The fit person process in children’s residential care in England requires the removal of a manager deemed unfit by Ofsted from the lives of children they may have been caring for months and the team they have been leading.
Astonishingly, Ofsted do not seek the views of the children or the adults this process most directly affects and when concerns and representations are voiced, they are ignored.
Instead inspectors rely on subjective opinion and historical information without interrogating its validity. The law that created this is deeply flawed and the cruel reality of this subjective process is echoed in the words of children…
“I am writing this letter to let you know how I feel about our manager possibly leaving our home. I feel upset and angry that our manager might possibly have to leave, she’s been like a mother figure to me really.”
“I get a warm feeling when our manager is in the house so please don’t get rid of her please take it from me, I will miss our manager so much I’m giving our manager the best wishes ever so she can stay on until she wants to go.”
“Taking our manager out of the home would be feel like a piece of our jigsaw puzzle is missing. Our home would not be complete.”
Those who suffer this fate are permanently disqualified from working in the children’s workforce even when they have previously dedicated years of good service, and their right to progress future employment in their chosen career is denied if a waiver from Ofsted is not granted.
This is different from adult social care where an applicant has the right to remain in their previous position if registration is refused. Moreover, it makes no sense that a refused applicant who is disqualified from the children’s workforce can be employed in adult social care even though the risk of employing an ‘unfit’ person is no different whether caring for vulnerable children or vulnerable adults.
The detrimental impact of this secretive process and risks associated with it are visible in the silenced experiences of those affected but the harm caused does not affect children and their caregivers alone it affects us all.
The law that permits this, needs changing so if you want to add your voice to ours, have a story to share or know someone else who does please get in touch at amanda@ylys.org.uk