Improving the Care and Welfare of Residential Pupils
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Foreword
In Scotland, there are about 5,000 children and young people who are educated away from home in independent and grant-aided boarding schools or local authority schools with hostel accommodation. About a further 2,500 are in care within residential establishments managed by or registered with the local authority in terms of The Children (Scotland) Act 1995.

HM Inspectors of Schools (HMI) have the responsibility for inspecting the quality and care of welfare provided within residential establishments as part of the general inspection programme or in response to specific complaints. Recent HMI reports have highlighted the need for residential establishments to foster a culture of self-evaluation to improve standards and to complement external evaluation. This set of support materials, prepared in collaboration with representatives of the Social Work Services Inspectorate, local authorities and the Scottish Council of Independent Schools, is to help schools to put in place effective procedures to monitor, evaluate and improve the standards of performance in the care and welfare of residential pupils.

The publication will be of interest to the managing bodies of independent and grant-aided schools, local authorities and staff at all levels in residential establishments. The materials will also be of interest to parents, guardians and pupils. Above all, the support materials challenge all those involved to consider how we can improve the care and welfare of residential pupils.

The Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 requires persons responsible for certain independent and grant-aided schools to register with the local authority in which the school is situated. The schools concerned are residential child care establishments, the whole or a substantial part of whose functions is to provide personal care and support for children. Local authorities are required to visit registered establishments at least yearly, and more frequently if necessary, to ensure the safety and welfare of young children.

Care staff and teachers who wish to use this guide in residencies and schools which require to be registered under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 should take account of statutory requirements outwith the scope of this guide, for example:

  • where provision is made for pupils with special needs, reference should be made to relevant national advice and policy documents;
  • the form and quality of the accommodation provided must be agreed with the local authority;
  • the staffing complement must be agreed with the local authority; and
  • the statement of functions and objectives must be in place in line with local and national advice, and current legislation.

Douglas A Osler
Her Majesty's Senior Chief Inspector of Schools

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