Residential Care
There are occasions when it may be necessary for children to be cared for somewhere other than in their own home.
Councils have a legal duty to look after children and young people who are placed in their care, through either a voluntary agreement with their parents or a compulsory process such as a children's hearing or the court service. These children can be among the most vulnerable members of our society and many have complex and challenging needs.
Working with our partners, we must act as corporate parents to looked after children, seeking for them what any good parent would want for their own children.
Children in residential care stay mainly in residential units (formerly known as children's homes), residential schools (for those who need specialist education and care), and secure accommodation (for children whose behaviour is a danger to themselves or others).
Clackmannanshire Council believes that living with a family is the best way for children to grow and develop, which is why most children looked after by us are placed with foster families. However, a few children, due to past experiences and individual needs, may require a more specialist type of care in a residential unit.
Residential unit
Our children's residential unit is a house where up to eight young people live at any one time. Some children stay for a few years and others may only be there for a night or two.
The law says councils have a duty to encourage young people to stay in care until they are aged 18. Many people want to help young people stay in care until they are ready to leave, and know it can be difficult if they leave at 16.
Follow this link to Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People (SCCYP) information about entitlements and rights when going through the leaving care process.
Staff
There are always at least two people on duty at any time and at certain times there are more. Staff work on a rota system that includes some evenings and weekends. Staff share in the corporate parent responsibilities towards children and might include taking a child to visit their parents, or take another to school, or they might help a young person learn to cook, budget or decorate their room.
Contact with family
While living away from home it is important, for those children where the plan is for them to return home, that appropriate contact with their family is organised and maintained. This gives opportunities for parents, children and social workers to look at their progress and plan for the future.
Fostering and adoption
There are some children for whom a return to their birth families would seriously affect their health and wellbeing and might even leave them open to abuse or harm. In such cases, adoption may be the only alternative.
If you feel that you could offer a home to a child, further information on fostering and adoption services is available.
Inspections
All homes or residential units where children are placed are registered and inspected to ensure standards are met.
Refer to our Social Work Services Performance web page to find out how well we have done when the Care Commission inspected our accommodation.
For more information on standards, you can view or download the Department of Health's Children's Homes: National Minimum Standards, Children's Homes Regulations document.
More information
For more information, you can also refer to Audit Scotland's Getting it right for children in residential care.
Publications & Documents
External Links
Page & Site Tools
Contact information
For further information about this page please contact:
Child Care Services
Lime Tree House, Castle Street, Alloa, FK10 1EX
Tel: 01259 225000 / 450000 Fax: 01259 452440
Email: childcare@clacks.gov.uk
Or use the on-line contact form
