MPs begin new inquiry on Residential children's homes

The Committee is today announcing an inquiry into the Government’s proposals with regard to residential children’s homes as set out by the Department for Education on 23 April 2013 and as contained in the consultations launched on 25 June 2013. Submissions of written evidence are invited addressing the following points:

• Whether the DfE’s proposed reforms to the regulation of residential children’s homes are appropriate and sufficient
• Whether the reforms are likely to prove effective or further measures are needed

The Committee asks for written submissions in accordance with the guidelines below by midday on 23 September 2013.

The DFE is running three relevant consultations, all ending on 17 September 2013, into: changes to the Care Planning Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010; changes to the Children’s Home Regulations 2001 and the Care Standards Act 2000 (Registration) (England) Regulations 2010; and statutory guidance on children who run away or go missing from home or care.

Please note
As part of a scheme to encourage paperless working and maximise efficiency, the Committee is piloting a new web portal for online submissions of written evidence. Written submissions for this inquiry should therefore be sent via the Education Committee website- Please click the link here Submit written evidence online

The deadline is  Monday 23 September 2013. As a guideline submissions should be no longer than 3000 words.

Submissions should be in the format of a self-contained memorandum. Paragraphs should be numbered for ease of reference, and the document should, if possible, include an executive summary.

Submissions should be original work, not previously published or circulated elsewhere. Once submitted, your submission becomes the property of the Committee and no public use should be made of it unless you have first obtained permission from the Clerk of the Committee. Please bear in mind that Committees are not able to investigate individual cases.

The Committee normally, though not always, chooses to publish the written evidence it receives, either by printing the evidence, publishing it on the internet or by making it publicly available through the Parliamentary Archives. If there is any information you believe to be sensitive you should highlight it and explain what harm you believe would result from its disclosure; the Committee will take this into account in deciding whether to publish or further disclose the evidence.