance is vital in helping to promote the voice and rights of children and young people who live in care homes in Wales. This is their home, so it is only right they are able to have input and have their voices heard. I welcome this national guidance and would expect all providers of children’s home services to take note of its contents.”
To read the full guidance document, visit our resources page.