Children with Disabilities

14. Extended periods away from home

Spending greater periods of time away from home, particularly in residential settings, is a risk factor for abuse and Utting noted that this risk is compounded in the case of disabled children. 

Researchers have examined the particular vulnerability of disabled children in residential care linking this to characteristics of institutional life, problems in management and staffing and separation of children from parents and others whom they trust and who are able to understand their communication methods. 

The welfare of disabled children at residential schools (especially those with 52 week provision) and in health units has been questioned given the wide variation in practice of notifying the responsible local authority of the child’s placement as required by section 85 of the Children Act 1989. 

Researchers concluded that for children in placements funded solely by education there is unlikely to be anybody other than a parent actively checking whether or not the child is safe and happy.

 However a third of disabled children living in residential care have been found to be isolated from their parents.

The Second Joint Chief Inspectors Report found that less than 50% of residential special schools met the National Minimum Standards for responding to complaints and just 40% of residential special schools did not meet or only partially met the National Minimum Standards for child protection systems and processes. (Gov.uk, July 2009)