National Panel publishes Phase 2 of the National Review

Date: Friday, 28th Apr 2023 | Category: Uncategorised

The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel (National Panel) has published recommendations to improve the care, welfare and outcomes for children with disabilities and complex health needs living in residential settings.

Last October, the panel published a review into very serious abuse to a significant number of children with disabilities and complex health needs at three residential special schools registered as children’s homes in Doncaster.

The phase 2 report sets out a case for change and makes a series of recommendation which include:

• the Department for Education and Department of Health and Social Care should develop statutory guidance to require local authorities and integrated care boards (ICBs) to jointly commission safe, sufficient and appropriate provision for children with disabilities and complex health needs
• the government should commission an integrated strategy for the development of the children’s workforce in residential settings – this should include training on the appropriate use of physical restraints and restrictive interventions and their authorisation
• the government should ensure all children with disabilities and complex health needs have access to independently commissioned, non-instructed advocacy
• systems for the early identification of safeguarding risks in residential settings should be strengthened through an enhanced role for host local authorities and ICBs in the oversight of residential settings in their area
• the Department for Education and Department of Health and Social Care should revise the regulatory framework for residential settings and immediately establish arrangements for joint inspection by Ofsted and CQC of residential settings for children with disabilities and complex health needs
• national leadership and investment by providers is urgently required to address the longstanding challenges in recruiting, retaining and developing a skilled workforce is residential settings

Read the full report.