In July 2012, Ministers made a commitment to improve the protection of children living in children's homes by amending regulations in order to allow Ofsted to share the location of children's homes with the police and other relevant agencies. This followed the publication of the accelerated report of the Office of the Children's Commissioner Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Gangs and Groups and the Joint All Party Parliamentary Group Inquiry report on Children Who Go Missing From Care.

 

To fulfil this commitment, the Department for Education has been working closely with key partners to develop proposals which have now been issued for a formal consultation over a six week period. They are keen to hear the views of a wide variety of organisations and those with an interest in the area. In particular, they would like to hear from children's homes providers and those who manage, work and live in children's homes. Views can be submitted in writing, or at face-to-face workshops to be held in January 2013.

 

The consultation went live on the Department for Education website on 29th November 2012 and will run until 10th January 2013. The consultation can be found at: https://www.education.gov.uk/a00217568/changes-reg-7-care-standards-act .

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