House Rules

It is expected you will keep your bedroom clean and tidy.

Spot checks may be carried out if this is felt this is needed as there is concern it is unhygienic and a risk to your child/ren.

Room searches may only be carried out if there is cause to believe there are illegal items or whereby your child/ren or yourself are believed to be in danger.

Please do not stick anything to the walls without asking first.

Other families are not allowed in your bedroom, and you must not enter another family’s bedroom. This is personal space.

Any electrical equipment you bring needs to be tested and labelled safe for use before you use it. Staff will arrange this for you, just let us know in advance.

Please do not move furniture in your bedroom without asking first, it has been positioned where it is for a reason.

Games Consoles are not permitted in the Family Centre.

When feeding your baby in your bedroom, you must use the nursing chair provided, not sat or laid on the bed.

You will be expected to have credit on your phone so you can contact the home in case of emergency when out, you must also make sure your mobile is fully charged.

No mobile phones, contracts, loans etc. can be taken out against the centre address.

Visitors are permitted however must be agreed in advance with your child’s Social Worker.

Any visitors must be arranged in advance.

Visitors must not enter your bedroom, unless otherwise agreed, and there are no overnight visitors permitted.

Visiting hours are 10-5pm each day, unless otherwise agreed, however professionals can visit outside these hours.

Visitors must sign in and out.

Smoking on the premises is permitted only in the designated smoking area only, please be mindful of other residents when going in and out of the house not to wake the children.

You must not take your child/ren with you to the smoking area.

You must make sure your child/ren is/are safe and settled before stepping outside for a cigarette, you must not leave your child/ren with another family and you must make sure you inform a member of staff.

You must take your monitor with you so you can listen out for your child/ren or ask to leave this with a member of staff who will alert you if your child wakes.

It is expected you will dispose of your cigarettes in the smoking bin and try to take turns to empty and clean the bin weekly or inform a member of staff if you notice this is full.

You must wash your hands before holding your child/ren again to limit any risks to them.

Where it has been agreed you leave the home, you must sign in and out of the home, stating where you are going.

If you leave the centre with or without your child/ren this must be within the agreed times and remit. Staff must know your whereabouts and your mobile phone be switched on and fully charged, so you are contactable in an emergency.

There will be bins provided in your room. It is your responsibility to empty your bedroom bin daily into the bin outside.

There are also nappy bins within the centre where you are required to dispose of any nappies and sanitary products.

Please try to dispose of as much waste as possible before bin collection.

Full audio and video CCTV is used throughout the building, this is not shown to anyone other than those who have a right to see it.

Your information is personal to you, you should not share this with other families in the home and we will not share this with other families in the home either.

All information is stored securely, and you can ask to see any information held about you.

If you are speaking with the in-house counsellor or your solicitor, there is a specific room without CCTV. Your conversations with the counsellor will not be shared with anyone unless there is a safeguarding concern. Your child cannot be in the room with you when you are in a room without monitoring.

Your details, information and assessment will only be shared with those legally entitled to have this information.

No photographs will be taken or shared of you and your child/ren without your knowledge and permission.

Your bedroom is your personal space, and we will respect this, we will not enter other than for required checks or maintenance.

If you or your child/ren are taking any medication, this must be shared with staff and a log of this will be made – this might be medication prescribed by your doctor or medication you can buy from a shop.

When you are taking medication or giving this to your child, staff must be aware so they can log that this has been given. This is to keep you and your child safe – in the event of an emergency medical professionals will need to know any medication taken and at what time.

You will be provided with logs to record your child/ren feeds and nappy changes. This helps you and the staff know when your baby is due a feed and if they are soiling when they should be. This is also to keep your child safe – in the event of an emergency medical professionals will need to know the last feed and nappy change for your child.