Policy paper

Safeguarding children with disabilities in residential settings: government response

Government response to the review into safeguarding children with disabilities and complex health needs in residential settings by the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel.

This was published under the 2022 to 2024 Sunak Conservative government

Applies to England

Documents

Letter to safeguarding partners

Details

The response sets out how the government is addressing the panel’s recommendations in the phase 2 report on safeguarding children with disabilities in residential settings. These settings were operated by the Hesley Group.

The response draws on reforms to special education needs and disability (SEND) and alternative provision and to children’s social care.

The response makes clear that we need to:

  • keep disabled children in residential settings safe
  • continue to reform safeguarding
  • improve support in the community
  • improve commissioning
  • develop a stable and well-trained workforce 

We’ve written open letters to:

  • providers of residential settings
  • Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission
  • safeguarding partners, including local authorities, integrated care boards and police chief constables

We’re asking the responsible bodies with statutory duties to:

  • review their working practices
  • consider any further changes they need to make

Updates to this page

Published 18 December 2023

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