asked the Minister for Health what he regards as the minimum staffing ratios i.e. the ratio of adult care staff to resident children and young people for residential centres for children; the variations in these ratios he would envisage to take account of age differences of children and other factors; and the instructions he has given to health boards in this matter in their current negotiations with resident managers.
Written Answers. - Children's Home.
452.
A minimum of one child care worker for every four children is the recommended general guideline for children's homes. However, in agreeing staffing complements for the individual homes, health boards have been advised to have regard to the type of service provided by homes, the particular needs of the children catered for and normal rates of occupancy. There are obvious cases where a ratio higher than the general guideline would be justified e.g. in the case of homes catering for severely emotionally disturbed children. There are no standard formulae on degrees of variation and health boards have been asked to consider each home on its own merits.