FR-7 Response Accepted in Part AI-assessed

Registration of Care Home Staff

Recommendation

The Inquiry recommends (as originally stated in its Interim Report, dated April 2018) that the UK government introduces arrangements for the registration of staff working in care roles in children's homes, including secure children's homes. Registration should be with an independent body charged with setting and maintaining standards of training, conduct and continuing professional development, and with the power to enforce these through fitness to practise procedures.

Published Evidence Summary
The following publicly available evidence relates to this recommendation:
According to the government's 8 April 2025 progress update, Social Work England was commissioned to scope professional registration models for care home staff. The government stated it would improve qualifications, standards, and access to training, and continue to determine whether registration of care staff is the right approach. This work is planned to include by 2028/29: working with the sector to agree standards and reviewing mandatory qualifications in residential childcare. Professor Alexis Jay stated in January 2025 that none of IICSA's final recommendations had been implemented as of December 2024 (Home Affairs Select Committee, 21 January 2025).
How was this assessed?
Assessed by gemini-2.5-flash on 19 Mar 2026
Checked data held on this site (government responses, progress updates, independent evidence)
External sources searched: www.gov.uk, www.legislation.gov.uk, hansard.parliament.uk
Jurisdiction
England
Section Reference
K.4
Response
Accepted in Part
Accepted in Part UK Government
22 May 2023

We accept that rigorous registration of staff working in care roles in children’s homes is essential and we are looking at how best to implement this as part of the Stable Homes, Built on Love strategy.

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Progress Timeline
Official Report
08 Apr 2025

Scoping registration models for care staff in children's homes; improving qualifications and training standards. Complete assessment of registration feasibility expected by 2028/29.

Source
Published Evidence

Published assessments of implementation progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Check the source type badge to see whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.

No Meaningful Progress
21 Jan 2025
Home Affairs Select Committee Select Committee

Professor Alexis Jay told Home Affairs Committee that £187m was spent on IICSA and "to date none of its final recommendations had been implemented." Called for "full implementation" saying "get it done."

View detailed findings

As of December 2024, none of the 20 final report recommendations had been implemented. The previous government's response was described by Prof Jay as "very weak and, at times, apparently disingenuous."

Home Affairs Committee hearing, 21 January 2025 View Source
Source
Inquiry IICSA
Report The Report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse 20 Oct 2022
View Source
Responsible Bodies
UK Government Primary
Themes & Tags
Child exploitation criminalisation Staff suitability and fitness Workforce Regulation Children's Homes Registration
Recommendation age 3.4 yrs
Last formal update 08 Apr 2025