Skip to main content
Department of Health Department of Health An Roinn Sláinte Männystrie O Pouste

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Topics
  • Publications
  • Consultations
  • Contact

Translation help

Translate this page

Select a language

  • Arabic — عربي
  • Chinese (Simplified) — 中文简体
  • Chinese (Traditional) — 中文繁體
  • Dutch — Nederlands
  • Filipino — Filipino
  • French — Français
  • German — Deutsch
  • Hungarian — Magyar
  • Irish — Gaeilge
  • Italian — Italiano
  • Latvian — Latviešu
  • Lithuanian — Lietuvių kalba
  • Polish — Polski
  • Portuguese — Português
  • Romanian — Română
  • Russian — Русский
  • Slovak — Slovenčina
  • Spanish — Español
  • Ukrainian — Українська
  • Children in residential care

    Topics:
    • Social Care Policy, 
    • Looked after children

    Residential Care is when a ‘looked after child’ is placed by a HSC Trust in a children’s home. Residential Care is a positive and desirable way of providing stability and care for some children which they, their parents and carers often prefer to other kinds of placements.

    Legislation

    Current legislation in relation to Residential Care is set out within:

    • The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995
    • The Refuges (Children's Homes and Foster Placements) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996
    • The Arrangements for Placement of Children (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996
    • The Review of Children's Cases Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996
    • Contact with Children Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996
    • Definition of Independent Visitors (Children) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996
    • The Representations Procedure (Children) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996
    • The Children's Homes Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005
    • The Children's Homes (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012

    Guidance and Regulations

    Guidance on Residential Care for Health and Social professionals is set out within;

    • The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 - Guidance and Regulations - Volume Four - Residential Care
    • Minimum Standards for Children's Homes - April 2023

    Circulars

    • Circular CCPD 02/12 - The Children's Homes (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012
    • FCPD Circular 02-2023 - Amendment to Minimum Standards for Children’s Homes - Standard 17

    Related content

    • A Life Deserved - A Strategy for Looked After Children
    • Children in foster care
    • Children in private fostering
    • Children in secure accommodation
    • Children leaving care and aftercare
    • Kinship care
    • Looked after children
    • The Northern Ireland Framework for Integrated Therapeutic Care (NIFITC) for Care Experienced Children and Young People
    • Young adults' supported accommodation
    Share this page Share on Facebook (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share on X (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share by email (external link opens in a new window / tab)

    Department footer links

    • Crown copyright
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy
    • Cookies
    • Accessibility
    • The Northern Ireland Executive
    • The Executive Office
    • Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
    • Department for Communities
    • Department for Education
    • Department for the Economy
    • Department of Finance
    • Department for Infrastructure
    • Department for Health
    • Department of Justice
    • nidirect.gov.uk — the official government website for Northern Ireland citizens