National Minimum Standards

A revised version of the 'National Minimum Standards' was published in February 2003 and took effect in June 2003. Some of the initial accommodation standards were relaxed following a period of consultation and now only apply to new builds, newly registered rooms and extensions. Homes registered prior to 1st April 2001 will no longer have to make the specific changes (room sizes, door widths, level access and shared facilities). However, such homes are expected to lay out clearly in their Service User Guide any areas of the home that fall short of the standards. The Minimum Standards should be viewed as a 'best practice guide' to which homes should aspire.

Space Requirements

• Pre-existing care homes, which provided at least 10 m2 of useable space for each resident as at 16th August 2002, must continue to do so. Homes that didn't provide that amount of space continue to provide at least the same floor space as they provided as at 31st March 2002.
• Single rooms for wheelchair users must exceed 12m2 (excluding en suite facilities).
• Newly registered rooms should be at least 12m2 with en suite facilities.
• Existing Twin Rooms must be at least 16m2 (excluding en suite).
• Communal space should be no less than 4.1m2 per resident for new homes/extensions.
• Pre-existing homes, which provide at least 4.1m2 of communal space per resident, must continue to do so. Where they did not provide that amount of space, as at 16 August 2002, they must continue to provide at least the same communal space as they did as at 31 March 2002.
• All residents to have access to all private and communal areas (by means of a passenger lift, ramps or stair / chairlifts, where required).
• Pre-existing care homes, which provided at least 80% of places in single rooms as at 16th August 2002, must continue to do so. Where they did not provide that percentage of places in singles rooms as at 13 April 2005, they should continue to provide at least the same percentage of places in single rooms as they did at 31st March 2002.
• In all first time registrations service users wishing to share accommodation should be offered two single rooms for use, for example, as a bedroom and sitting room.
  

• Bed of at least 900mm width with room on either side of bed.
• Comfortable seating provided for two persons.
• Hanging space and drawers for possessions.
• Bedside table/cabinet.
• Table/desk at which resident can sit.
• Two accessible double power sockets.

Adaptations and Equipment

• Grab rails in corridors, bathrooms, toilets, and communal rooms.
• Doorways into rooms needing wheelchair access must exceed 800mm in all newly built homes, new extensions and first time registrations.
• Call system installed in every resident's room.

Lavatories and Washing Facilities

• In new builds and new registrations there should be 1 assisted bath to each 8 residents (excluding suitable en suite rooms).
• Pre-existing registrations should maintain the same number of assisted baths as they did as at 31st March 2002.
• En suite WC and wash hand basin to be provided in all new bedrooms.
• The home should have a sluicing facility.

Services: Heating and Lighting

• Pipe work/radiators are guarded or have low surface temperatures.
• Water temperature controls and anti-scald valves in place.