Statement of Purpose

There are two Council children’s homes (outlined below) in Central Bedfordshire which provide individual care to meet the needs of individual children. Each location has a warm and homely environment with all the required conditions for children to thrive. Kingfishers also offer a range of community short breaks.

Kingfishers provides short break stays for children with learning and/or physical disabilities as well as providing care and long-term accommodation at the home. It may also provide residential short break services in emergency situations for children/young people known to the service.

Maythorn provides a range of services and versatile accommodation to meet the assessed needs of children and young people with disabilities aged between 0 – 18 years. This consists of short breaks and long stay accommodation. It can accommodate children in its long stay service and for short breaks. There is also a self-contained flat to support young people who are in, or coming up to, the transition to adult services.

Each children’s home is required to produce an individual Statement of Purpose, specific to that home.

The Statement of Purpose, which must be regularly reviewed, should include the following information:

• The range of needs of the children for whom the children’s home is able to provide care and accommodation;
• The aims, objectives and ethos of the home;
• The care that children / young people can expect to receive while living there (in line with the Quality Standards) including how they will be consulted about their care;
• Arrangements for promoting contact with family and friends and supporting the cultural, religious an linguistic needs of the child;
• The accommodation provided in the home, including its location;
• Details of healthcare or therapy provided (if any) and support to children with Special Educational Needs;
• An explanation of the staffing structure in the home, including the experience and qualifications of staff and arrangements for supervision of staff practice;
• Criteria used for admission to the home including whether the home can accept admissions at short notice / in emergency; and
• Approaches to behaviour support, including monitoring and surveillance and restraint.

The Statement of Purpose is an important document in the process of care planning as it sets out the needs of children the home is equipped to care for. Placing Authorities should always refer to the Statement of Purpose when deciding whether a placement in that particular home is the right one for a child, and whether the home will be able to respond effectively to the child’s identified needs.

Emergency admissions should not be taken unless the home’s Statement of Purpose allows for children to be placed at short notice.

Children and young people, parents and carers, social workers and other professionals will be provided with a copy of the Statement of Purpose and Children’s Guide for information. The Children's Guide is available on request to the Manager of the Home.

• Kingfishers – Statement of Purpose;
• Maythorn – Statement of Purpose.