Get documents about "Contents - Bournemouth Borough Council
Document Sample
Contents
6. Looked After Children
6.1 Looked After Children: Accommodation
6.2 Looked After Children: Allowances for Young People in Pathway
Placements (To follow)
6.3 Looked After Children: Application for National Insurance Number
6.4 Looked After Children: Applying for Criminal Injury Compensation
Award (CICA)
6.5 Looked After Children: Assessment and Action Records
6.6 Looked After Children: Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Children‟s
Care Needs
6.7 Looked After Children: Blue Books
6.8 Looked After Children: Care Plans
6.9 Looked After Children: Change of Placement
6.10 Looked After Children: Child Trust Funds
6.11 Looked After Children: Children Placed in the Area by Other Councils
6.12 Looked After Children: Children Who Go Missing
6.13 Looked After Children: Commissioning Out of Authority Placements
6.14 Looked After Children: Death of a Child in Care
6.15 Looked After Children: Disruption Meetings
6.16 Looked After Children: Education
6.17 Looked After Children: Emergency Medical Attention
6.18 Looked After Children: Essential Information Record – Parts 1 & 2
6.19 Looked After Children: Financial Assessments (To follow)
6.20 Looked After Children: Immediate Placements
6.21 Looked After Children: Independent Reviewing Officers
6.22 Looked After Children: Independent Visitors
6.23 Looked After Children: Individual Placement Contracts
6.24 Looked After Children: Medication
6.25 Looked After Children: Overnight Stays
6.26 Looked After Children: Passport Applications
6.27 Looked After Children: Permanency Planning – Working with Birth
Families and Children
6.28 Looked After Children: Permanency Planning Meetings
6.29 Looked After Children: Personal Education Allowances
6.30 Looked After Children: Personal Education Plans
6.31 Looked After Children: Personal Health Plans
6.32 Looked After Children: Placement in Other Council Areas
6.33 Looked After Children: Placement Plans – Parts 1 and 2
6.34 Looked After Children: Placement with Parents of Children
Subject to a Care Order
6.35 Looked After Children: Pocket Money and Savings
6.36 Looked After Children: Pre-placement and post-placement meetings
6.37 Looked After Children: Protocol for Joint Funded Placements
6.38 Looked After Children: Quality of Opportunity – Personal Appearance
6.39 Looked After Children: Quality of Opportunity – Leisure Activities
6.40 Looked After Children: Quality of Opportunity – Meals
6.41 Looked After Children: Representation at Reviews
6.42 Looked After Children: Review of Arrangements
6.43 Looked After Children: School Exclusions
6.44 Looked After Children: Termination of Pregnancy
6.45 Looked After Children: The Council‟s Pledge to Looked After
Children
6.46 Looked After Children: Transfer Between ChildCare Area Teams
And Looked After Children‟s Team
6.47 Looked After Children: Visiting Arrangements / Requirements
6.48 Looked After Children: In Detention
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
6. Looked After Children
6.1 Looked After Children : Accommodation
Objective To ensure that children in need are, when necessary, able to be looked
after by the Council without recourse to Court orders.
Legal & Policy Status Children Act 1989 s20
Children Act 2004
The Care of Children Principles and Practice Regulations and Guidance,
DOH HMSO 1989
Care Matters Implementation Plan 2008
Children and Young Persons Act 2008
Sufficiency: Statutory Guidance on Securing Sufficient Accommodation for
Looked After Children 2010
Support for All: The Families and Relationships Green Paper - 2010
Promoting the Emotional Health of Children and Young People: Guidance
for Children‟s Trust Partnerships
Provision of accommodation for 16 and 17 year old young people who may
be homeless and/or require accommodation – 2010
Planning transition for adulthood for Looked After Children – 2010
Care Planning Placement & Case Review (England) Regulations 2010
Accommodated Children Visiting Arrangements Regulations 2011
IRO Handbook 2010: Statutory Guidance for IROs and LAs
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 Children should be brought up within their own families. The role of the Family support
Council is to provide family support services where appropriate to enable this Children Act 1989
to happen when it is consistent with the child‟s welfare. Therefore no child s17
will become accommodated unless a Family Group Meeting has failed to Family Group
identify a less intrusive and more appropriate setting in which said child can meetings
be looked after.
2 No child should become looked after until there has been a proper Assessment
assessment of the child‟s needs and consideration of family, community, Framework
Children's Social Care or other agency resources which may appropriately
support the child with their parents or extended family. This includes
intensive support via FaST / Family Support Services.
3 Children are 'looked after' by the Council irrespective of whether they are Care Order
accommodated or on a care order. Requirements relate to 'looked after
children' regardless of their legal status. A care plan for an accommodated
child must be the same as that for a child subject to a Section 31 order.
4 Parents and people with parental responsibility retain their legal status in Parental
decision making with regard to their child when accommodated. Responsibility
5 Children who are aged 16 and over can be accommodated without the
agreement of their parents or people with parental responsibility if the
Council deems this to be appropriate.
6 A Council cannot provide accommodation for a child if a person with parental Children Act 1989,
responsibility is both willing and able to look after the child and does not s20 (3)
want the Council to accommodate the child. This is not the case if either,
the child is over 16 and wishes to remain or become accommodated, or
another person with a residence order wishes the child to be accommodated.
7 Any person with parental responsibility for the child may at any time remove
them from accommodation unless the child is over 16 and wishes to remain
accommodated.
8 In circumstances where there is a residence order in force and the child is Residence Order
accommodated it should be noted that no other person with parental
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
responsibility can remove that child from accommodation.
9 A child may be accommodated by the Council with the agreement of a parent
or a person with parental responsibility.
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 Only simple day to day decisions can be made by Council staff and carers
without the agreement of people with parental responsibility. Care Plan
2 Accommodation must never be used as a way to avoid going to court to gain
an order to look after the child.
3 The full 'looked after children' system of assessment, review and recording
needs to be used when children are accommodated.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 Assessment of child‟s needs and current Social Worker Raise Initial 7 days
circumstances. Assessment Record
Children in Need 35 days
Core Assessment
Case Recording As situation
Sheet arises
2 Ascertain with parents or those with parental Social Worker Raise Assessment 7 days
responsibility whether there are plans to Record
secure the child with extended family or Children in Need 35 days
friends to alleviate the current circumstances Core Assessment
or meet the child‟s needs. Case Recording As situation
Sheet arises
3 Inform Team Manager of the circumstances, Social Worker Raise Initial 7 days
assessment and family network proposals. Assessment Record
Children in Need 35 days
Core Assessment
Case Recording As situation
Sheet arises
4 Determine whether Family Plans: Team Manager Supervision Note
Subject to Child Protection Procedures, Team Manager
Lead to Private Fostering Arrangements, Decision within
Legal Action should be considered, Raise Assessment
Placement of child requires LA provision Record
or Children in Need
Core Assessment
Management
Decision Sheets
5 Refer for Family Group Meeting Social Worker Day Break Family Within 7 days
Group Meetings
Referral Form
6 Determine whether Placement is subject of Team Manager See Procedures
Immediate Placement – placement of the child Immediate and
is necessary that this can best be provided by Emergency
family or friends who are not approved as Placements
foster carers.
7 If decision is that Council accommodation is Social Worker
safest and most effective placement, referral
to Fostering and Placements or brokerage
service including relevant supplementary
information available.
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
8 Commence completion of LAC documentation Social Worker See procedures: Prior to child
with parent/s or those with parental RAISE being
responsibility. EIR Part 1 accommodated
EIR Part 2 in emergency
LAC Placement placements
Plan Part 1 information to
LAC Placement be provided
Plan Part2 immediately
LAC Care Plan, after
LAC Health Plan / placement.
Personal Education See relevant
Plan procedures
Leisure Plan
Reviews
9 Information to with parent/s or those with Social Worker Information for Upon child
parental responsibility Parents of Children being
who are being accommodated
Accommodated
10 Information regarding maintenance payments Social Worker Guidance Notes for Upon child
for accommodation of child and financial Parents - Making being
contribution forms to be given to parent. Payment for our accommodated
Child(ren)'s
Maintenance SS3
Case recording
Sheet
11 Consideration of Family Group Meeting to Team Manager/ Day Break Family Within 2 days
support rehabilitation within 4 - 6 weeks. Social Worker Group Meetings of decision to
Referral Form refer
12 Consideration of legal action. Team Manager/ See procedures: See procedures
Social Worker Legal meeting,
Application for
Emergency
Protection Order.
13 RAISE to be updated with all relevant Social Worker Notification of Immediately
information. Amendments
14 When the family have identified a family based Team Manager/ Follow Private When it is
care arrangement and that this may extend Social Worker Fostering identified or
beyond 28 days Private Fostering Procedures becomes a
will need to be followed. period of 28
days. See
procedures.
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
6.3 Looked After Children : Application for National Insurance Number
Objective To ensure all looked after children or care leavers receive a National
Insurance Number
Legal & Policy Status Inland Revenue Form CA 3530U & Aide Memoire
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 It is important that this process is completed to ensure young people in or
leaving the care system are treated more like other young people and are
spared the prospect of having to undergo lengthier and more demanding
procedures to establish their identity at a later stage.
2 National Insurance registration takes place automatically shortly before a
child‟s 16th birthday but only for children for whom child benefit is paid.
Child benefit is not paid whilst a child is in care or looked after. Therefore
the Inland Revenue operate special arrangements that require social workers
to apply for NI numbers for the children in their care.
3 The child‟s social worker is required to write or fax a request for Form CA
3530U to the NI registrations section when the young person reaches 15yrs
and 9 months.
4 The form should be completed, signed and authenticated with appropriate
Council stamp, and returned to NI Registration Section within four weeks of
receipt. Once all of the information has been validated, the NI Registration
Section will arrange for an NI number card to be issued to the young person.
5 If the Council does not comply with these special arrangements, the young
person will have to apply in person via the DSS or the Inland Revenue and
may be subjected to an evidence of identity interview.
6 Contacts for queries in NI Registration Section on any of the following
numbers (local rate call):
084591–57946
084591–53662
084591–54799
Section Manager‟s Tel. 084591 57757
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 When a young person reaches 15yrs and 9 months the Social Worker requests
form CA3530U by post or fax.
2 On receipt of form it must be returned fully completed within four weeks.
3 Returned forms must have the Councils validation stamp.
4 The young person will be registered for an NI number on receipt and
validation of the information and the a card will be issued.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 Ensure that documentary evidence is available Social Worker Case Recording When child is
to prepare for request for application form. Sheet 15 years and 8
Names, including any former names the months
child used.
Date of Birth
Date the young person was accommodated
or care order
Previous addresses (max of three & must
include last one)
Any documentary evidence of identity e.g.
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
copies of birth certificates, care orders,
passport etc
2 Request application form CA3530U on LA Social Worker File Copy When child is
headed notepaper and addressed to: 15 years and 9
Inland Revenue, National Insurance months
Contributions Office, NI Integrity group,
NI Registrations Section, Longbenton,
Newcastle upon Tyne NE 98 1ZZ
Fax 084591-573.
3 Complete form CA3530U. Social Worker File copy on RAISE Within 4
weeks
4 When NI number is issued, enter it on RAISE. Social Worker Case Recording Within 2
Sheet working days
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
6.4 Looked After Children : Applying for Criminal Injury Compensation Award (CICA)
Objective To ensure that children who are looked after by the Council, who have
sustained "personal injury" directly attributed to a crime of violence, have
access to claim for compensation.
Legal & Policy Status The Children Act 1989
Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 Copies of the form and a guide to its interpretation are available from the
compensation Injuries Compensation Authority, Tay House, 3000 Bath Street,
Glasgow G2 4LN Tel: 0800 358 3601. Or online at
www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/DG_4017577
2 In all cases the victim must have suffered personal injury. Personal injury
means of physical or mental nature, including shock or psychological
disturbance which is directly attributed to the crime of violence.
3 The injury must be one which would attract an award of at least 1 of the
Tariff of Injuries.
4 Claims must be submitted within 2 years of the date of the incident.
However, a claims officer may waive this limit where he/she considers that it
is reasonable and in the interests of justice to do so.
5 A sympathetic attitude is taken towards late claims made on behalf of
children or by children themselves when made within a reasonable time of
reaching 18.
6 It is not necessary that the offender should have been convicted before an
award can be made. However the compensation may be withheld or reduced
if the applicant has not taken, without delay, all reasonable steps to inform
the police of the circumstances of the injury with a view to bringing the
offender to justice. Again a more sympathetic attitude is taken towards
children who may have been too young or too frightened to appreciate the
right course of action.
7 Where the victim and any assailant were living in the same household at the
time of the injury as members of the same family, compensation can only be
paid if the person responsible has been prosecuted or there are good reasons
why a prosecution has not been brought. In cases of child abuse within the
family where there has been no prosecution a full explanation on the child's
behalf will be required. Further the award panel would need to be satisfied
that payment would not be against the child's best interest and that the
offender will not benefit from the award.
8 The Scheme requires that a claim on behalf of a person under the age of 18
should be made by an adult with parental responsibility for the child. If the
child is in care the Scheme will expect the claim to be lodged by or on behalf
of the Council to whom parental responsibility has been granted. When there
is no one legally entitled to act for the child, help should be sought from the
Official Solicitor for England and Wales.
9 Before a final award can be made the full circumstances in which the injury
occurred and the extent of the damage and the prognosis is required.
This information is obtained from the Police, hospital doctors etc named on
the claim form. However an application is also assisted by supporting
information sent with the claim including medical or psychological reports
etc.
10 The amount of compensation is determined by the tariff of injuries appended
to the scheme and is usually awarded as a lump sum. Interim payments can
be made where there is a pressing need or where the prognosis is uncertain.
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
11 Where the child may die from the injuries, consideration is given as to the
possibility that an award could pass on intestacy to the person(s) who caused
the injury. In such cases interim awards for specific needs may be made but
will be subject to stringent control and the final assessment will be deferred
until the child is 18 years
12 The decision regarding the claim will be notified to the person or to the
Council holding parental responsibility, with any directions for the disposal
and management of the award.
13 It is expected that the Council to be responsible for investment and
administration of the award until the child reaches age 18
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 All claims should be made as soon as possible.
2 A Review of Decision must be completed within 90 days if an appeal of the
award is to be considered by the Scheme.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 Potential claim identified and logged on the Social Worker / Case Recording Immediately
Criminal Injury Compensation Database by the Team Manager Sheet
Database Administrator. and Database
Administrator
2 If Looked After Child or young person is Social Worker Case Recording Immediately
accommodated Children Act Section 20, Sheet
parental agreement to the claim should be
obtained.
3 Claim form completed and report prepared and Social Worker Completed Medical Within 20 days
submitted to Team Manager for approval. Practitioners Claim of No 1
The report should contain:- Form
Name, age and Date of Birth
Family details and relationships LAC Care Plan
Brief history of the child
Present circumstances
Circumstances at time of injury
Action taken
Indicate whether or not prosecution took
place - if not give reasons
Indicate dates and places of any medical
examinations, psychological or psychiatric
assessments, education reports or any
other relevant reports. (Please indicate if
attached.)
Pen picture of child or young person
Child's view of injury (if appropriate), child
may wish to write about self.
Parents/Carers view
Estimate of present and future effects on
child/young person e.g. physical,
emotional, psychological state
relationships, health mobility etc
Finance costs to date of injuries if any
medical, educational, domestic, health
care and any future likely costs.
Future plans including prospect of child
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
being re united with offender.
Any other relevant information.
Copy of Birth Certificate and Care Plan.
4 Team Manager approves application and Team Manager Case Recording Within 10 days
submits to legal advisor. Sheet
Medical
Practitioners Claim
Form
5 Legal advice is given for claim to proceed to Borough Legal Note Within 20 days
Service Manager Solicitor
6 Service Manager to authorise and submit claim Service Manager Note to file Within 10 days
form to Service Director, Children's Social Care.
7 Claim Form is finally authorised and submitted Service Note to file and Within 10 days
to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Award Director, Copy of the
Scheme Children's Social Medical Claim
Care Form on Child file
8 NB. When legal advice is not to proceed, the Borough Legal Note Within 20 days
young person, parents and Service Manager to Solicitor
be notified.
9 Database to be updated Database Note to Child Within 2 days
Administrator Protection Unit
10 Decision received by the Service Director, Service Note to Social Immediately
Children's Social Care Director, Worker
Children's Social
Care
11 Decision forwarded to Legal Services for advice Social Worker Notes to Legal Within 5 days
of acceptance or grounds and evidence for Services
appeal.
12 Notification of acceptance or details of grounds Borough Legal Note Within 20 days
for appeal Solicitor
13 Parent/Carer and child notified of Legal Social Worker Case Recording Within 10 days
Services recommendations. Sheet
14 Service Director, Children's Social Care advised Social Worker Case Recording Within 20 days
of Legal Services recommendations. If award is Sheet and
to be appealed - Review of Decision Form to be Copy of Review
drafted and submitted document
15 NB. A review of decision must be made in
writing to the CICA within 90 days from the
receipt of the letter giving original decision.
16 Parents/Carers and children informed of Social Worker Letter and Case Within 20 days
outcome of claim and where held and the name Recording Sheet
of Contact Officer for the Trust Fund.
17 NB. Social Worker should keep the Database Social Worker / Note
Administrator informed of the progress Database
throughout the procedure in order that she/he Administrator
can maintain the database chronology.
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
6.5 Looked After Children : Assessment and Action Records
Objective To ensure that children „looked after‟ gain maximum life chance benefits
from educational opportunities, health care and social care.
Legal & Policy Status Care Matters: Implementation Plan 2008
The Children Act 1989 & The Children Act 2004
Children and Young Persons Act 2008
Looking After Children – HMSO Dept of Health
Good Parenting Good Outcomes, Management and Implementation
Guide HMSO Dept. of Health 1995
Care Planning, Placement & Case Review Regulations 2010
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 An Assessment and Action Record is to be comprehensively completed for
looked after children, within the designated timescales: 0–5 years every 6
months after 1st record. 5–17 years every 12 months after 1st record.
2 Completion of an Assessment and Action Record is a process, not a „one off'
event.
3 Once it is clear that a child is likely to remain „looked after‟ for a period of
10 months or greater, an Assessment and Action Record will be completed.
4 The purpose of the record is to promote good quality care by assessing
progress across seven key developmental dimensions. Summaries of the
progress being made within the dimensions are built into the record, and a
summary of further work required is also called for.
5 These summaries (not the full Assessment and Action Record) should be made LAC Review
available to the Review, since they provide evidence of the success or Care Plan
otherwise of the care plan, and highlight those areas where further progress
is needed. It is important (and the structure of the records requires) that
recommended goals are agreed, especially by the child. This should ensure
there are no surprises at the review meeting and help the main focus to be
on further progress rather than discussion of what has caused any previous
difficulty.
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 The assessment and action record summaries will be made available to the
review after the relevant people have been consulted regarding the contents.
2 New assessment and action records should be completed every six months for
children under five and every year for children over the age of five.
3 The responsibility for ensuring that assessment and action records are
completed lies with the social worker. However it is quite appropriate for the
records to be completed by the young person on their own, with the foster
carer or relevant adult, such as a parent or teacher.
4 The chair of the second review should state that action and assessment
records should be completed by the time of the following review unless the
child is to go home, and thereafter started at alternate reviews.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 Without prejudice to any future decision Social Worker/ Case Recording
making (Court or otherwise) it may be Team Manager Sheet
considered that the child will not be returned Supervision Record
home within 10 months and therefore
commencement of Assessment and Action
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
Records may be considered.
2 At 2nd review of placement, where it is Reviewing LAC Review of Within 2
anticipated that the child will remain looked officer Arrangements weeks
after for the next six months, the reviewing of review
officer will request a completion of an
assessment and action record (AAR) for the
next review.
3 Social worker, in consultation, with carers, Social worker Case Recording Commence
young person and any other relevant person Sheet within four
will decide how to complete the AAR. weeks of
review
4 Social worker to co-ordinate relevant people to Social worker Case Recording To be
complete the AAR booklet Sheet completed
within the six
month review
period
5 If there are any changes required to the care Social worker LAC Care Plan At the next
plan following the completion of the AAR then review
the social worker should recommend these
changes at the next review.
6 The new objectives should be linked to the Social worker LAC Review of At the next
review report. Arrangements review
(SW Section)
7 The AAR‟s should be completed every 12 Social Worker Copies on file By every other
months after first record for children aged 5 review 5–18yr
and over, and every 6 months for children aged Every review
under 5. 0–5yr
8 Copies of AAR to be left on file, with the carer Social worker Copies on file After
and where appropriate with the child/young alternate
person. reviews
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
6.6 Looked After Children : Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Children’s Care Needs
Objective To make clear Bournemouth Borough Council‟s obligations to children
from black and minority ethnic communities who are looked after.
Legal & Policy Status The Children Act 1989
The Children Act 2004
The Children & Young Persons Act 2008
Fostering Services Regulations 2011
The Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000
Adoption (and Children) Act 2002
Children‟s Homes Regulations (amended) 2011
Human Rights Act 1998
Children First 1998
The MacPherson Report 1999
Race Relations (amendment) Act 2000
Bournemouth Borough Council‟s policy on Equality and Diversity
Equality Impact Needs Assessment: on BIZ
Every Child Matters 2003
National Minimum Standards, Fostering, Adoption and Children‟s Homes
Care Matters: Implementation Plan 2008
The Equality Act 2010
The Care Planning, Placement & Case Review Regulations 2010
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 The Council acknowledges the cultural, ethnic and religious diversity of the
population for whom services are provided. It is committed to equal
opportunities, and seeks to ensure that services provided meet the needs of
the diverse community it serves.
2 Legislation requires the Council to consider carefully the appropriateness,
provision and accessibility of services to black and minority ethnic
communities.
3 The Every Child Matters agenda applies to all children, young people and
families, and acknowledges the importance of cultural diversity, particularly
race, ethnicity, and religion, in the achievement of good outcomes.
4 Staff and foster carers must be sure they do not develop stereotypical
opinions about black and minority ethnic groups. Individuals within any
particular group may not adhere totally to the religious beliefs, customs and
practices attributed to that group, it is therefore imperative that each
child‟s individual needs are assessed in the planning stage.
5 All teams within Children‟s Social Care will undertake Equality Impact Needs EINA
Assessments; where services are found not to be meeting all needs, action
plans to address shortfalls will be devised and implemented.
6 We must actively ensure that no child or young person experiences racism or
discrimination on the basis of their ethnicity, language, culture or religion
within their placement by staff, carers or any other child or young person
living there. Any reported incidents of racism or discrimination will be
challenged and dealt with to the young person‟s satisfaction.
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 Staff and carers, whether residential staff or foster carers, must be familiar
with the cultural and religious beliefs of children who are looked after, and
the festivals and celebrations important to that child and their family. It is
the responsibility of all staff/carers to ensure the wishes and feelings of the
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
Cross-Referencing
Standards
child are taken into consideration and recorded.
2 Care plans need to address all aspects of a child‟s life, both physical and
psychological, with specific reference to the child‟s cultural, ethnic and
religious background and practices. The child‟s social worker is responsible
for ensuring up to date and accurate information is maintained on these
aspects of the child‟s life, and that needs arising are included in all aspects
of the plan.
3 Support must be provided for any child whose first language is not English, UASC
enabling them to communicate their needs, wishes and concerns. Interpreters
Translation and interpretation services must be accessed.
4 Staff should actively encourage children to observe and follow their chosen
religion, enabling them to attend places of worship, celebrate important
festivals, observe dietary requirements etc. Children and young people must
be able to dress in a manner appropriate to their religion, without undue
difficulty or embarrassment.
5 Managers of fostering and residential services will ensure the environment in
which children are accommodated, reflects their cultural, ethnic and
religious needs. They will also ensure food menus reflect the diet of
different cultures, and that staff/foster carers are able to prepare
specialised dishes.
6 Children must be able to continue using toiletries and hair products that they
are used to using, and have their dietary needs met, without any fear of
difficulty or embarrassment.
7 All staff will attend equality and diversity training, as appropriate.
8 Planned activities must be culturally sensitive.
9 A list of local faith groups, places of worship etc., will always be available to
foster carers/residential staff.
10 Any specific needs regarding personal care of black and minority ethnic
children must be fully discussed and reflected within the care plan.
11 There will be a zero tolerance policy towards any racial incidents. The
Stephen Lawrence Inquiry defines a racist incident as “any incident which is
perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person”.
12 Children and young people from black and minority ethnic groups should feel
that effective efforts are made within their placement to meet their
individual needs in relation to the religious, cultural and linguistic needs.
They should feel they are in a positive as opposed to an alien environment.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 Accurate information is gathered prior to or, in Social worker Within 1 working
an emergency, at the time of placement. day
2 Discussion with child/young person and family Social worker / Pre-placement Within 1 working
regarding how child/young person‟s needs can foster carer / agreement or day
best be met. RSW minutes of 72
hour meeting
LAC placement
plan Part 2
3 Ongoing discussion with child/young person and Social worker / LAC Care Plan Prior to
family to inform the care plan foster carer / placement, or if
RSW an emergency
within 14 days of
placement
4 If the child or young person remains Social worker / Assessment & Ongoing
accommodated following the second review foster carer / Action Records
then this information will be recorded, with RSW
the child/young person wherever possible,
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
within the Assessment and Action records
5 Children and young people are encouraged to Social worker / Consultation Prior to every LAC
consider these matters and to record their foster carer / paper review
views within the consultation prior to their LAC RSW
review.
6 Ensure provision of care meets child/young IRO LAC review Review within one
person‟s needs. month, four
months then a
minimum of 6
monthly.
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
6.7 Looked After Children : Blue Books
Objective To ensure the correct information about looked after children is made
available to their carers
Legal & Policy Status Fostering Services Regulations 2011
National Minimum Standards for Fostering 2011
Children‟s Homes Regulations (amended) 2011
National Minimum Standards for Children‟s Homes
The Children‟s Acts, 1989, 2004
The Children and Young Persons Act 2008
Care Matters Implementation Plan 2008
Statutory Guidance on Promoting the Health and Well-being of Looked After
Children
NICE/SCIE Guidance: The Physical and Emotional Health and Well-being of
Looked After Children and Young People
Care Planning, Placement & Case Review Regulations 2010
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 Foster carers and residential staff need detailed information about the child
in their care, in order to ensure said care is consistent with the child‟s
needs, and the care plan
2 In Bournemouth this is achieved by issuing a blue ring binder, at the point
at which a child is first placed in accommodation, either foster care or in a
residential setting
3 The contents of the blue book are detailed in an appendix to this policy
(see attached), and copies should be made available by the child‟s social
worker, as soon as the documents have been completed.
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 As soon as a child becomes accommodated, completion of LAC paperwork is EIR 1 & 2
required; timescales for this are detailed elsewhere Placement Plan 1 &
2
Care Plan
Review
Assessment & Action
Summary
Medicals
PEPS
Leisure Plans
2 A blue book should be immediately issued to the foster carer/residential
worker
3 Copies of the relevant paperwork should be given to the foster carer at the
earliest opportunity
4 If the child moves placement, either for a respite arrangement, or any
other reason, the blue book should be moved with them, so that every one
caring for the child has details of agreed arrangements for the child
5 Copies of Court orders will not be placed on the blue book. Where a child is
subject to a Court order, this will clearly be recorded on LAC
documentation within the blue book
6 If a child has had a number of placements, paperwork relating to all
reviews/ health assessments/PEPs and other education information should
be kept on the „blue book‟. However where a child has had a stable
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
Cross-Referencing
Standards
placement, over a number of years, the foster carer/residential worker
may, for ease, wish to keep early copies separately and securely, elsewhere
7 There should be s „personal‟ section in each blue book. The child‟s other
achievements, such as scouts/guides awards, Duke of Edinburgh awards,
copy of passport and NI documentation will be filed in this section.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 When the child is accommodated the child‟s Child‟s social LAC paperwork As noted on
social worker should begin completing LAC worker relevant
paperwork within the required timescales policies
2 A blue ring binder, the „blue book‟ should be Child‟s social Case recording As noted in
issued to the foster/residential carer worker case recording
immediately policy
3 Copies of all LAC paperwork, as it is Child‟s social LAC paperwork As noted in
completed, should be passed to the worker relevant
foster/residential carer, for filing in the blue policy
book
4 When the PEP and Lac review cycles begin, Child‟s social Review paperwork As noted in
copies of each review document should be worker relevant
provided, as soon as it is completed, for filing policy
in the blue book
5 When a child moves, on a temporary or Child‟s social Case recording As noted in
permanent basis to another foster worker relevant
carer/children‟s home, the blue book must be policy
moved with them
6 When the child or young person returns home, Foster carer or Foster carer diary As noted in
or becomes 18, the blue book and contents residential or residential relevant
should be returned to the child or young worker worker‟s record policy
person‟s worker, for destruction
7 The independent reviewing officer for the child IRO LAC review In line with
or young person, will audit on a regular basis to LAC review for
ensure compliance with this policy the child
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN – BLUE BOOK CHECKLIST
NAME: ………………………………………………………….……………………
D.O.B: …………………………………………………………………………….…
RAISE: ……………………………………………………………………………...
SOCIAL WORKER: ……………………………………………………………………….
Please tick if current copy included in file.
Date expected
to be completed
Key Information:
Essential Information Part 1
Essential Information Part 2
Placement Plan Part 1
Placement Plan Part 2
Care Plan
Review
Assessment and Action Summary
(child‟s name and date of Review on top)
Health
Education
Personal/Leisure plan
Other
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
LAC Reviews If a child has had a number of placements, all reviews should be
kept on the „blue book‟. However where a child has had a
stable placement, over a number of years, the foster carer/
residential worker may, for ease, wish to keep early copies separately
and securely elsewhere.
Health Health Assessments – as for review documentation
Allergy information.
Copy of NHS card.
NB. If a specific assessment, for example a psychiatric
assessment, has been undertaken, this will be noted in the
LAC review documentation. Carers will need to discuss access to
The information within such assessments, with the child‟s social
worker.
Education Statement of Educational Needs
Personal Education Plans
School reports
Record of achievements/exam/SATs results
Accreditations
Personal Other records of achievements e.g. Scout/Girl Guides/
Duke of Edinburgh awards etc.
Copy of passport
Copy of NI documentation
All as for review documentation
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2012
6.8 Looked After Children : Care Plans
Objective To ensure that every looked after child has a care plan that addresses
their needs.
Legal & Policy Status Accommodated Children Visiting Arrangement Regulations 2011
LAC(99)29, Care Plans and Care Proceedings under the Children Act 1989
Children‟s Homes Regulations (amended) 2011
Dedicated Teachers (Looked After Pupils) (England) Regulations 2009
The Children Act 2004
The Children Act 1989, Guidance and Regulations Vols. 3&4
Care Matters: Implementation Plan 2008
Arrangements for the Placement of Children Regulations 1991
Looking After Children: Good Parenting, Good Outcomes. DoH 1995
Framework for the Assessment for Children in Need and their Families,
Dept. of Health 2000
Children & Young Persons Act 2008
Children, Schools and Families Act 2010
Fostering Services Regulations 2011
Statutory Guidance on Promoting the Health and Well-being of Looked
After Children
The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010
The Children Act Higher Education Bursary (England) Regulations 2009
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 The function of care planning is to ensure that the child's needs are Permanency
identified and met in a focused way and to avoid 'drift' if the child becomes Planning
'looked after'.
2 The following children should have care plans where:
a) following an assessment, where a need has been identified for ongoing
work,
b) the child is looked after,
c) the child is subject to court proceedings.
3 Care plans should be developed in partnership with relevant family members Partnership with
and with the child in a way that is consistent with their age and parents and young
understanding. people
4 The process of care planning involves: Initial Assessment
a) Inquiry and consultation with the child and family and the collection of Core Assessment
all relevant information from both the family and professionals,
b) Assessment within the requirements of the Framework for Assessment of
Children in Need and their Families,
c) Decision making, identifying the aims and objectives of the plan,
outlining the options available and the reasons for the preferred course
of action.
5 Care plans should include the following elements: LAC Review
a) The aim of the plan, Advocacy
b) The timetable for implementation,
c) The child‟s identified needs,
d) How the child‟s identified needs are to be met,
e) The child‟s wishes and feelings. Advocacy will be offered to all children
able to utilise this services over the age of 8 years.
f) The views of people significant to the child and relevant professionals,
g) The Children‟s Social Care views and reason for actions to be undertaken,
h) If the plan involves placement of the child, the placement details,
i) Who will implement the plan?
j) The role of parents or other people significant to the child,
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2012
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
k) Review arrangements,
l) Contingency plans,
m) Contact arrangements
6 The Care Plan should be discussed and formalised at the first review and then
subject to regular review.
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 Every child where there is ongoing involvement will have a care plan.
2 Care planning will be undertaken in partnership with parents and the child
wherever possible. Care planning will involve a multi-agency perspective.
3 Care plans will be regularly reviewed.
4 Court care plans will meet the requirements of LAC(99)29 circular Care Plans
and Care Proceedings.
5 A care plan for an accommodated child must be the same as that for a child
subject to a Section 31 Order.
6 A care plan cannot be changed without a review.
7 A placement plan must set out how the placement will meet the child‟s
needs.
8 Education at Key stage 4 cannot be disrupted unless it is in the child‟s
interests and all parties have been consulted. If a change is proposed the
Director of Children‟s Services or a nominated officer is required to sign off
the placement plan.
9 Care plans and placement plans are not required for children on short breaks.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 Consult with all relevant agencies regarding the Social worker Case Recording During the
child‟s needs. Wherever possible or appropriate Sheet assessment
consult with the young person and their family within the
regarding the young person‟s needs. assessment
framework
timescales
2 This assessment of need should include all Social worker Case Recording Prior to
aspects specified in the assessment framework Sheet placement or
or if the child is looked after all LAC Children in Need - within 10 days
dimensions; (health, education, family & social Core Assessment of the
relationships, emotional and behavioural as applicable placement
development, identity, social presentation and
self care skills).
3 Complete care plan. Social worker LAC Care Plan Prior to
placement or
within 10 days
of the
placement
4 Send copy of care plan to the carer, residential Social LAC Forms Within 2 days
social worker and Reviewing Team Worker/Admin Distribution of completion
5 The care plan should be shared with the child Social worker LAC Care Plan Within 2 days
as appropriate to their age and understanding. of completion
6 The care plan must be sent to parents and Social Worker Letter to Within 2 days
those with parental responsibility unless there Parent/Guardian of completion
are exceptional circumstances relating to the re-Enclosure of
safety of the child. Care Plan (LACT05)
LAC Care Plan
7 Copy of care plan for a looked after child must Social worker LAC Forms Within 2 days
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2012
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
be sent along with other LAC paperwork to the Distribution of completion
reviewing officer. and no later
than 3 days
before the
review
8 The care plan must be reviewed regularly. Reviewing LAC Review of At each
officer Arrangements review
9 Consider if there are sound reasons (i.e. age) Social Worker
for an advocate not to be offered. In the
absence of any such reason to be offered.
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2011
6.9 Looked After Children : Change of Placement
Objective To ensure whenever possible a planned ending to a placement occurs and
that in all circumstances careful preparation is given to transitional
arrangements.
Legal & Policy Status The Children Act 1989 Sec.20
The Adoption and Children Act 2002
Children‟s Homes Regulations (amended) 2011
Fostering Services Regulations 2011
The Children Act 1989 Guidance
The Accommodated Children Visiting Arrangements Regulations 2010
National Minimum Standards, Fostering and Residential Care 2011
Children and Young Persons Act 2008
Sufficiency: Statutory Guidance on Securing Sufficient Accommodation for
Looked After Children 2010
The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010
Planning Transition to Adulthood for Looked After Children 2010
IRO Handbook (draft) 2010
Children (Leaving Care) Regulations 2010
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 Placement may end in:
a) a move to another placement,
b) a return to the child‟s family,
c) a return to the family but further periods of respite care are needed,
d) the making of an adoption order/residence order/Special Guardianship
Order.
e) a move to an independent life.
2 Foster carers have an important role to play in preparing and reassessing the
child and assisting introductions to new carers. A child‟s return to his/her
family will equally need careful preparation.
3 A planned ending occurs when the objective of the placement has been fully
or partly achieved, or the plan has been reviewed.
4 Unplanned endings occur when a crisis leads the Council to remove the child Disruption
immediately or the foster carer asks for the child to be removed, or the child meetings
insists on leaving forthwith.
5 The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Guidance gives clarification
to the duties set out in regulations 15-21, when a child on a care order (or an
interim care order) is being placed with a parent or other person with
parental responsibility who is not a parent or, in the case of a child subject
to a care order, a person in whose favour a residence order was made before
the care order was made.
6 If there is a change of placement the social worker should contact the child‟s Review
reviewing officer to consider whether the next statutory review should be Arrangements
brought forward. An early review should take place if the change of
placement means that there is a significant change in the care plan.
7 Councils have a duty not to allow a child to remain in a placement if the Child Protection
Council considers it would not be in his/her best interests to stay there. Procedures
Where necessary, e.g. where a child is at risk of harm, the child protection
procedures must be applied and will take precedence over this procedure.
8 Councils have power under Regulation 7 to remove in the above
circumstances any child that is placed in their area by another Council or
voluntary organisation, whether or not the area Council has agreed to
supervise the placement. Where, under safeguarding procedures, a child is so
removed, the other Council or organisation must be informed at once and
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2011
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
notified in writing so that they may be a party to making other arrangements
for the care of the child.
9 The Council should work towards children having settled placements and Disruption
secure attachments with their carers. There should always be a critical meetings
examination of why changes of placement occur and thought given to how Concurrent
the child can be supported to make secure attachments. planning
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 A placement plan must set out how the placement will meet the child‟s
needs.
2 Education at Key Stage 4 cannot be disrupted unless it is in the child‟s
interests and all parties have been consulted. If a change of placement also
involves a change of school at KS4, the Director of Children‟s Services or a
nominated officer is required to sign off the plan.
3 Placements cannot be terminated without:
:- a case review
:- having made other placement arrangements
Unless there is a risk of significant harm to the child.
4 Views of children and young people must be taken into account when
planning.
5 All children‟s needs will be considered within the foster carer‟s safe care
plan.
3 A copy of the child‟s views should be placed on the foster carer‟s review
form and on the child‟s file. Comments will be discussed with the foster
carer by their link worker and recorded in their annual review. The foster
carer signs the review.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 If a child continues to be looked after when a Social worker LAC paperwork Within 14 days
placement ends new LAC paperwork should be EIR Part 1 of placement
completed or existing LAC paperwork revised. EIR Part 2
This is Essential Information records parts 1 & Placement Plan
2, Placement plan parts 1 & 2, Care plan. Part1
Placement Plan
Part2
LAC Care Plan
2 If a child needs a new placement, multi-agency Social Worker Case recording and Immediately
planning must take place to ensure the child‟s referral to ART
care, education and health needs can be met in
the proposed new placement.
3 As soon as it is known that a child needs a new Social Worker e-mail case Immediately
placement a statutory review must be recording
arranged.
4 RAISE to be updated. Social worker Notification of Immediately
Amendments
5 Inform all relevant professionals of the change Social worker, Letter to parents Immediately
of placement: as well as the child‟s parents. parents and and Information
reviewing Sheet for LAC
officer Notification
6 If the child moves out of Bournemouth then, as Access to Notification of Immediately
well as informing the above, the relevant Resources Team Placement or
Council must be notified of the child‟s Change of
presence in their area. Placement of LAC
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2011
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
(LACT13)
7 If the child moves back into Bournemouth then Access to Notification of Immediately
the previous Council needs to be notified. Resources Team Placement or
Change of
Placement of LAC
(LACT 13 )
8 Discuss the placement with the child to clarify Social worker Foster Carers Within 14 days
what the child thought about the placement. Review Form of placement
Case Recording ending
Sheet
9 If this is the second move of placement (i.e. Go to Review LAC Review of Within 28 days
third placement) within 12 months, unless Procedure Arrangements
made as part of a care plan, a statutory review Social worker
must specifically look at why the young person
has had multiple moves of placement and what
action needs to be taken to help them settle.
9 If change of placement has occurred after a Social worker Disruption meeting Hold meeting
breakdown in foster placement a disruption minutes between 4–8
meeting must be arranged. See Procedures for weeks of
Disruption meeting. placement
breakdown
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
6.10 Looked After Children : Child Trust Funds
Objective To ensure that entitled looked after children in Bournemouth have Child
Trust Funds and receive their Child Trust Fund Accounts contributions
from the DCSF
Legal & Policy Status The Child Trust Funds Act 2004, sec 16.
Child Trust Funds Regulations 2004
The Child Trust Funds (Amendment) Regulations 2004
The Children Act 1989
The Mental Health Act 1983
Care Matters: Time For Change
Child Trust Fund Account Top-Up Payments for Looked After Children:
Statutory Guidance on Local Authority Practice in England 2008 (Sec 7,
LASSA 1970)
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 The Child Trust Fund is a long-term savings and investment account for
children born on or after 1st September 2002 to provide these children with a
financial asset when they are 18. The role of the Council is to help identify
those looked after children who do not have a Child Trust Fund (CTF) and
report this information monthly to the Inland Revenue, who will ensure that
a CRF account is opened.
The coalition government elected in May 2010 have stated that their
intention is to replace child trust funds with the Child‟s Trust Funds Act /
Regulations until they have done so Bournemouth will continue to comply
with the conditions of this policy for existing eligible children.
2 This policy covers three processes that Councils have to follow:-
Identification and provision of information on children entering their care
for the first time
Identification of looked after children with no one appropriate with
parental responsibility
Administration of top-up payments for eligible children who have been
looked after for more than one year
3 If there is no appropriate person with parental responsibility the Council Parental
must provide a correspondence address for the child, and their carer, responsibility
together with any additional information that might be useful, such as
religious beliefs. Dependent on the child‟s age and understanding they can
express views about what type of account they would like.
4 Councils also need to inform Her Majesty‟s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) about
children meeting the criteria who are already looked after by them or have
become looked after, not for the first time and for whom there is now no one
with parental responsibility.
5 The Government intends to make a contribution to CTF accounts for
children‟s 7th birthday. This will come into force after 31st August 2009,
when the first eligible child will turn 7.
6 For returns for periods after 31st August 2009, Councils will be required to
provide in their monthly return, details of every child born on or after 1 st
September 2002 who was being looked after on their 7 th birthday.
7 Once eligibility for the CTF has been accepted, a voucher worth £250 for the
initial Government payment and an information pack will be sent to the Child
Benefit claimant, who will usually be the parent. Parents of looked after
children will be encouraged to take on the management of their child‟s CTF
account in the same way as other parents.
8 A person with parental responsibility can then use the voucher to open a CTF
account for that child with an approved CTF provider. There is a range of
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
different accounts to suit people‟s needs. The person with PR who opens the
account becomes the „registered contact‟ for the account. The child, c/o
the „registered contact‟ will be sent annual statements.
9 Anyone, family, friends, the child themselves, can contribute to a child‟s CTF
account up to a total of £1,200 per year.
10 The Government, in Care Matters: Time for Change, set out its commitment
to provide an extra £100 per year to the CTF accounts of looked after
children, for every whole year they spend in care after 1st April 2007. The
DCSF will fund these payments by providing Councils with additional funding
for the top-up payments and to meet the cost of administering the payments
through the Area Based Grant.
11 Councils may choose to make top-up payments to other groups of children,
for example to a child who has experienced repeated episodes of care but
has not been looked after for a full year.
12 Councils are also able to make payments in excess of £100 per full year in
care, as long as the additional top-up payments in total do not exceed
£1,200.
13 Working with parents and carers, the Council should consider how they can
use knowledge of these top up payments and the purpose of the CTF to
improve the financial literacy of looked after children, including the use of
these savings when the child‟s CTF account matures.
14 The money in a CTF account can only be taken out by the child, and not until
they are 18. The account will be managed by the „registered contact‟ until
the child is 16, at which point they can take control of the account
themselves. Once 18 they can use the money as they think best.
15 Early access to accounts will be available to children who are terminally ill.
A person with PR, including a Council, can request permission from HMRC.
HMRC will require written evidence and will seek verification.
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 A monthly return, with the details of all children who have become looked
after in that month, and were born on or after 1st September 2002, must be
sent to HMRC. This information will be used to identify children who do not
have a CTF account, and remedy that. Where there is no one with Parental
Responsibility HMRC will arrange for the Official Solicitor to act as registered
contact for the child‟s account. Guidance can be found at
www.hmrc.gov.uk/ctf/la-info.htm. Councils are excluded from having PR for
a CTF.
2 For a child to be treated as having no one or no one appropriate person with
PR they must be looked after and fall into at least one of the following
conditions:-
Where there is no person, or no person other than the Council who has PR
Where it is part of the care plan for the child that the child will live
permanently away from home and will not have face to face contact with
any parent having PR
Where an order has been made under sec 34(4) of the Children Act 1989
authorising the Council to terminate contact between the child and a
person with PR and there is no one else in a position to manage the
child‟s CTF account
Where the person with PR is a „patient‟ for the purposes of section 7 of
the Mental Health Act, and there is no one else in a position to manage
the child‟s CTF account
Where the child has been lost or abandoned, within the meaning of sec
20(1)(b) of the Children Act 1989, and there is no prospect of the
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
Cross-Referencing
Standards
foreseeable future of reunification
For any such children the Official Solicitor should be in regular contact with
them. The child, or the child‟s carers can also contact the Official Solicitor
with any queries. There may occasionally be contact between the Official
Solicitor and the Council, if further information is needed.
It is likely the correspondence address for the child will be c/o the Council
until the child is old enough and competent to handle such information
themselves. However, if the child is in a stable long term placement it may
be more appropriate to use that address. This decision is made at the
Council‟s discretion.
If at some future point someone appropriate with PR emerges, for example
an adoptive parent, then the Council will encourage that person to contact
the Official Solicitor to have responsibility transferred to them. The Official
Solicitor will contact the Council for confirmation.
3 The information will be completed on forms provided by HMRC. The Service
Manager, Safeguarding and Quality Assurance Service, will be the
„responsible officer‟, and will ensure that any follow up queries that may
arise from that return, are dealt with.
4 The Council must send a return each month, even if it is a nil return.
5 The information required is a statement for each child covering:-
Name of the Council
Its address
The name of the „responsible officer‟ for the return
The unique identifier for Bournemouth is 11098.
The Home Office reference number where the child is subject to
immigration controls
Either the full name and address of an individual who has parental
responsibility for the child (ideally the child‟s mother)
Or, if there is no one with parental responsibility or there is someone
with parental responsibility but it would be inappropriate for that person
to manage their child‟s CTF account, a correspondence address for the
child
The date on which the child became looked after
6 The Council must provide information about any child who has become
looked after for the first time, who has died during the return period,
including the name and address of his/her personal representatives and proof
of death. HMRC will contact the personal representative and inform them of
their entitlement to the CTF money and how to make the necessary
arrangements.
7 Looked after children and their parents should be informed of the top-up LAC Reviews
payments made by the DCSF through the Council, on their behalf. The
Council must determine at each child‟s statutory review of their care plan
the date when they will have spent a whole year being looked after and the
date on which they will make the CTF top-up payment.
8 If the child has previously been in receipt of a top-up payment, the Council
will consult its own records and must ensure the details of the child have not
changed.
For any child for whom the CTF details are not known, they can be found by
contacting a person with parental responsibility, who is the „registered
contact‟.
If the Council cannot obtain the information needed they should contact
HMRC. A request for details of the child‟s account provider and the child‟s
CTF account unique reference number should be faxed to HMRC, containing a
numbered list of the child‟s name, date of birth and date on which they
became looked after. Requests should be faxed to 0191 2251282. The
contact number for questions to HMRC is 0191 225 1880.
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
Cross-Referencing
Standards
HMRC will return, by fax, a numbered list showing the details of the account
provider and the child‟s unique reference number. The Council should then
contact the account provider directly with this information to obtain details
of the child‟s CTF account.
9 The Council should make the top-up payment to the child‟s account as soon
as reasonably practicable after the child has become eligible for a payment.
This will ensure the child receives interest or growth on the top-up payment
as soon as possible.
10 The Council must ensure provision of top-up payments are monitored through
file auditing procedures.
11 When a child‟s looked after status ceases, the Council will encourage the
child or the new carers of the child to take an interest in the CTF account.
The Pathway Plan, co-ordinated by the pathways support worker will map out
the route to independence, and includes assessing and meeting their
financial needs. The CTF should be included automatically into this financial
assessment. Councils should direct looked after young people nearing
independence to the dedicated Child Trust Fund website for more
information about the CTF and financial education. The e-address is
www.childtrustfund.gov.uk.
Child Trust Funds: Procedure
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer standard
1 The monthly return on children who have Service Manager, HMRC CTF As in HMRC
become looked after during the previous month Safeguarding & Monthly return guidance
must be sent to HMRC and will include all Quality Assurance of Looked
information noted in Standard 5. Service (admin After Children
The return must be sent even if it is a nil officer) form
return.
2 If possible information on the child‟s CTF Child‟s social Case recording Within one
account should be obtained from the child‟s worker week of
parents. If this is impossible, HMRC should be accommodation
contacted as outlined in Standard 8.
3 Once the date for the first top-up payment is Service Manager, Twice yearly
confirmed the Safeguarding and Quality Safeguarding &
Assurance Service should seek authorisation for Quality Assurance
payment of top-up payment into the CTF Service (admin
account. officer)
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
6.11 Looked After Children : Children Placed in the Area by Other Councils
Objective To ensure accurate data on children and young people placed in
Bournemouth by other Local Authorities (home authorities).
Legal & Policy Status The Children Act 1989
The Children Act 2004
Care Matters: Implementation Plan 2008
The Children and Young Persons Act 2008
Sufficiency: Statutory Guidance on Securing Sufficient Accommodation for
Looked After Children 2010
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 The home authority remains accountable for the statutory care planning and Care Plans
review responsibilities even if the day to day supervision is delegated to
Bournemouth Borough Council (receiving authority) by agreement other
councils should contact Bournemouth Assessment and Safeguarding team as
soon as a decision has been made to accommodate a child in Bournemouth.
2 A record will be maintained of all looked after children living in the
Bournemouth area, including those placed by other councils.
3 If the home authority arranged that Bournemouth will take over supervision
of a looked after child in the area, then:
a) All the appropriate information on the child and his/her circumstances
will be requested of the home authority.
b) There should be a clear written agreement covering expectations of
exchange of information, visits, reports, consultation and decision-
making.
4 Once a looked after child is registered with a Bournemouth GP, the LAC
nurses could be asked to discharge any duties in respect of that child‟s health
needs.
5 Once a child is placed in Bournemouth by a home authority, the home
authority should contact Bournemouth‟s Admissions Team, to request a place
in a school, and the Virtual School for looked after children should be
informed.
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 Agreement to Bournemouth supervising child and placement will be satisfied
with the home authority.
2 The child has an allocated Social Worker.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 When notification is received by the Customer Contact record. Immediate on
Assessment and Safeguarding Team, that a Services Officer receipt of
home authority has placed a looked after child Assessment and information.
in the Bournemouth area, the Assessment and Safeguarding
Safeguarding Team will create a contact sheet Team.
on the RAISE system.
2 Contact sheet will subsequently be closed on Customer Immediate.
RAISE. Services Officer
Assessment and
Safeguarding
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
Team
3 Copy of notification letter sent to LAC nurses, Customer Covering letter. On receipt of
LAC team. Services Officer information.
Assessment and
Safeguarding
Team.
4 Copy of notification letter sent to education Customer Covering letter. On receipt of
caseworker, LAC team. Services Officer information.
Assessment and
Safeguarding
Team
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
6.12 Looked After Children : Children Who Go Missing
Objective To provide written guidance and procedures relating to unauthorised
absences of children looked after to ensure all staff, foster carers and
children know what is to be done and when it is to be enacted.
Legal & Policy Status The Children Act 1989
The Children Act 2004
The Accommodated Children Visiting Arrangement Regulations 2010
Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 1993
Childrens Services and Police Protocol on missing from home
The Children‟s Safeguard Review, Utting 1997,
Child Abduction Act 1984
Pan Dorset Protocols on Looked After Children Who Go Missing 2010
The Children & Young Persons Act 2008
Care Planning, Placement & Case Review Regulations 2010
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 A child who is absent without authority may be an 'unauthorised absentee', a
'missing person' or an 'absconder'. Before procedures are followed the
residential support worker or foster carer must establish which category the
young person falls into.
2 If the young person‟s whereabouts are not known then they are a 'missing
person', if the young person has left the home without permission but the
worker knows where the young person is then they are an 'unauthorised
absentee' if they are in Bournemouth or the locality of their placement or an
'absconder' if they are out of Bournemouth or the locality of their placement.
3 A child should be considered to be missing when they are judged to have
absented themselves wilfully from residential establishment or foster
placement in which they have been placed.
4 A failure to return occurs when a child does not return at the time specified
to their establishment or carers.
5 In any or all of these situations residential workers or foster carers are
required to make an initial judgement about whether or not action is
required and when that should take place.
6 Anyone who 'takes or detains' a child under 16 who has run away without
lawful authority may be prosecuted under s2 of the Child Abduction Act 1984.
7 Some children may benefit from a short period away from home in order to
resolve some of the issues that led them to run away. In such instances a
child may stay in a refuge for up to 14 days, or no more than 21 days in any
three month period.
8 If a child remains in a certified refuge for longer than fourteen days, the
provider of the refuge may be subject to prosecution under the Child
Abduction Act 1984.
9 Councils have a duty to find young people who they are looking after when
missing.
10 If the missing child is also subject to a safe care plan, then the custodian Inter-Agency
needs to be informed and safeguarding procedures will need to be followed. Safeguarding
The custodian will be a different person in each authority. In Bournemouth procedures
this will be the Service Manager, Safeguarding and Quality Assurance Service.
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 If a child is thought to be at risk or in danger to him or herself or others, the Out of Hours
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
Cross-Referencing
Standards
senior residential officer on duty or foster carer or social worker should Service
notify the police, relevant social work team, Out of Hours Service if out of
hours, and parents.
2 Exercising judgement/discretion should only take place after assessment of
each individual situation and always in keeping with departmental
procedures.
3 All decisions should be recorded and should include the rationale and options
considered.
4 When a child returns after an unauthorised absence the social worker, police
and parents should be notified and appropriate paper work completed.
5 A risk assessment should be undertaken on any child who goes missing, this Risk Assessment
should include:
a) Previous assessed level of vulnerability
b) Age of child
c) Time of day/night
d) History of self harm
e) Physical disability or learning difficulty
f) Previous history of going missing
g) Any agreement reached regarding staying out beyond the usual time
h) Where a child is believed to be
i) His/her likely associates whilst missing
j) State of mind at the time of going missing
k) Group behaviour
l) Any guidance within the child‟s care plan.
6 Plans should be made for the return of looked after children including Recovery Order
whether they should return to the same placement.
7 The child should be encouraged to talk to someone independent of their
placement upon their return.
8 Staff and foster carers should record details of all episodes of unauthorised
absences on the case file of the looked after child.
9 All incidents of unauthorised absence need to be logged on the RAISE system.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 Contact the police when a child is missing. Senior RSW / Case Recording As appropriate
Reference needs to be made to the child‟s risk foster carer Sheet and Log Book according to
assessment, if applicable, to determine when in residential care the child‟s risk
this should be. or foster carer‟s assessment
diary plan
2 Report the child missing to the social worker Senior RSW / Case Recording Out of Hours
or, if out of office hours, Out of Hours Team. foster carer Sheet and Log Book Team
in residential care immediately,
or foster carer‟s social worker
diary within one
Residential Missing working day
Person Report
part 1
3 Inform parents and people with parental Senior RSW / Case Recording Immediately
responsibility that the child is missing. foster carer / Sheet and Log Book after child has
Social Worker in residential care been reported
or foster carer‟s to the police
diary
4 If child is subject to a safeguarding plan inform Social Worker B'mth Area LSCB Immediately
Custodian of register and follow Child Protection Register
Protection Procedures. (ACPC5)
5 For periods of more than 24 hours update Social Immediately
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
RAISE. Worker/Admin
6 When the child returns inform police, parents Senior RSW / Case Recording Immediately
and social worker and any other relevant foster carer Sheet and Log Book on return
person. in residential care
or foster carer‟s
diary Residential
Missing Person
Report part 2
7 If child is subject to a safeguarding plan, Social Worker B'mth Area LSCB
inform Custodian of register when the child Protection Register
returns. (ACPC5)
8 When the child returns update RAISE. Social Immediately
Worker/Admin
9 Ascertain that the child has been safe while Senior RSW / Case Recording Immediately
they were away, look at any immediate issues foster carer Sheet and Log Book
regarding why they left the building or in residential care
placement, ensure that the young person‟s or foster carer‟s
physical needs are met and welcome them diary
back.
10 Discuss with child the reason why they went Key worker, Case Recording Within 3 days
missing and the need to keep safe. foster carer, Sheet and Log Book of return
Social Worker as in residential care
appropriate or foster carer‟s
diary
11 Reference should be made to the child‟s risk RSW or Social Risk Assessment Within 7 days
assessment. Worker Record on file of
return
12 Inform the custodian of the child protection Social Worker B'mth Area LSB Immediately
register and follow child protection procedures Protection Register
if the child is on the child protection register. (ACPC5)
13 Chronology and summary of residence to be Social Worker Child Care - Within 7 days
updated. Summary of
Residence
DoH Chronology
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
6.13 Looked After Children : Commissioning Out of Authority Placements
Objective To clearly define the process for making out of borough/agency
placements.
Legal & Policy Status The Children Act 1989
The Children Act 2004
Care Matters: Implementation Plan 2008
The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations, Volume 3 & 4
Bournemouth Commissioning Strategy Children's Services
Sufficiency: Statutory Guidance on Securing Sufficient Accommodation for
Looked After Children 2010
Children and Young Persons Act 2008
The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010
Statutory Guidance on Promoting the Health and Well-being of Looked
After Children
Accommodated Children Visiting Arrangement Regulations 2010
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 The term 'out of borough/agency placement' is used when the Council place a Read
child in an establishment not owned or operated by Bournemouth or with a commissioning
foster carer approved by another Council or with an independent fostering strategy
agency.
2 An out of borough/agency placement can only be made when there is no
existing placement within the family or Bournemouth‟s resources that can
meet the child‟s needs at that time, and a suitable placement is available
that will meet the needs of the child.
3 Children removed from their local environment are more vulnerable.
4 Social workers should aim to return the child to their own local area
throughout the life of the placement unless it is decided that this placement
is long-term.
5 The supervision and reviewing requirements are the same as for any other Review of
looked after child. However, officers involved (particularly reviewing Arrangement
officers) need to take account of best practice requirements.
6 Social Workers and reviewing officers need be aware of potential child
protection issues for children. Every opportunity should be taken to see the
child alone on visits, sometimes away from the placement. Social workers
should ensure children are aware of the agency‟s complaints procedure; the
Department‟s own complaints procedure and know how to access the
Department if they have any concerns.
7 If the out of borough/agency placement is a secure unit, these procedures Secure
need to be read in conjunction with those relating to secure accommodation. accommodation
order
8 The LAC documentation applies to all looked after children. It is particularly
important it is used conscientiously for children in out of borough/agency
placements.
9 Placements will not be made in any out of borough establishment without OFSTED
prior receipt and considerations of the latest OFSTED report.
10 The appointment of an independent visitor for the child should be considered Independent
particularly if the child is only able to enjoy infrequent contact with a parent visitors
or person with parental responsibility. Action for Children provides
Bournemouth with an Independent Visitors Service
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 Out of borough/agency placements can only be made at those establishments
registered as a Children‟s Home or in placements approved by another
Council or independent fostering agency, or in an OFSTED/DfE approved
residential school.
2 The standards for all provision of residential care for children are contained
in Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations, Volume 4 Residential Care.
3 The standards for all provision of foster placements for children are currently
contained in the Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations, volume 3,
Family Placements.
4 Where agreement has been reached between Team Manager and Service
Manager, that a family placement is required, an IFA placement may be
sought without any further Service Manager approval once in-house resources
have been exhausted; this will be delivered via the Access to Resources
Team.
5 Agreement for 'social care only' out of borough residential placements must
be taken by the service director. Agreement for out of borough residential
placements offering social care, education and health services can only be
made via the Joint Purchasing Panel process, which includes annual reviews.
6 Education at Key Stage 4 cannot be disrupted unless it is in the child‟s
interests and all parties have been consulted. The Director of Children‟s
Services, or a nominated officer has to sign off a placement plan if it involves
a change of school at KS4.
7 All the LAC documentation should be completed and kept up to date for all
children in out of borough/agency placements.
8 For children „looked after‟ for more than 6 months this includes the Assessment and
Assessment and Action Record which can be an important tool in monitoring action records,
the quality of care provided. Wherever possible the Social Worker should be Essential
actively involved in its completion, rather than delegating it to the Out of Information,
borough/agency to complete. Care Plans,
9 For any move from one out of borough/agency placement to another, the Reviews
same process applies as if it was an initial placement unless it is one in a Short break
series of respite care placements. reviews
10 The social worker should consider up to date inspection reports periodically
during the stay of the child.
11 The social worker should consider up to date unit statements/daily logs
periodically during the stay of the child.
12 The sufficiency duty requires Councils to take all reasonable steps to ensure
a range of placement provision is available locally.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 These procedures apply to out of Contracts Team Resource Request Immediately
borough/independent fostering agency Sheet
placements and 'social care only' residential
placements. For out of borough/agency
children‟s homes covering social care,
education and health, please see JPP policy. If
a child has complex care needs refer to the
protocol for intensive support and/or joint
funded placements.
2 Obtain BAAF Form F from agency and consider Contracts Team Case Recording Immediately
the suitability of the proposed placement. Sheet
3 Once a child is placed follow the change of Social worker Case Recording Immediately
placement procedures. Sheet as Change of
Placement
procedures
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
4 Requirements to visit the child are the same as Social worker LAC paperwork As LAC
any other placement. procedures
5 The reviewing requirements are the same as Reviewing LAC Review of Within 14 days
any placement, except in the case of secure Officer Arrangements of review
accommodation, however, the review report
must explicitly state that the placement
matches the young person‟s assessed needs.
The reviewing officer should have read the
Home‟s statement of purpose and function and
last inspection report.
Reviewed September 2010
Agreed by CSMT October 2010
Next Review Date September 2011
6.14 Looked After Children : Death of a Child in Care
Objective To ensure that the needs of family members, other significant adults,
professionals and paid carers are met sensitively whilst appropriate
investigations are underway.
Legal & Policy Status The Children Act 1989 Schedule 2 Sec. 20
Working Together to Safeguard Children 2010
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 The right to make funeral arrangements and to dispose of the child‟s
property rests exclusively with the child‟s birth parents except where the
child has been adopted. This is because all other court orders in respect of a
child end upon the death of that child.
2 If a child who is „looked after‟ by the Council dies, then the Executive Inter-Agency Child
Director of Children, Schools and Family Services must immediately inform protection
the Secretary of State. OFSTED also need to be notified. procedures
3 Following the death of (or serious injury to) a child, where abuse or neglect Inter-Agency Child
are known to have been a factor the LSCB should carry out a serious case protection
review to consider what lessons can be learnt and what should change. The procedures
executive summary of this report can be made public.
4 A manager independent of the case, or an external consultant, should
commence a review of the case and identify a proposed timescale for
completion of the report to the Executive Director of Children, Schools and
Family Services.
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 The Secretary of State must be informed immediately.
2 The team manager should immediately inform the parents and those people
with parental responsibility. Whilst this should be face-to-face, a telephone
conversation can suffice if a significant delay in arranging a meeting seems
likely. They should still have a subsequent face-to-face meeting unless family
members disagree.
3 Where death results from abuse or neglect or there is a suspicion of abuse or
neglect, then formal safeguarding procedures should be followed. These
should include consideration of a serious case review and any appropriate
disciplinary procedure. The investigation should be undertaken by a manager
independent of the case or an external consultant.
4 The team manager should ensure that the parents have every assistance to
make the funeral arrangements.
5 The Council will make funeral arrangements in keeping with the religion of
the child if parental guidance cannot be obtained.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 The Service Director, Children's Social Care, Team manager Case Recording Immediately
and the Executive Director of Children, Schools to inform Sheet
and Family Services is to be informed of the Service Manager Notification of
death or serious injury to a child who was being Amendments
looked after by Bournemouth Borough Council Service Manager Brief report
at the time of death. to inform
Service Director
/ Executive
Director
Reviewed September 2010
Agreed by CSMT October 2010
Next Review Date September 2011
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
2 Inform the Secretary of State and OFSTED. Director Immediately
3 Decide whether action, if any, should be taken Team manager Case Recording Immediately
under the child protection procedures. Sheet
Notification of
Amendments
4 Secure files and other agency documentation – Team Manager Immediately
Residential log books, foster carer files.
5 Inform parents and people with parental Social worker/ Case Recording Immediately
responsibility, this should be a face to face team manager Sheet
meeting unless there are exceptional Notification of
circumstances. Amendments
6 RAISE to be amended. Social Worker Notification of Immediately
Amendments
7 Ensure the availability of appropriate support Team manager Case Recording Immediately
to parents regarding making funeral Sheet
arrangements or, if they are not able, make Notification of
funeral arrangements in keeping with the Amendments
religion of the child.
8 Arrange for an independent case review to be Director Report Immediately
undertaken by an Internal manager/external
consultant if appropriate (abuse/suspected
abuse).
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
6.15 Looked After Children : Disruption Meetings
Objective To ensure that any pre-adoption, adoption or long-term placement which
ends in an unplanned way is analysed to ensure that all parties
understand why the placement broke down and to assist in the planning
of future placements.
To ensure that planning is key to providing stable placements for children
and young people.
Legal & Policy Status Managing Disruption – Barnardos
Stability of placements for children looked after
(Best Value Performance Indicator A1/BV49)
Children Acts 1989, 2004
Adoption and Children Act 2002
Adoption Agencies Regulations 2005
National Minimum Standards for Fostering and Adoption
Care Matters Implementation Plan 2008
Children and Young Persons Act 2008
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 Active steps should be taken to reduce the likelihood of placement
breakdown, for example with careful matching and preparatory work with
the child and proposed carers, followed by rigorous case management and
good multi agency service delivery.
2 Disruption meetings should take place after any placement identified within
the Care Plan as the long-tern placement for that child breaks down. This
applies to foster placements, adoptive placements and residential
placements.
3 Disruption meetings provide an opportunity for all the parties to meet
together, to reflect on the issues involved, including any grievances to be
aired and to look at what lessons have been learned and to move on.
4 Disruption meetings are not arenas for apportioning blame.
5 Placements rarely disrupt as the result of one individual, but usually through
a combination of factors. The disruption meeting should look at the sequence
of events in order to determine and identify:
a) Why the child‟s needs could not be met in the placement,
b) How the family can be supported to address the experience and any
needs that are identified,
c) The child's future needs
d) How practice development issues will be addressed.
6 A decision should be reached in discussion between the Independent
Reviewing Officer and the Team Manager as to who should chair and produce
the minutes of the meeting.
7 As well as supporting the child‟s stability in a new placement, the exercise
will enable all parties to learn lessons from the disruption process.
Cross-
Standards Referencing
1 In the case of a long-term placement breakdown, the meeting will take place 4
weeks after the placement has ended. A representative from the placement,
Chair and Social Worker will always, as a minimum, be present. In the event
that the placement was in foster care, then the Supervising Social Worker and
the Team Manager must also be present.
2 The meeting should be minuted by an admin worker from the Fostering and
Placements Team/Adoption Team or one of the Panel Administrators.
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
Cross-
Standards Referencing
3 The monitoring and regular review of this policy will measure its impact on
Children‟s Social Care learning, whether the number of disruptions reduce etc.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 Identify suitable chair for the disruption Independent Case Recording Within 7 days
meeting. Reviewing Sheet of placement
Officer, Team ending in an
Manager unplanned
way
2 Consultation between the Chair and the Team Chair Case Recording Within 7 days
Manager regarding participants required to Sheet of allocation
attend and invite to the meeting.
3 Preparation of chronology regarding the child. Social Worker Case Recording To be
Sheet available to
the Chair 3
days prior to
the meeting
4 Preparation of chronology regarding the Supervising Case Recording To be
placement. Social Worker/ Sheet available to
Key Worker the Chair 3
days prior to
the meeting
5 Review minutes, child's file and carer's file to Supervising Files/documents as To be
be available to the Chair. Social Worker/ indicated available to
Key Worker the Chair 3
days prior to
the meeting
6 Send invitations and identify minute taker. Supervising Case Recording At least 7 days
Social Worker/ Sheet prior to the
Key Worker meeting
7 Speak to participants (if appropriate include Chair Prior to the
child and family) before the meeting. meeting
commencing
8 Hold meeting. The format will be: Chair Minutes
In order to establish sufficient understanding of
the factors that have led to placement break
down, consideration will be given to:-
Child‟s life prior to being looked after
Reception into care
The child‟s life whilst looked after
Selection and matching process of the
adopter(s)/carer(s)
Introduction process to the adopter(s) /
carer(s)
The placement
Disruption and subsequent events
Future plans
Who will be informed of the outcomes and
who will be sent the summary of key points
and minutes (taken by the social worker)
The social worker will make the following
information available to all participants within
a reasonable period (to be agreed with the
chairperson) before the meeting:-
The child‟s history
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
Circumstances leading up to the placement
disrupting
Child‟s view of the placement and the
disruption
The adopters‟/carers‟ view of placement
and the disruption
Any relevant planning and decision making
issues
View of other professionals e.g education,
health
The circumstances that surround the disruption
will influence who the social worker invites.
Core participants:-
Chairperson
Social worker/young person (if the child /
young person does not want to attend, an
advocate will support the child in
expressing their views in another way. The
social worker‟s role includes checking that
an advocate has been appointed.)
Looked After Children Education Services
Where appropriate the following participants
will be considered:-
The carer(s)/adopter(s) who had cared for
the child
The child‟s current carer
The child‟s birth parents
Fostering Manager
Adoption Manager
Other professional(s)
A Chairperson (of at least team manager level)
who is independent of the case will:-
Ensure that a „no blame‟ approach is taken
Identify and summarise key contributory
factors to the disruption
Ensure that an action plan is developed for
the child
Ensure minutes and key summary points are
circulated according to the appropriate
timescales
Ensure agreement on who will take the
following actions after the meeting:
Send summary of key points to the
Adoption Panel/Fostering Panel within
6 weeks of the meeting being held
Record trends on the Adoption and
Foster Carer‟s Review Form
Attach minutes to child/young person‟s
file
Send minutes to the Single Referral
Service within 2 weeks.
9 Send minutes. Chair Case Recording Within 7 days
Sheet of the meeting
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
6.16 Looked After Children : Education
Objective To ensure all looked after children attend the school most appropriate to
their needs, receive a full time education and have a smooth transition to
secondary school. Also to ensure they are given priority status as
required.
Legal & Policy Status The Children Act 1989, sec. 17, 36
The Children Act 2004, sec. 52
The Education Act 1996, Pt IV
Special Education Needs Code of Practice 2001
The Code of Practice for Schools Admissions
DfES/DCSF Statutory Guidance: The Education of Children in Public Care
2000
A Better Education for Children in Care Social Exclusion Unit Report 2004
Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009
Statutory Guidance: The Role and the Responsibilities of the Designated
Teacher for Looked After Children Nov 2009
Children, Schools and Families Act 2010
The Designated Teacher (Looked After Pupils etc.)(England) Regulations
2009
Children Act Higher Education Bursary (England) Regulations 2009
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 The Council is committed to ensuring looked after children achieve to the
best of their abilities, receive a good and full time education, and get
sufficient appropriate support to minimise the potential disruption and
disadvantage they could face.
2 All looked after children in Bournemouth, whether Bournemouth children or
children placed by other Councils, are part of Bournemouth‟s Virtual school,
as are Bournemouth children placed in other council areas. The Head
teacher of the Virtual school works closely with the LAC team and the service
manager responsible for Corporate Parenting. The role of the Head teacher
of the Virtual school is to promote best possible outcomes for all children in
the Virtual school.
3 The Council will ensure children can remain at their existing school wherever
possible. If a change of placement is the best option or a child moves to a
placement requiring a change of school, the locality social work teams or the
LAC team will work together with other professionals to ensure a smooth,
positive and timely transfer.
4 Dedicated education staff based within the LAC team will work with children
from the point at which they are accommodated and in advance of the social
workers in the LAC team taking responsibility for them. The remit of these
dedicated staff is to raise the attainment of looked after children and
support them in achieving the best possible outcomes.
5 There is a collective responsibility within the Council, covering all officers
and Elected Members, to act as good parents for all children in their care.
An essential part of this responsibility involves safeguarding and promoting
their education. This commitment is made at the most senior level. Issues
relating to the education of looked after children, and their attainment is
reported through the Programme Board to the Children‟s Trust, and via
Corporate Parenting Panel, through IIP Scrutiny and Overview Panel to
Cabinet.
6 On an annual basis there is a Celebrating Success Award evening. Staff,
teachers, foster carers and residential staff can nominate a child or young
person for an award for a range of achievements. Children and young people
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
enjoy sharing their successes with carers and family members.
7 Councils should give maximum encouragement to those with parental Parental
responsibility and foster carers to take advantage of pre-school provision Responsibility
where appropriate. Given the adverse life experiences of some looked after
children they may not be functioning at their chronological level, so plans to
use such provision must be made within the context of the overall plan for
the child.
8 Children‟s Centres are a source of support in terms of early child
development and foster carers should be encouraged to make use of their
facilities.
9 Bournemouth has a Virtual School Head. The VSH and teacher will work
closely with other professionals and carers to ensure that education
attainment/outcomes for looked after children improve.
10 It is very important that looked after children attend primary and secondary
schools that are local to them; whilst in Bournemouth we would hope to
maintain a child‟s existing school, at the point of transition from primary to
secondary consideration should be given to the child transferring to the
secondary school nearest their placement, especially where the placement is
a long term one. This should be discussed with the child, their parents, and
carers, and agreed within the LAC service between social workers and
education staff.
11 Where a child is preparing to transfer to a secondary school they, like their
peers should have the opportunity to visit secondary schools in the area and
should be accompanied by their carer, parent and social worker. All
discussions about a child‟s education, should have the child at the centre and
fully participating in those discussions.
12 Where a looked after child has an SEN statement, the school they attend is
named on the statement.
13 Social workers, parents and carers may express a preference for the
maintained school (but not a Pupil Referral Unit) they wish the child to
attend, or make representations for a placement in any other school.
Children‟s Learning and Engagement will comply with such preferences unless
the school is unsuitable to the child‟s age, ability, religious beliefs, aptitude
or special educational needs, or the placement would be incompatible with
the efficient education of the other children in the school.
14 Unless a social worker, parent or care indicate that they do not want the Joint Purchasing
child education in a mainstream school, CLE must ensure the child is Panel
educated in a mainstream school unless that is incompatible with the
efficient education of other children. In such circumstances a Team Around
The Child approach will engage social work and potentially health
professionals with a view to identifying a specialist provision, to be approved
via Joint Purchasing Panel.
15 If the allocated social worker has concerns about the child‟s education, or PEPs
the educational progress they are making, they should consult in the first
instance with education colleagues within the LAC team, and with the SEN
team, if the child has a statement, and following that, with the school,
designated teacher and form teacher. An interim PEP should be arranged to
address this concern.
16 Looked after children and young people from minority ethnic backgrounds
may be particularly vulnerable to educational disadvantage. As a Corporate
Parent, the Council will be especially sensitive to their needs, promote their
achievement and take steps to ensure they are not subjected to negative
stereotyping and harassment.
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 Social workers will liaise with the child‟s school and with the education staff
within the LAC team as soon as a child becomes accommodated. If the child
is not in school, the education staff within the LAC team will assist by
identifying an appropriate education placement.
2 A Personal Education Plan will be put in place within 20 school days of a child PEPs
becoming accommodated or changing school. It will be reviewed on a six LAC Reviews
monthly basis, at least, and in advance of the LAC review. Access to the
Personal Education Allowance is via the PEP.
3 Where a pre-school child is already accommodated, consideration of school
placement should begin during the September after the child‟s 4 th birthday.
The social worker, in discussion with the foster carer and the education staff
in the LAC team will agree a preferred school and request a place at that
school.
4 Where problems occur at school, they should be reported to the education Positive Behaviour
staff and social work staff in the LAC team (or social work staff in the locality Management
team if the child is newly accommodated) and a team around the child TAC meetings
meeting should be called to ensure all professionals are working together
with the foster/residential carer and parents, to successfully address those
problems.
5 Where a child is at risk of exclusion, the social worker and foster/residential
carer will work closely with the school, education staff within the LAC team
and the Virtual School Head, exploring reasons, causes and avenues of
additional support in order to avoid exclusion.
6 If a looked after child is excluded, even temporarily, alternative provision for
that child‟s education should be in place from day 1. A team around the
child approach will be used to ensure everyone supports successful return to
school as soon as possible and a reintegration meeting should be held in
school. In the event of a LAC being permanently excluded, the social worker
and education worker must consider appealing against the exclusion.
7 In the event that a child moves placement at any time, the child‟s social
worker should inform the education staff in the LAC team immediately so
that new education arrangements can be made. If an external placement is
required, the social worker and the brokerage worker in the contracts team
should liaise with the education staff in the LAC team and the SEN team, if
the child has a Statement of SEN, immediately to ensure any placement
considered can access good and appropriate education provision for the
child.
8 Education at Key Stage 4 cannot be disrupted unless it is in the child‟s
interests and all parties have been consulted. The Director of Children‟s
Services or a nominated officer must sign of a placement plan if it involves a
change of school at KS4.
9 Where a child is due to transfer to secondary school, the LAC review IRO
undertaken during year 5 should clarify who will accompany the child to an LAC Review
open evening, and, where known, record the date of the open evening. The
child‟s social worker should consult with the education staff in the LAC team
to assist in the decision making processes at the following review
10 For looked after children with SEN statements, who are due to transfer to
secondary school there should be a statutory review of the statement before
the end of October, in year 6, but preferably at the end of year 5 discussion
and selection of the most appropriate secondary school is made. This
statutory review should take place at the same time as the child‟s LAC
review.
11 No looked after child should be without a school place for more than 20
school days (Sec 52, Children Act ‟04). In Bournemouth our standard is 0 days
whenever possible.
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
Cross-Referencing
Standards
12 Where a specialist provision is being considered, the social worker and SEN team
education worker should consider the following information from that Brokerage:
provision:- Placements
The achievement of children currently using the provision
The behaviour policy
OFSTED reports
SEN policy
Equalities policies
Performance tables
Work schemes and syllabuses
All specialist placements will be sourced by the brokerage service within the
contracts team and the SEN team if the child has a Statement of SEN.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 Identifying appropriate school placements at Education Case recording In place prior to
point of transition or when necessary due to worker/social Admissions form move
placement change. worker
2 Ensuring young person is able to visit schools Social Worker Case recording Pre transfer
when transferring from Primary to Secondary to
assist in deciding which school they wish to
attend.
3 Need for Personal Educational Allowance to be Education PEP targets / During PEP
identified in PEP. worker/social record
worker
4 Application of PEA. Education PEA application During PEP
worker/social form
worker Part of PEP
5 Authorisation of PEA. LAC team PEA application By next LAC
manager/ form Review
Advisory Part of PEP
Teacher for LAC
6 Ensuring completion of PEP Social worker PEP Within 20 school
days of
accommodation
or of school
change, then at
least every 6
months
7 Ensuring appropriate provision if a LAC is CLE/Education Case recording Day 1 of
excluded workers exclusion
8 Appealing against permanent exclusion of LAC Social worker / Letter of appeal Within statutory
education timescales
worker
9 Ensuring Education workers and SEN team, if Brokerage C9003 Prior to
appropriate, are consulted prior to any /social worker placement
placement changes whenever possible, and
C9003 completed.
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
6.17 Looked After Children : Emergency Medical Attention
Objective To ensure that young people are given appropriate and timely medical
attention.
Legal & Policy Status Children Acts 1989, 2004
Care Matters : Implementation Plan 2008
Children and Young Persons Act 2008
Statutory Guidance on Promoting the Health and Well-being of Looked
After Children 2010
NICE/SCIE guidance: The Physical and Emotional Health and Well-being of
Looked After Children and Young People 2010
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 In the event of an accident to a looked-after child, the child's carer will
ensure the child receives appropriate first aid and/or medical treatment as
well as providing comfort in order to alleviate distress.
2 A full record is made regarding the circumstances leading up to and including
the incident.
3 If a child is taken or admitted to hospital for treatment, any medical Personal Health
documentation including Placement Plan 1 (which gives consent to Plans
emergency examination and treatment) and (Consent to treatment,
examination, assessment etc) if this is available at the locality of the
incident, should be made available. A Child‟s Health Plan may contain useful
information for examining Health Staff.
4 Where medical treatment is or has been necessary those with parental
responsibility will be informed as soon as possible. Ideally parental
permission should be obtained in respect of the specific medical treatment.
In the case of children subject to care orders permission should be sought
from a service manager or Service Director. If the child is of sufficient age
and understanding they may give their own consent to treatment though
those with parental responsibility should still be involved in and informed of
the process.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 In order that a child can receive prompt Social worker Placement Plan 1–48 hours
treatment, a parent or a person with parental Part 1 section 7 before
responsibility is asked to sign the medical Health Care placement
consent section contain in Placement Plan Part Arrangements for commences or
One prior to or shortly after the placement. Looked After immediately
Consent to treatment, examination, assessment Children afterwards if
etc form is completed within the Health an emergency
Planning for looked after children. placement
Health Plan –
28 days action
2 At the time of the incident the person with the Person with the Case Recording Immediately
child must do whatever is reasonable in all the child Sheet Record on
circumstances of the case to obtain the Residential log return from
appropriate medical attention for the child. Foster Carers Diary treatment
3 Foster carer or staff member accompanying the Person with the Health Care If readily
child should take any relevant medical child Arrangements for available
documentation if this is available at the Looked After taken by carer
locality of the accident or incident. Children accompanying
Placement Plan the child
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
Part 1
Health Plan LAC
4 Inform the parents and people with parental Person with the Case Recording
responsibility and the social worker. This may child/ social Sheet
depend upon the urgency or severity of the worker Residential log
accident or incident. Foster Carers Diary
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
6.18 Looked After Children : Essential Information Record – Parts 1 & 2
Objective To ensure that essential information pertaining to the health, education,
development and welfare of the child is collected usually before a
placement is made.
Legal & Policy Status The Children Act 1989 Guidance & regulations Vols 3 & 4
Looking After Children – HMSO Dept of Health 1995
The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010
The Children & Young Persons Act 2008
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 Children‟s needs cannot be properly assessed and subsequently met without
completion of these records.
2 Parents should be encouraged to add information they consider essential
beyond that asked for during the completion process. This information should
be considered just as important as the required information.
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 Part 1 should be completed before the child enters a new placement. Fostering/Residential:
Placement of
Children
2 Whilst it is usual to complete Part 1 before the start of the placement
during a pre placement meeting, it can be done within 48 hours of the
start if the placement was an emergency.
3 Copies of Part 1 and 2 to be left with both the parent(s) and the carer(s).
A copy should also be placed on file and sent to the Placements Team and
Independent Reviewing Team.
4 Both Part 1 & 2 should be updated when a new placement is made and
whenever a change occurs.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 Essential information record (part 1) must be Social worker EIR part 1 Before
completed. Parent and young person will assist with parent and placement
in the completion. young person commences or
within 48
hours if an
emergency
2 Information to be input to RAISE. Social Worker Immediately
3 Any new names addresses or other relevant Social Worker Notification of Immediately
information to be input on RAISE. Amendments
4 Completed copy of EIR part 1 to carers, parents Social worker LAC Forms Before
and send to independent reviewing team. Distribution placement
commences or
within 48
hours if an
emergency
5 Completed copy of EIR part 1 on file. Social worker LAC Forms Immediately
Distribution
6 EIR part 2 must be completed. Social worker EIR part 2 Before
placement
begins or
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
within 14 days
7 Completed copy of EIR part 2 to carers, parents Social worker LAC Forms Before
and send to independent reviewing team. Distribution placement
commences or
within 14 days
if an
emergency
8 Completed copy of EIR part 2 on file. Social Worker LAC Forms Immediately
Distribution
9 Both parts of EIR 1 and 2 should be amended Social Worker LAC Forms Prior to
before each review. Copies sent to carers, Distribution review
parents and independent reviewing team. Residential log As appropriate
Copy on file. but as soon as
possible after
medical
treatment has
been provided
10 RAISE to be updated. Social Work Immediately
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
6.20 Looked After Children : Immediate Placements
Objective To ensure that immediate placements of children conform to regulations.
To enable the immediate placement of children in a family based care
arrangement when the carer is not a current approved foster carer.
Legal & Policy Status The Children Act 1989 and Volume 3
Regulation 38 of the Foster Placement Regulations 2001
National Minimum Standards-Foster Care 2010
Fostering Services Regulations 2011
Care Standards Act 2000
Children and Young Persons Act 2008
Sufficiency: Statutory Guidance in Securing Sufficient Accommodation for
Looked After Children 2010
The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010
Care Planning, Placement & Case Review Regulations 2010
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 It is Bournemouth‟s policy not to accommodate children over the age of ten Eligibility Criteria
unless there are serious safeguarding concerns meeting the threshold for care
proceedings.
2 This policy relates to the placement of children and young people in any
family based care arrangement that would be covered by statutory provision.
3 Children who are looked after by the Council can only be placed with persons
who are already approved as foster carers. However, where the Council is
satisfied that the immediate placement of a child is necessary it may place
the children with a person not already approved as a foster carer providing
that:
a) A responsible officer of the Council has interviewed that person.
b) It has been established that the person is a relative or friend of the child.
c) The accommodation has been inspected.
d) Information has been obtained about other persons living in the
household.
e) The arrangement does not exceed a period of six weeks.
f) That this is the most suitable way for the Council to perform its duty
g) Police and social services checks have been initiated
4 That the person will carry out the duties specified in the procedures below
and has signed a written agreement to that. The DUTIES referred to above
are:
a) To care for the child as if s/he were a member of that person‟s family.
b) To permit any person authorised by the Council to visit the child at any
time.
c) To allow the child to be removed at any time.
d) To ensure that any information which the carer may acquire relating to
the child, or to his family or any other person, which has been given to
him in confidence in connection with the placement is kept confidential
and not disclosed except to, or with the agreement of, the Council.
e) To allow parents contact with the child under any arrangement made or
agreed by the Council.
5 The LAC Placement Plan 1 requires written information on JAR A11 to be
given to the carer.
6 The social worker will visit the child as a minimum weekly.
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 The placement is assessed as most appropriate to meet the child‟s immediate
needs.
2 The child must be visited and seen on his/her own at least once every week
for the duration of the Regulation 38 approval.
3 During the six weeks of the emergency or immediate placement, the Council
will take all necessary measures to decide whether the person looking after
the child should continue as a foster carer for a longer period of time or,
alternatively, terminate the placement.
4 A written report must be made of each visit.
5 If the arrangement is to continue longer than six weeks the field social
worker has responsibility for bringing an application for fostering status to
the fostering panel using BAAF form F2. The placements team will take
ongoing responsibility from that point.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 Complete assessment of need. Social worker Initial Assessment Within 7 days
Record Within 35 days
Children in Need - As situation
Core Assessment arises
Case Recording
Sheet
2 Consider all other options before agreeing to Social Case Recording Immediately
the immediate placement of the child with worker/Team Sheet
someone who is not approved as a foster carer. manager Management
Decision Sheets
3 Minimum requirements to be fulfilled before Social Worker Case Recording Prior to
approval can be given are: Interview with Sheet approval
prospective carer, checks on accommodation,
information regarding members of the
household.
4 RAISE checks to be undertaken on household Social worker Case Recording Prior to
members and address. Sheet approval
5 Local Police, Health, Education checks to be Social Worker Case Recording Prior to
undertaken. Sheet placement
6 Carers to sign written undertaking in respect ofSocial worker Written Prior to
a looked after child. Undertaking of a Placement
Relative or Friend
in Respect of a
Child/Young Person
being Looked After
by the Council
(LACT 02)
7 Approval of placement. Service Director Case Recording Prior to
Sheet placement
8 Regulation 38 is intended to enable placements Social Worker Referral to Immediately
in an emergency and on a short-term basis. Placements Team
If the placement exceeds or is likely to exceed
six weeks then the relative or friend must be
approved as foster carers.
9 Fostering and Placements Team to commence Supervising Form F Within 6
full assessment. Social Worker weeks
Reviewed September 2010
Agreed by CSMT October 2010
Next Review Date April 2012
6.21 Looked After Children : Independent Reviewing Officers
Objective To ensure that there is, independent of line management, monitoring of
the local authority‟s review of a Looked After Child‟s Care Plans with the
aim of ensuring that actions required to implement the Care and Child
Protection Plans are carried out and outcomes monitored.
(FOR THE INDEPENDENT REVIEWING OFFICER ROLE IN CHILD PROTECTION,
PLEASE SEE THE SAFEGUARDING SECTION)
Legal & Policy Status The Children Act 1989(Sec 25B – amended by the Children and Young
Person‟s Act 2008)
The Children Act 2004
Local Safeguarding Board Child Protection Procedures 2000
Adoption and Children Act 2002
Independent Reviewing Officer‟s Guidance
Review of Children‟s Cases (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2004
Children & Young Persons Act 2008
The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010
IRO Handbook 2011
Children (Leaving Care) Regulations 2010
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 Independent Reviewing Officers are responsible for monitoring Looked LAC Review of
After Children‟s Care and Pathway Plans. Arrangements/Pathway
Planning
2 Independent Reviewing Officers will be located in the Safeguarding &
Quality Assurance Unit, independent of line and operational management
of cases.
3 Independent Reviewing Officers will contribute to the audit, quality
assurance and performance management of Children‟s Social Care.
4 Independent Reviewing Officers will maintain robust data information
systems.
5 Independent Reviewing Officers will produce management information
reports as required.
6 Independent Reviewing Officers will undertake audits on cases, including
internal management and serious case reviews and any additional audit
functions to support the business unit and corporate business plans.
7 Independent Reviewing Officers will offer an advice and consultation
service to Children‟s Social Care staff and other professionals.
8 Independent Reviewing Officers will ensure Looked After Children Care Planning,
Reviews are held within timescales. Placement & Case
Review Regulations
9 Independent Reviewing Officers will ensure full participation of children Care Planning,
and families in Looked After Child Reviews and Child Protection Placement & Case
Conferences. Review Regulations
10 IROs are responsible for spending time with each child before the review
to determine their wishes and feelings.
11 Independent Reviewing Officers will ensure that the views of the child
and family are known, understood and taken into account.
12 Independent Reviewing Officers will ensure those identified as being
responsible for implementing any decision/actions taken at Looked After
Reviews are followed through, either via a specific time or at the next
review.
13 Failure to review a case or take proper steps to implement plans will be
brought to the attention of Children's Social Care staff or other agency.
Reviewed September 2010
Agreed by CSMT October 2010
Next Review Date April 2012
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
14 IROs are responsible for monitoring the council‟s performance in relation
to the child‟s case. They are able to adjourn review meetings if they
think that the process would be unproductive.
15 A record of all referrals to CAFCASS must be kept.
16 All Looked After Children must be made aware of the complaints Complaints Procedure
procedure.
17 Independent Reviewing Officers do have a role in instigating the
complaints procedures themselves.
18 Independent Reviewing Officers should not prejudice the complaints
procedure, but may assist to speed up the process or assist towards a
resolution.
19 Independent Reviewing Officers will need to make a judgement as to
whether any complaint is serious enough to constitute a breach of the
child‟s Human Rights to justify a referral to CAFCASS or await a resolution
through the complaints procedure. They should help the child obtain
legal advice if needed.
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 The identified Children‟s Reviewer will chair all subsequent reviews following
the Initial Review.
2 All Looked After Children Reviews will be held within statutory timescales. Care Planning,
Placement & Case
Review Regulations
3 Independent Reviewing Officers will ensure that:
The child‟s views are understood and taken into account.
Those persons responsible for implementing any decision made through a
Care Plan, will progress them to the intended outcomes.
They regularly review the child‟s Care Plan.
4 Looked After Children Reviews will identify a plan of action with agreed
timescales; identify who will carry out elements of the plan, timescales and
intended outcomes.
5 Looked After Children Care Plans will be reviewed at the first review and Care Planning,
thereafter through subsequent reviews. Placement & Case
Review Regulations
6 Where Looked After Children and Care Plans are not being progressed or poor
practice is identified, this will be addressed with the worker/agency
responsible.
7 Where it is not possible to find a resolution, the matter will be taken to
senior officers of the relevant agency, within agreed timescales.
8 In exceptional cases this may result in a referral to CAFCASS.
9 Placements cannot be terminated without a case review, unless there is a
risk of significant harm to the child.
10
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 Independent Reviewing Officers are available Independent Child Care File/LAC
for advice and consultation Reviewing File/Case
Officers Recording sheet
2 The Safeguarding & Quality Assurance Unit will Administration LAC Review of Within 28
identify a Children‟s Reviewer to chair a Officer Arrangements days.
Looked After Children‟s Review. LAC File/Letter Subsequent
Review within
91 days and
Reviewed September 2010
Agreed by CSMT October 2010
Next Review Date April 2012
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
183 days
respectively.
3 Children‟s and family views are understood and Independent Case Recording At the Review
taken into account through the Advocacy Reviewing Sheet
Service, Viewpoint and consultation documents Officers LAC Review of
and or attending at Looked After Children Arrangements
Reviews. Consultation
Documents
4 Looked After Children Care Plan will be Independent LAC Review of Within 28
reviewed within statutory timescales. Reviewing Arrangements days, 91 days
Officers and 183 days
respectively
5 Where a Looked After Child Care Plan/Pathway Independent Child Care file/LAC Immediately
Plan is not being progressed or poor practice is Reviewing File/Letter
identified this will be brought to the attention Officers LAC Review of
of the staff/agency concerned. Arrangements
6 Where a satisfactory resolution, using all Independent Child Care file/LAC Within agreed
channels cannot be agreed for a Looked After Reviewing File/Letter/ timescale
Child, a referral to CAFCASS may be made. Officers Case Recording
Sheet
LAC Review of
Arrangements
7 Care Plan/Pathway Plan not being progressed. Independent Child Care file/LAC Within 10
Identified/responsible professional/agency Reviewing File/Letter working days
must be asked to account for this inaction. Officers LAC Review of
Arrangements
8 If unsatisfactory or no response received Independent Child Care file/LAC Within 10
arrange to meet with the professional/agency Reviewing File/Letter/LAC working days
concerned. Officers LAC Review of
Arrangements
9 If no satisfactory resolution can be found, Independent Child Care file/LAC Within 10
formal letter to be sent to the professional/ Reviewing File/Letter/ working days
agency (copy to Social Worker, Senior Officers LAC Review of
Practitioner, Team Manager, Service Manager Arrangements
(Fieldwork) Service Manager (S & QA Unit).
10 If still no satisfactory resolution can be found, Independent Child Care file/LAC Within 10
letter of intent to refer to Service Director, Reviewing File/Letter/ working days
Children's Social Care/respective Manager of Officers LAC Review of
Service involved (with copy to those identified Arrangements
in 9 above).
11 Take matter to Service Director, Children's Independent Child Care file/LAC Within 10
Social Care/respective Manager of Service Reviewing File/Letter/ working days
involved. Officers LAC Review of
Arrangements
12 Inform the Director of Children, Families and Independent Child Care file/LAC Within 5
Schools Services if still no satisfactory Reviewing File/Letter/ working days
resolution of intention to refer to CAFCASS. Officers LAC Review of
Arrangements
13 Refer to CAFCASS. Independent Child Care file/LAC Within 5
Reviewing File/Letter/ working days
Officers LAC Review of
Arrangements
Reviewed September 2010
Agreed by CSMT October 2010
Next Review Date April 2012
6.22 Looked After Children : Independent Visitors
Objective To ensure provision of an independent visitor for children looked after.
Legal & Policy Status The Children Act 1989
The Children Act 2004
Care Matters : Implementation Plan 2008
The Children (Secure Accommodation) Regulations 1991
The Children Act Guidance and Regulations Volumes 3 & 4
The Children and Young Persons Act 2008
The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 The Council has a duty to consider appointing an independent visitor for a Children Act 1989
child who has had infrequent communication or contact with the person with
parental responsibility and a duty to provide one in all cases were a child has
not been visited by their parent for the preceding 12 months.
2 A child or young person‟s relationship with an independent visitor is a face to
face one. In exceptional circumstance overnight stays with the visitor may be
thought to be appropriate and beneficial to the young person. In all cases the
independent visitor must have complied with the family placement
regulations and a full assessment undertaken and statutory checks
completed.
3 The Council is required to inform the independent visitor that the young
person is in secure accommodation and their intention, if so, to apply to the
court to keep the young person in secure accommodation.
4 The appointment of the independent visitor should be regularly reviewed as
part of the review process.
5 Action for Children provides an independent visitors services for
Bournemouth.
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 Consideration of the appointment of an independent visitor should form part
of the review process.
2 There should be no conflict of interest in terms of relationship between the Review of
independent visitor and the local authority or secure unit, thus ensuring Arrangements
independent support/advocacy for the young person.
3 A child‟s independent visitor should be informed of their admission to secure
accommodation and the Council‟s further intentions.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 Consider appointing an independent visitor Social worker/ Case Recording Ongoing
whenever: reviewing Sheet
1. a child has not had contact with a parent officer LAC Review of
or people with parental responsibility over Arrangements
the preceding twelve months
2. the contact over the preceding twelve
months has been infrequent
3. if you think an independent visitor would
benefit the young person
4. if the young person requests one.
2 Independent visitors to be invited to LAC Social Worker Note re - Review of 2 weeks prior
Reviews of Arrangements. LAC - Children's Act to Review
1989 (LACT06)
3 Independent visitor is to be notified if a child is Social Worker Letter Immediately
Reviewed September 2010
Agreed by CSMT October 2010
Next Review Date April 2012
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
placed in secure accommodation.
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
6.23 Looked After Children : Individual Placement Contracts
Objective To improve the outcomes for Looked After Children and Young People in
Bournemouth, through the development of outcome-focussed, SMART
individual placement agreements.
Legal & Policy Status The Children Act 1989
The Children Act 2004
The Children and Young Persons Act 2008
Care Matters – Time for Change: Implementation Plan 2008
Children‟s Social Care Service Plan 2011-12
The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 Each Placement will be underpinned by a robust, outcome focussed
Placement Contract.
2 Each Placement Contract will be informed by a multi agency assessment
child/young person‟s needs.
3 Success of a placement will be measured against the five outcomes identified
in Every Child Matters.
4 Outcomes listed in the Placement Contract will be reviewed and measured LAC Reviews
for success within the statutory LAC review, unless otherwise indicated.
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 Where possible, placement choice will be informed by a multi agency
assessment of need, to bring about the best possible placement match.
2 Partner agencies will be actively involved in the identification of the best
placement match.
3 The multi agency assessment of need will help to specify the outcomes for
each LAC child and young person, in the Individual Placement Contract.
4 Individual Placement Contracts will be completed within 72 hours of
placement.
5 Individual Placement Contract outcomes will be reviewed a minimum of
twice per year.
6 Where outcomes are not being achieved in line with expectation, urgent
discussion will take place with the placement provider.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 Complete multi agency assessment of need, ChildCare Area Core Assessment 35 working
with clear outcomes for LAC children and Team days
young people. Practitioner/LAC
Team
Practitioner/
Partner agencies
2 Once placement is identified, through Access Allocated LAC Individual Placement Within 7 days
to Resources Team, Individual Placement Team Practitioner Contract of placement
Contract to be completed, following on ECM5
outcome areas
3 Individual Placement Contracts to be signed LAC Team Manager Individual Placement Within 21 days
by relevant agencies. / Named Health Contract of placement
contact / Named
Education contact
/ Provider
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
4 Signed Individual Placement Contracts to beContracts Team Copies of Individual Ongoing
distributed to LAC Team Manager, Finance, Placement Contract
CR and QA Unit and Provider.
5 Individual Placement Contract to be reviewed Independent LAC review Minimum
within LAC review system Reviewing Officers document twice yearly
/ LAC Team
Practitioner/Other
Review attendees
6 If no progress noted against Individual LAC Team Manager Meeting minutes Immediate
Placement Contract, urgent discussion to / Named Health,
take place. Education
colleagues,
Provider
Reviewed September 2010
Agreed by CSMT October 2010
Next Review Date October 2011
6.24 Looked After Children : Medication
Objective To ensure that looked after children receive appropriate medication and
that it is stored and administered safely and effectively
Legal & Policy Status The Children Act 1989
The Children Act 2004
Children‟s Homes Regulations 1991
The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations: Volume 4 – Residential
Care
National Minimum Standards for Fostering Services and Residential Care
Children and Young Persons Act 2008
The Care Planning, Placements and Case Review Regulations 2010
Statutory Guidance on Promoting the Health and Well-being of Looked After
Children 2010
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 It is essential that a looked after child or young person‟s medication record is Essential Information
kept clearly and accurately. Record 1
2 Information about medication should be part of the initial medical Personal Health Plan
examination/written health assessment and should be included as part of the
ongoing medical examinations/health assessments held:
a) at least once every 6 months before the child‟s fifth birthday;
b) at least once a year thereafter.
3 Information about the child‟s medication needs should be included on the
child‟s personal health plan.
4 Every child should be registered with a medical practitioner. Carers should
ensure the child or young person consults the medical practitioner whenever
the need arises.
5 Fraser competence is based on the capacity to understand what is involved in
each situation in which medical treatment is required. Young people under
16 cannot, therefore, give blanket consent to medical treatment. The
situation is different, however, with respect to refusal of treatment. The
courts have decided that anyone with parental responsibility can, in certain
circumstances, override the refusal of a Fraser competent child. Such
circumstances have involved serious medical conditions such as anorexia,
leukaemia and organ transplant.
6 Young people over 16 may give consent to, or refuse, treatment although in
certain circumstances a Court may over rule this decision.
7 Carers must ensure that any medication is administered as prescribed. Young
people over 16 may hold and administer their own medication. Some children
under 16 may be able to self administer medication providing there has been
a careful assessment of their capability which has involved a health
practitioner responsible for prescribing the medication.
8 Carers ensure that medicines, including those which can be obtained without
prescription, are stored in a secure place.
9 In addition please refer to the internal procedures of Bournemouth‟s
residential children‟s home, Milton House, as applicable.
10 When a child is looked after issues of consent to treatment (which includes LAC – Residential
medication) must be clearly understood by the carers and the child:
for children under 16 who are accommodated the right to give consent on Accommodation
behalf of the child remains with the parents/those with parental
responsibility Care Order
for children under 16 on a care order then parents share parental
responsibility with the Council and it will be a matter of negotiation who
should give consent, although parents should be consulted
Reviewed September 2010
Agreed by CSMT October 2010
Next Review Date October 2011
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
the Fraser Guidelines (Mental Health Act 1983 Code of Practice 1999)
indicate that young people under 16 have a right to confidential medical
advice and treatment without parental consent, providing:
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 Children must be able to understand the advice and mature enough to
understand what is involved if they are to consent
2 The doctor cannot persuade them to inform parents/those with parental
consent
3 Their physical/mental health will suffer if they do not have treatment
4 That it is in their best interests to be given such treatment without parental
consent
5 That in the case of contraception or substance misuse, the young person will
continue to put themselves at risk of harm if they do not have the treatment.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 Health information to be obtained from Social worker EIR Part1 Prior to, or
parent/carer prior to, or at time of Placement Plan within 48
accommodation. Part 1 hours of
Documentation to be completed regarding the Health Care placement
consent to emergency treatment, examination Arrangements for
etc. LAC
2 Information regarding medication to be shared Social worker EIR Part1 Prior to, or
with carers. Looked After Children Nurses LAC Nurses Placement Plan immediately
will discuss with carers ongoing issues regarding Part 1 following
medication and treatment. Health Plan - LAC placement
LAC Forms
Distribution
3 See residential unit procedure if child is in RSW As prescribed As prescribed
residential care.
4 See foster carer manual if child is in foster Carer As prescribed As prescribed
care.
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
6.25 Looked After Children : Overnight Stays
Objective To ensure that children who are looked after have opportunities to visit
and stay overnight with friends or relatives while at the same time
fulfilling the Council responsibility as corporate parents to keep them safe
Legal & Policy Status The Children Act 1989
The Children Act 2004
The Placement of Children with Parents etc. Regulations 1991
LAC (2004)4 : Guidance on the Delegation of Decisions on Overnight
Stays for Looked After Children
Care Matters Implementation Plan 2008
Children and Young Persons Act 2008
The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010
The foster Carer Charter 2011
Fostering Regulations (amended) 2011
Children‟s Homes Regulations (amended) 2011
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 The Council has a duty both to safeguard any child looked after and to
promote her/his welfare
2 The Council must therefore balance the wish to promote 'normal' activities
experienced by most children against the need to ensure that the child or
young person is not placed at any risk.
3 If there is a request for an overnight stay and the child is accommodated Parental
subject to Section 20 of the Children Act 1989 then the parents, or a person responsibility
with parental responsibility, should be fully consulted and parental
permission obtained. Where possible this should be in writing.
4 If a parent cannot be contacted the Council may give permission for the
overnight stay if it is consistent with the child‟s welfare.
5 Parental permission does not, however, absolve the Council from their duty
to ensure that the overnight stay does not place the child others at risk of
harm.
6 If the child is subject to a care order then ideally the parents, or someone Care Order
with parental responsibility should be consulted, but the decision may be
made by a team manager.
7 The decision about whether to allow overnight stays needs to involve a
process of assessment which should be similar to that which any 'good parent'
would make before allowing a child to stay overnight with other people.
8 The assessment would include:
a) Talking to the child about the friend and relative with whom it is
proposed they stay.
b) Speaking to the adults involved to check arrangements and be satisfied
that the child will be safe
c) Obtaining information about the parents and family
d) Ensuring someone talks to the child when they return to check that they
have not felt uncomfortable
e) Taking into account the likely behaviour of the child
f) The influence the friend, their friends and their family may have
g) The risk the child may pose to others
h) The risks the child may face
i) The child‟s vulnerability
j) The child‟s own wishes and feelings
k) The views of the child‟s parents
9 Further RAISE checks should be made on all overnight stay addresses and
named adults known to be responsible during an overnight visit. Children‟s
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
Social Care would make a check on its own records in a way that a reasonable
parent would use information known to them to inform the decision making.
10 Responsibility is no different from that expected of a reasonable parent, to
include in every case the foster carer/social worker/residential social worker
a) meet the friend and responsible adult prior to the stay
b) directly agreeing the arrangement with the friend‟s parent/carer
c) knowing the name, address and telephone number of the friend‟s home
d) knowing the address and telephone number where the child/young
person would stay
e) ensure that any health needs would be met during the stay, including
medication
f) advising the responsible adult who to contact in the event of an
emergency
g) when appropriate enquiring during the stay how the child or young
person was getting on
11 Where consent to overnight stays rests with the Council and is delegated to
the carer, then the child or young person may be allowed to stay overnight
without undertaking a police check where the following applies:
a) the period of stay is no more than 24 hours
b) the child or young person is staying with a friend of a similar age who is
under 18
c) the child or young person will be in the care of a responsible adult
(someone over the age of 18 who is deemed to have sufficient knowledge
and experience of child care/parenting to be trusted with the care of
someone else‟s child)
12 The need for full agency checks will be necessary if the overnight stays
become a regular pattern or for a period of 72 hours or more. Overnight stays
will not be suspended pending the outcome of an assessment and Criminal
Records Bureau check unless the Council has grounds for suspecting that the
child may be at risk if they continue. Once the young person reaches 16
years, parents are no longer able to withhold consent, in recognition of the
right of young people to take a more active role in determining their lives.
However, parental views will continue to be significant in any decision-
making.
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 The child‟s record provides evidence that:
a) the request for an overnight stay has been properly considered
b) the parents have been consulted, or if not, why not
c) the child‟s views have been sought
2 Details of overnight stays are clearly indicated including the names,
addresses and telephone numbers of the people with whom the child is
staying and dates of the visits.
3 RAISE checks should be made on all overnight stay addresses and named Placement of
adults known to be responsible during an overnight visit. If the overnight Children with
stays become a regular pattern or for a period of 72 hours or more then full Parents etc.
statutory checks on the adults in the household should be instigated.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 Inform the social worker whenever there is a Foster Case Recording Immediately
plan for a looked after child to stay overnight carer/RSW Sheet
with another person.
2 Make an assessment which must include: Foster carer/ Case Recording Immediately
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
a) Talking to the child about the friend and residential Sheet
relative with whom it is proposed they social worker/ Residential Log
stay. Social worker Foster Carer Diary
b) Speaking to the adults involved to check
arrangements and be satisfied that the
child will be safe
c) Obtaining information about the parents
and family
d) Ensuring someone talks to the child when
they return to check that they have not felt
uncomfortable
e) Taking into account the likely behaviour of
the child
f) The influence the friend, their friends and
their family may have
g) The risk the child may pose to others
h) The risks the child may face
i) The child‟s vulnerability
j) The child‟s own wishes and feelings
k) The views of the child‟s parents
3 RAISE check on addresses and adults. Social worker Case Recording Immediately
Sheet
4 If the assessment indicates that the child would Social worker Case Recording Immediately
not be at significant harm and the child is Sheet
accommodated then there should be a
discussion with the person who has parental
responsibility as to whether the planned stay
should go ahead. If there is disagreement be
mindful that the Council does not have
parental responsibility and therefore the
decision remains with the person with parental
responsibility.
5 If the child is on a care order, wherever Social worker Case Recording Immediately
possible, consult the parent and take into Sheet
consideration their views before reaching a
decision.
6 If the overnight stay becomes a regular pattern Social worker Case Recording Within 42 days
or is for a period of 72 hours or more, then full Sheet
agency checks should be carried out on the
person with whom the child would be staying.
Placement with Parent etc. Regulations may be
applicable.
7 Prior to overnight stay: Meet with responsible Foster carer/ Foster Care Diary Prior to
adult, agree arrangement with adult, secure residential and copy overnight stay
address and telephone number of friends social worker/ forwarded for child
home, secure details of where the child will be social worker care file.
staying, ensure adult understands health risks Log book
including medication, give details to
responsible adult of contact numbers in an
emergency.
8 If the checks have already been carried out by Social worker Case Recording N/A
another agency, for example education, then Sheet
gain confirmation of those checks from the
agency.
Reviewed September 2010
Agreed by CSMT October 2010
Next Review Date October 2011
6.26 Looked After Children : Passport Applications
Objective To ensure that children who are looked after by the Council have the
same opportunities for travel as all children.
Legal & Policy Status The Children Act 1989
The Children Act 2004
United Kingdom Passport Agency 1994
Guidance Notes for Social Service Directorates
Children and Young Persons Act 2008
The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 The Council should not make application for a passport for a child who is
accommodated under s20 of the Children Act 1989 except with the
agreement of all people with parental responsibility for that child. In these
circumstances, the parents or those with parental responsibility should sign
the application form.
2 To prevent a child‟s emigration, parents have the right to veto the issue of a
passport. Agreement for application is therefore essential. If agreement is
not forthcoming then legal advice needs to be sought.
3 Children's Social Care are only entitled to apply for passports for a child in Care Orders
their care when they have parental responsibility. (Care Order Children Act
89 Section 31 or Interim Care Order Section 38).
4 In the above cases, Children's Social Care can apply for a passport on behalf
of the child without the need for the consent of the child‟s parents or anyone
else who has parental responsibility for the child.
5 However, a person with parental responsibility should sign an application for
a passport for a child who is subject to a Care Order, and be aware of the
plans for travel outside of the United Kingdom. If there is a refusal to sign,
the decision can be made by the relevant team manager.
6 A Court must give permission for a child on a Care order to spend more than
28 days outside of England and Wales.
7 The United Kingdom Passport Agency have produced a leaflet outlining the
circumstances in which an objection will be considered i.e. prohibited steps
order in place or residence order in favour of objector etc.
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 A letter that details the child‟s full legal status must accompany any passport
application. Copies of any relevant Court Orders must also be attached.
2 A passport is required for travel outside of the United Kingdom. It should be
noted that it is also a means of identification that is recognised to enable
children and young people to travel on both flights and sea travel to Northern
Ireland, some internal flights within the United Kingdom and to the Channel
Islands.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 Passport Application forms are obtainable from Foster Carer/ Case Recording Once need
Post Offices. Residential Sheet identified
Social Worker/
Social worker
2 The passport application needs to be Social worker / Section 10 Passport Within
countersigned and the counter signatory must Team manager Application form timescales set
Reviewed September 2010
Agreed by CSMT October 2010
Next Review Date October 2011
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
hold a valid British or Irish passport and be at LAC review
willing to provide the passport number on the
application form.
3 Declaration must be completed for children Team manager Section 9 Passport Within
under the age of 16. The signatory of this is Application Form Timescales set
required to be a British National. at LAC review
4 Additional assistance regarding completion of Social worker Case Recording Within
the forms may be obtained by contacting Sheet timescales set
Passport Adviceline 0870 521 0410. at LAC review
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
6.27 Looked After Children : Permanency Planning – Working with Birth Families and
Children
Objective To ensure that decisions for permanence, whether adoption, long term
fostering placements, residence orders, special guardianship order or
reunification with parents are taken in a timely way for all children and
young people, and in compliance with legislation, regulations and
guidance.
Legal & Policy Status The Children Act 1989
The Children Act 2004
Care Matters: Implementation Plan 2008
Adoption and Children Act 2002
Adoption Agencies Regulations 2005
Fostering Services Regulations 2011
Minimum Standards for Adoption Services 2011
Minimum Standards for Fostering Services 2011
Children and Young Persons Act 2008
The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 Permanency is the framework of emotional, physical and legal conditions
that give a child a sense of security, continuity, commitment and identity
2 Achieving permanence for a child will therefore be a key consideration from
the day a child becomes looked after. The Adoption & Children Act 2002
require that the child‟s need for a permanent home is addressed at the 4
month review and a plan for permanence made.
3 The objective of planning for permanence is to ensure that all children have
a secure, stable, and loving family to support them through childhood and
beyond.
4 For most children, the best prospect for a permanent family that meets their
emotional, physical and legal needs will be with their own birth parents.
5 Under the 1989 Children Act, where children cannot live with their birth
parents, the preferred option is to seek a home for them with their extended
family, where this is consistent with the child‟s welfare.
6 For some children, neither of these options is possible. Other permanence
options will therefore need to be explored. These include returning home to
birth parents; care with wider family or friends; long term fostering;
residence order; or special guardianship. Adoption can also offer children
who are unable to return to their birth families a legally permanent new
family, which they will belong to all their lives.
7 Once a clear permanence option has been identified as the plan for the child
at a review, the matter must be referred to the adoption and permanence
panel within 2 months of that review if the child is not returning home.
8 Birth parents have a right to give their account of events and to see what has
been written about them in any reports for the adoption and permanence
panel or the fostering panel, dependent on the details of the plan. They
should be encouraged to contribute information about their own background,
about the child‟s birth and early life, the birth family‟s views about adoption
and contact and up to date information about themselves.
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 The time scales set in the Adoption & Children Act 2002 should be met, with
the reasons recorded if this is not possible. The relevant time scales are:
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
Cross-Referencing
Standards
a) The child‟s need for a permanent home is to be addressed at the 4 month
review and a plan for permanence made.
b) Clear timescales are to be set for achieving the plan, which will be LAC Review
appropriately monitored and considered at every subsequent review.
c) Where adoption has been identified as the plan for the child at a review,
the adoption panel will make its recommendation within 2 months.
2 Children will be given clear explanations and information about the plans for
permanence, including timescales, and their views and wishes sought,
appropriate to their age and understanding.
3 Children will be well prepared before joining a new family, including clear
appropriate information on their birth family, and early life, and information
about the new family.
4 Children will be matched with families who can best meet their needs, in
particular, who reflect their ethnic origin, cultural background, religion and
language; and enable them to live with brothers and sisters, unless this will
not meet their individually assessed needs. If so, this must be clearly
explained and recorded. They will not be left waiting indefinitely for a
perfect family.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 At the 2nd LAC statutory review permanency Reviewing Statutory Review At review
plans for the child need to be identified taking officer Form
account of the fact that the preferred plan may
not succeed. This could include a contingency
plan. If Sec 20, referral can be made to the
Permanency Planning Meeting to assist in
developing the plan.
2 If the case is currently subject to care Social worker Care Plan Supported by
proceedings then the twin track plan needs to team manager
be included in the court care plan. and reviewing
officer
3 Book panel date where permanency plan is Social Worker BAAF CPR and Panel should
anything other than a return home i.e. long via Adoption Support Plan be no more
term fostering, residence order, special and Assessment to than 2 months
guardianship, adoption Permanence Commence after the
Panel review
Administrator decision
4 Assessment completed includes explicit health Social worker BAAF CPR and
and education needs, cultural interests and any Support Plan
support or needs. Medical required. Medical before
Panel
5 Update/commence life-story work. Family Support Life story book Must be
Worker - commenced
Adoption Team before
in conjunction Matching
with Field Panel
Social Worker
6 Attend Panel. Remember to consider support Social worker BAAF CPR Completed 2
plans and contact. weeks before
Panel
7 Notification of panel decision to social worker. Panel Internal memos Within 14 days
Administrator and Case Recording
Sheet
Reviewed September 2010
Agreed by CSMT October 2010
Next Review Date October 2011
6.28 Looked After Children : Permanency Planning Meetings
Objective To ensure that plans for permanence for looked after children are made
in a robust and timely way, and in line with legislation and government
guidance
Legal & Policy Status Children Act 1989;
Adoption & Children Act 2002 and accompanying Regulations and
government guidance;
Every Child Matters agenda;
Care Matters Implementation Plan 2008;
Children & Young People‟s Act 2008
The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010
Sufficiency: Statutory Guidance on Securing Sufficient Accommodation for
Looked After Children 2010
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 All children need to be securely attached to adult carers who can provide Permanency
safe and positive care throughout their childhood, to enable them to meet Planning
the Every Child Matters five key outcomes of being healthy, staying safe, Working with birth
enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution and achieving families and
economic well being. children
2 For most children, the best place to grow up will be with one or both birth
parents. However, for a small but significant number of children for whom
there is no realistic prospect of their birth parents providing a basis for safe
and effective parenting, alternative options for permanency should be
considered. These include kinship care; special guardianship; residence
order; long term/permanent foster care; adoption; residential care.
3 Permanence is defined as the framework of emotional, physical and legal
conditions that give a child a sense of security, continuity, commitment and
identity. Permanence provides for physical, emotional, social, cognitive and
spiritual well being, and promotes lifelong connections to extended family,
siblings, other significant adults, family history and traditions, race and
ethnic heritage, culture, religion and language.
4 The child‟s need for a permanent home should be addressed and a LAC Reviews
permanence plan made for all looked after children by the 4 month LAC
review. This review should consider all the options for best meeting the
child‟s welfare, including the need for stability and permanence.
5 Different routes to permanence will be more or less appropriate depending
on:
the age of the child;
the child‟s special needs, including disabilities;
the child‟s relationship with their birth family and the likely relationship
with siblings and the permanence plans for those siblings;
any risks posed by the birth family to the stability of a permanent
placement;
the child‟s wishes;
the birth parents‟ wishes;
the range of alternative permanent placements available to the child (for
example, whether there is anyone in the extended family who is able to
offer safe and positive long term care and in what capacity).
6 Unless the 4 month LAC review identifies clearly and unequivocally that a LAC Review
child will be able to return to the care of one or both birth parents within 4
weeks of that LAC review, the case should be referred to the next
permanency planning meeting. This will include those cases where the care
planning, at that stage, is still twin tracking plans for rehabilitation home
Reviewed September 2010
Agreed by CSMT October 2010
Next Review Date October 2011
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
alongside other permanence options.
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 Permanency planning meetings are held on a monthly basis, usually on the
3rd Wednesday in each month. A list of dates can be obtained form the
Adoption and Permanence panel administrator, who will book cases in and
set the agenda. All requests for a slot on the agenda must be received by the
panel administrator at least 3 working days before the meeting is to be held.
An e-mail will be sent by the administrator to all participants 2 working days
before the meeting is held, confirming the timings.
2 All permanency planning meetings are chaired by one of the service
managers in Children‟s Social Care. Others who will be expected to attend
will be the child care social worker, their manager, the team manager or
senior practitioner from the Fostering and Placements team, the team
manager or senior practitioner from the Adoption Services team, a
representative from the Legal Services team and the children‟s guardian.
3 It remains the responsibility of the child care social worker who is presenting
a case to a permanency planning meeting to e-mail copies of key documents
to all participants at least 3 working days before the panel is held. These
should include any relevant information which will inform the meeting but
should always include an initial and core assessment; the record of
discussions and decisions from the 4 month LAC review; the initial health
assessment and PEP, if available; and the minutes of any previous
permanency planning meeting.
4 The following issues will be discussed at the meeting:-
The wishes and feelings of the child;
The wishes and feelings of the birth parents;
Whether the child can return home and what needs to happen to make
that safe and appropriate;
Whether there are friends or relatives who can look after the child and in
what capacity;
Planning for siblings and the need for any assessment about placing
siblings together or apart;
Views of current carers;
Views of children‟s guardians;
Actions in respect of any reports outstanding or needing to be
commissioned;
Preparation of/direct work with the child, including life story work;
Clarity as to who will give the birth parents information, support and
counselling about the permanence plan;
current and future contact plans;
contingency planning.
5 Short minutes will be taken by the minute taker of the Adoption and
Permanence panel using a standard template to record the discussions and
decisions taken. This will ensure there is a consistent record of who attended
the meeting, the plan for the child, the key tasks and those responsible for
implementing them, the agreed timescales for the above, contingency plans
and plans for review.
6 Plans will be reviewed 3 months after the first meeting, with a decision
taken at that time as to whether they need to be reviewed again and if so,
with an agreed timescale for doing so.
Reviewed September 2010
Agreed by CSMT October 2010
Next Review Date October 2011
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 4 month LAC held. Unless this identifies clearly IRO; LAC Review Referral to the
that the child will be able to return to the care Allocated social papers; next
of one or both birth parents within 4 weeks of worker; Case Recording permanency
that LAC review, the case should be referred to Team manager Sheet planning
the next permanency planning meeting meeting
2 All items for the agenda to be submitted to the Allocated socialAll relevant At least 3
Adoption and Permanence panel administrator worker; information to be working days
at least 3 working days before the meeting is to Team manager e-mailed to before the
be held, and documentation required e-mailed participants planning
to all participants. including initial meeting
and core
assessments,
discussions and
decisions from the
4 month LAC
review; initial
health assessment
and PEP where
available, minutes
of any previous
permanency
planning meeting.
3 Adoption and Permanence panel administrator Adoption and E-mail to all At least 2
to e-mail the agenda to all participants at least Permanence participants working days
2 working days before the meeting is to be held panel before the
administrator meeting is
held
4 Meeting held and short minutes taken Adoption and Minutes of Minutes to be
Permanence meetings; e-mailed to all
Panel Case Recording participants
administrator Sheet within 2
working days
of the meeting
5 Reviews held as agreed Allocated Case Recording First review
worker; Sheet within 3
Team manager; months of the
IRO first & further
reviews as
agreed at that
point
Reviewed September 2010
Agreed by CSMT October 2010
Next Review Date October 2011
6.29 Looked After Children : Personal Education Allowances
Objective To prevent looked after children and young people from falling behind
their peers in their education.
Legal & Policy Status The Children Act 1989
The Children Act 2004, sec. 52
Care Matters Implementation Plan, 2008
Children and Young Persons Act 2008
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 All looked after children and young people, of statutory school age, and who
are at risk of not reaching the national expected standards of attainment,
are entitled to a personal education allowance (PEA).
2 PEAs are intended to help us support the wide range of learning needs of PEP
looked after children, and give them access to additional learning and
development activities, as identified in their personal education plan.
3 The PEA should ensure that looked after children are making expected levels
of progress in their education. It should promote their improved educational
outcomes and life chances, and help them reach their full potential.
4 The PEA will give looked after children greater access to extended services,
personal tuition outside school, positive activities. This may help a child who
is struggling with a specific subject at school or enhance the child‟s overall
intellectual and creative development, such as attendance at a drama
workshop.
5 All children are expected to achieve at least:
Level 2 in reading, writing and mathematics at key stage 1
Level 4 in English and mathematics at key stage 2
Level 5 in English and mathematics at key stage 3
5A* - C grades at GCSE including English and mathematics or equivalent.
All children are expected to progress at least 2 national curriculum levels in
English and mathematics between each key stage from the age of 7. In key
stage 1 most children are expected to progress at least 1 level, depending on
their starting point. Support should not be focussed solely on children who
are not reaching particular attainment thresholds, or who are on the
borderline of particular attainment thresholds.
6 There is no minimum length of time that a child needs to be looked after
before an application is made for the PEA. We will pay attention to
particularly vulnerable children who have:
Recently become looked after
Spent multiple periods in care
Been placed out of borough or in a residential children‟s home
Moved school, are not in main stream education or have additional
learning needs
7 It is possible for the Council to pool the budget for a group of children in
their care where this would result in increased levels of support. For
example, greater efficiency may be achieved by joint commissioning where a
number of children have similar learning or developmental needs. Where it
is decided to pool funding allocated for PEAs in this way children and young
people affected should be consulted on this approach and it should be
demonstrated how the joint provision links to the individual needs of the
group of children and their PEPs.
Reviewed September 2010
Agreed by CSMT October 2010
Next Review Date October 2011
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 A PEA of up to £500 per year will be made available for each looked after
child who has been identified as eligible for additional support. It will be
used to support the aims set out in the child or young person‟s personal
education plan, and will be agreed as part of the discussion around their
overall PEP and care plan.
2 The PEA entitlement should not replace services that schools, Councils and
carers already provide. This includes fostering allowances and other social
care funding.
3 The PEA is centrally and jointly held, by the LAC team manager and the
Advisory teacher for looked after children. This allows resources to be
targeted most effectively to meet assessed needs.
4 The funding will be directed towards buying support for learning, such as
providing support which is additional to strategies normally delivered within
the school learning context, music lessons (or similar) or for out of school
activities that support learning linked to the assessed needs of the young
person.
5 The personalised budget should be agreed between the social worker, the
specialist teacher and the LAC team manager. The carer and the children
themselves must be fully involved in decisions about what they need to do to
support their learning. In addition the specialist teacher will provide
oversight and challenge.
6 Where possible the PEA application will form part of the PEP and will
generally be completed within the PEP meeting; requests must be linked to
the objectives on the most recent PEP, and should be appropriate to the age,
ability and circumstances of the child.
7 The PEA will be monitored 6 monthly as part of the regular PEP and LAC
review process. Effectiveness will be judged against success criteria and
meeting the objectives agreed for PEA on PEA application, i.e. evidence of
raised attainment and engagement, improved levels of attendance, reduced
levels of fixed term exclusions, improved behaviour patterns. The evaluation
should include the views of the child and his/her carers as well as the social
worker‟s.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 During the PEP meeting, consideration will be Social worker PEP Within PEP
given to whether the child is eligible for the timescales
PEA.
2 Once agreed, the request for a PEA will be Social worker PEA application – Prior to the
passed to the LAC team manager/Advisory part of PEP LAC review
teacher/VSH for agreement. paperwork
3 Discussion can take place at the LAC review. IRO LAC review Within LAC
document review
timescales
4 Monitoring/evaluation will be 6 monthly, via Social PEP and LAC Within LAC
the PEP and LAC reviews. worker/IRO review review
documentation timescales
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
6.30 Looked After Children : Personal Education Plans
Objective All carers actively promote education as valuable in itself and as part of
preparation for adulthood for children. All children who are looked after
are given the support they need to achieve their full potential.
Legal & Policy Status The Children Act 1989
DoH Guidance on the Education of Children and Young People in Public
Care LAC 2000 DoH LAC (94) 9 + 11
SSI Standards Volume 3 - A Better Education for Children in Care
Social Exclusion Unit September 2003
Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009
Children and Young Persons Act 2008
The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010
The Designated Teacher (Looked After Pupils)(England) Regulations 2009
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 All looked after children have a personal education plan which identifies
their educational strengths and weaknesses and makes plans to promote their
education.
2 The child or young person will have an opportunity to contribute their views
regarding the education they are receiving.
3 The social worker will contact the child‟s school upon placement and
establish contact names and how well educational needs are being met.
4 Where a child is not attending a school upon placement, the social worker
would liaise with the designated teacher for LAC at the child‟s school, and
education colleagues in the LAC Team together with other relevant Children's
Learning and Engagement colleagues e.g. SEN if the child has an statement
5 The manager and Virtual School Head are responsible for ensuring that all School Exclusions
children are given the support they need to achieve their full potential.
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 Children should feel that their education is important and that they are
encouraged and helped to get the best out of educational opportunities.
2 Children should have an appropriate setting in which to study and do
homework.
3 Children should have the necessary educational books and other requisites
are purchased.
4 The carer should understand their duty to support the young person in their
education and promote achievement.
5 Children in residential care should know their key worker takes a special
interest in their education, and encourages and promotes their educational
progress.
6 The child‟s carer or key worker will attend open evenings and other relevant
school events.
7 That children confirm that staff from the home or foster carers attend open
evenings and other school or college events.
8 That children feel that they receive help and encouragement with
educational activities, projects and homework.
9 Children feel they receive good advice about education and careers.
10 That children in residential care feel they can go to a member of staff with
worries about their school or college work.
11 Children and their parents feel that they are sufficiently involved in
promoting their education.
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
Cross-Referencing
Standards
12 That children feel that their educational needs are dealt with in a way that is
non-stigmatising and respects their wishes and dignity.
13 That children with a statement of educational need have their individual
education plan incorporated into their personal education plan.
14 That children in danger of school exclusion have a pastoral support plan in
place.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 Inform the designated teacher for looked after Social Worker Case file Within 2
children at the appropriate school that the Information Sheet working days
child has been accommodated. for LAC
Notification
2 Inform the Looked After Children team's Social worker to Case Recording Within 2
education worker that the child has been check whether Sheet working days
accommodated. this has been Information Sheet
for LAC
Notification
3 Complete Section 1 and return to designated Social worker PEP (Form 1) Within 2
teacher. working days
4 Upon receipt of C9003 LAC Ed. staff will LAC Ed staff Case recording Within 2
forward SATS results. sheet working days
5 A PEP meeting is to be convened within 20 days Designated Case Recording Within 20 days
of accommodating and every six months as a Teacher/Social Sheet
minimum. During these meetings it will be Worker/Educati Completed PEP
decided whether application for a Personal on Caseworker
Education Allowance is appropriate.
6 Completed PEP returned from designated Designated PEP Within 10
teacher. Teacher working days
7 If PEP has not been returned a letter is to be Social Worker Letter
sent request receipt with copy to Looked after
children education support team.
8 Copies to be distributed to: Admin Case Recording Within 2 days
Foster Carer or LAC team Sheet of receipt
9 Copy of PEP to be sent to parents if Social Worker Case Recording Within 2 days
appropriate. Sheet of receipt
10 Ensure that child has participated in Reviewing LAC Review of
completion of Form PEP4. Officer Arrangements
11 Ensure that plans for the child including Reviewing LAC Review of
Individual Education Plans and target setting is Officer Arrangements
known to Social Worker and carers and forms
part of the Review Decisions
12 Prior to the 3rd Review Form PEP 3 and 4 Admin Case recording 2–3 weeks
should be sent to designated teacher for before date
completion of review, being mindful of school
holiday periods when this may need to be sent
earlier.
13 Form PEP 1 should be updated if any element is Social Worker PEP When
changed, revised PEP 1 to be sent to situation
designated teacher. arises
14 Form PEP 4 is differentiated for children with Social Worker/ PEP When
differing ages and abilities. Use of Form PEP 4 designated situation
SEN is not restricted to children with special teacher arises
educational needs and may be a preferred
option to include views of younger children.
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
15 Copies of any subsequent PEPs to be distributed Admin Case Recording Within 2 days
to: LAC team, Foster Carer or Residential Unit, Sheet of receipt
Child, Reviewing Officer
16 Subsequent PEPs to be distributed to parents if Social Worker Case Recording Within 2 days
appropriate. Sheet of receipt
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
6.31 Looked After Children : Personal Health Plans
Objective To ensure that looked after children and young people have access to
good quality health education and health care.
Legal & Policy Status The Children Act 1989
The Children Act 2004
Children Act Guidance & Regulations
DoH Guidance on Smoking and Alcohol LAC (94) 09
SSI Standards Vol. 3
Children and Young Persons Act 2008
Statutory Guidance: On Promoting the Health and Well-being of Looked
After Children 2010
The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010
NICE/SCIE Guidance: The Physical Health and Emotional Well-being of
Looked After Children 2010
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 Every looked after child should have a personal health plan within 4 months
of being looked after.
2 All carers shall play an active role in promoting all aspects of a child/ young
person‟s health and co-ordinate the personal health plan.
3 All child care plans should include health care arrangements which should be
kept under review
4 All carers shall be alert to the health care needs of children and young
people from ethnic minorities and make sure they receive appropriate health
care.
5 Disabled children (looked after more than 120 days per year) often have
extensive medical involvement and the health assessments are undertaken in
a manner not to subject the child and family to additional appointments and
examinations.
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 That children and young people feel their health is important and that their
awareness of a healthy life style is promoted.
2 That children and young people feel that their health needs are dealt with in
a way that is non-stigmatising, respecting their feelings and their wish for
privacy.
3 That children and young people are registered with a G.P. and a dentist and
have access to any other services appropriate to their identified health
needs.
4 That children and young people know who has special responsibility to ensure
that their health needs are dealt with.
5 That children and young people feel that they have an adult who they can
confide in about a health worry.
6 That children and young people have the opportunity to develop an
awareness of positive personal health care including; nutrition, hygiene,
exercise, alcohol, drug and sexual health.
7 The carer keeps an accurate and dated record of all health issues and
treatment relating to the looked after child or young person.
8 That young people are aware of their right to consent or refuse medical
examination or treatment, and that younger children are aware that their
wishes will be taken into account in any decision about medical examination
or treatment.
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
Cross-Referencing
Standards
9 The health plan will be informed by the strengths and difficulties
questionnaire results, where applicable.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 Preferably the child should remain with their Social Worker / Notification of Within 2
current G.P. If this is not appropriate register Carer / Amendments working days
child with a new G.P. Residential of placement
RAISE to be updated Social Worker/ starting
Foster Carer
2 Complete consent to medical treatment and Social Worker EIR 1 Prior to or
information gathering requests. EIR 2 upon placing
(Parental child.
Agreement to
medical treatment)
3 Parent or carer with parental responsibility to Social Worker Placement Plan Within 2 days
sign Agreement to medical treatment and send Part1 of placement
immediately to the LAC Nurses admin assistant.
4 Parent or carer with parental responsibility to Social Worker Health Care Within 2 days
sign consent to treatment examination and Arrangements for of placement
health assessment and information sharing Looked After
regarding family health history and send Children
immediately to the LAC Nurses admin assistant.
5 Obtain photocopy of Personal Child Health Social Worker Case Recording
Record if available. Sheet
6 Ensure that parents and children are involved Social Worker Case Recording
appropriate to circumstances Sheet / completed
relevant
documentation
7 Discuss with the young person a health Social Worker Case Recording 2 days of
assessment, child‟s preferences, alternatives if Sheet placement
the child does not want a GP, confidentiality starting
issues
8 Seek advice from manager or designated doctor Social Worker Case Recording 2 days of
for looked after children if all health Sheet placement
assessments are refused or complex issues starting
about confidentiality arise
9 Initial Health Assessment Section 1 and 2 to be LAC Nurses LAC - Initial Health Prior to or
completed Assessment immediately
after
placement
10 Ensure LAC Nurses are aware: name of looked Social Worker Information Sheet Immediately
after child; address and telephone number of for LAC
Carer; name of Social Worker Notification C9003
11 Send a letter to the designated doctor for Health Admin Letter to GP Immediately
Looked After Children, LAC - Initial Health
SAE, Assessment
Fee Claim Form AC0004 Guidelines
and Guidelines for Social Worker/HV/GP LAC - Initial Health
to GP except disabled children. Assessment(Sect. 1
and 2 completed
by CSC)
Copy Health Care
Arrangements for
Looked After
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
Children
Medical
Practitioners Claim
Form
S.A.E.
12 The Health team lead on ensuring that an LAC Nurses Case Recording 2 days of
appointment is made within 5-7 days of child /Carer/ Sheet placement
being looked after, with the child‟s family GP Residential starting
and child‟s parents or a carer who knows the Social Worker/
child except disabled children. Social Worker
13 The Health team lead on ensuring Health LAC Nurses LAC - Initial Health Within 2 days
Visitor and carers know of appointment and is /Social Worker Assessment/ of placement
sent Letter from Agency Medical Advisor, Initial /Admin Health History
Health Assessment (HV) to enable completion S.A. E.
of Personal Child Health Record in time for Copy Health Care
assessment by G.P. Arrangements for
Looked After
Children and
LAC - Initial
Assessment
Guidelines
14 Complete BAAF (IHA) form, amend PCHR and Health Visitor N/A 5 days of
forward to GP in time for the child‟s placement
appointment starting
15 Completion of Initial health Assessment,(GP) GP Completed
and (HV), Fee Claims Form and return to Health LAC - Initial Health
team. Assessment/
Health History
LAC - Initial Health
Assessment on file
16 Photocopies of IHA (GP) and IHA (HV) Health Admin LAC Health Team Upon receipt
file and data base
17 Review of Health Information, completion of LAC Nurses LAC Health Plan Upon Receipt
Health Plan and return to Social Worker and
copy to General Practitioner. Using the
information sent to Community Medical Officer
for LAC, LAC nurses will complete a Health Plan
for disabled children without their requiring to
be seen by a GP (Step 12)
18 Discusses immediate needs and or referrals LAC Nurses LAC Health Plan As required
with Social Worker, and/or carers and GP,
young person.
19 Health Care Plan – Copy to and discuss with LAC Nurses LAC Health Plan
carer and Social Worker. Copy to GP
20 Discuss with parents if appropriate LAC Health Social Worker Case Recording As required
Plan (copy) Sheet
21 Ensures immediate action points within LAC Social Worker Case Recording As required
Health Plan are addressed Sheet
22 Copy of Child Health Care Plan sent to Health Admin IRO LAC file
Reviewing Officer LAC Nurses
23 Ensure Health Care Plan is being actioned. Reviewing LAC Review of Within 28 days
Ensuring child‟s wishes and feelings about Officer Arrangements
confidentiality and health issues are respected
within the review process.
HEALTH REVIEWS
24 Review Health Assessments should be carried LAC Nurses Health Review Within
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
out : Form timescales
Children under 5 years old - at no more than 6
monthly intervals,
Children over 5 years old - at no more than 12
monthly intervals.
25 Appointment made by LAC Nurses in LAC Nurses LACT file data base Within
conjunction with carer, residential worker. timescales
Attending schools outside of Bournemouth LAC
nurses will undertake the Health Review
26 Seek advice from manager or LAC Nurses if all Social Worker Notification of
health reviews are refused or complex issues Amendments
about confidentiality arise.
27 If all health reviews are refused or complex LAC Team Case Recording
issues about confidentiality arise, there will be Sheet
a discussion within the LAC Team.
28 If the child or young person is living outside of LAC Nurses Record on health Within
Bournemouth, arrangements can be made for they will file. timescales
the review to be undertaken in their locality. negotiate with Review Health
LAC Nurses can arrange for their counterparts relevant health Assessment (Child)
to undertake this. The LAC Nurses will discuss professionals in Review Health
with Social Worker and Carer regarding the the locality and Assessment (Young
most suitable professional to undertake the will forward person)
review. Or if a child or young person has a BAAF Forms
particular requirement this can be undertaken
by their local GP or Community Paediatrician. Social Worker to
In all cases the previous health information send claim form
(BAAF Forms) should be forwarded to the where needed
health professional alongside Review Health AC0004 and SAE
Plan C8015 for completion, and a letter from to LAC Nurses
Agency Medical Advisor and AC0004 Medical
Practitioners Claim Form should be included.
If a child or young person declines a face to
face Health Review, they will be sent a
questionnaire to complete.
29 Sections 1 and 2 of the Review Health Plan LAC Nurses Review Health Plan Within
(BAAF) to be completed by the LAC Nurses. timescales
30 Review Health Plan to be returned and LAC Nurses Case Recording When
discussed with Social Worker, and carer. (Copy Sheet completed
sent to Reviewing Officer and Fostering
Supervising Social Worker/Residential
Keyworker.)
31 Copy of Review Health Plan sent and discussed Admin, Social Case Recording When received
with parent if appropriate. Worker Sheet
32 All children and young people should be Foster carer, Case Recording At least every
registered with and see a dentist regularly. LAC Nurse Sheet 6 months
LAC Nurses have the facility to make
arrangements for dental services if required.
33 All children and young people should have Social Worker Case Recording
access to optician if required. Foster carer, Sheet
LAC Nurse LAC Review of
Arrangements
34 Children and young people should contribute to Foster carer, Assessment and As per
their health planning residential Action Records schedule
Social Worker
and Social
Worker
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
LAC Nurse
35 Children and young people should have access Reviewing LAC Review of Each Review
to health information from home or residential Officer Arrangements
unit and also within educational curriculum. LAC Nurse
This will include information regarding sexual
health and availability of local services for
young people.
36 RAISE to be updated Health Admin
37 Ensure that Looked After Children nurses are Social Information Sheet Immediately
aware of any changes: Social Worker, Worker/Admin for LAC after any
placement or return home Notification C9003 significant
change of
circumstances
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
6.32 Looked After Children : Placement in Other Council Areas
Objective To ensure that when a child is placed within another Council area that
child is safeguarded and her/his welfare is promoted.
Legal & Policy Status The Children Act 1989 Section 23 & Schedule 2
Children Act Guidance & Regulations
The Children (Reciprocal Enforcements of Prescribed Orders) England,
Wales, Northern Ireland) & (Scotland) Regulations 1996
Sufficiency: Statutory Guidance on Securing Sufficient Accommodation for
Looked After Children 2010
The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 The wishes and feelings of the child about the proposed placement must be Partnership with
known and taken into account. Young People
2 The decision to place the child in another Council area must have been
reached as part of the care planning and review processes unless the young
person is placed with Bournemouth foster carers who live outside the
Council.
3 Children's Social Care remains accountable for the statutory care planning Review of
and review responsibilities even if the day-to-day supervision is delegated to Arrangements
the receiving Council in the area in which the child is to be placed.
4 Children's Social Care must formally notify the receiving Council of the
placement so that they may maintain their record of looked after children
living in the area. This is currently delegated to the Access to Resources
Team.
5 Children's Social Care must also notify other relevant official bodies of the
placement and arrangements for supervision.
These include:
a) the Health Authority
b) the Local Education Authority
c) the child‟s GP
6 If the child is subject to a safeguarding plan the child protection co-ordinator
in the receiving Council must also be notified.
7 If Children's Social Care arranges that the receiving Council will take over Inter Agency Child
supervision of the child then: Protection
a) all the appropriate information on the child and her/his circumstances Procedures
should be forwarded to the receiving Council
b) there should be a clear written agreement covering expectations of
exchange of information, visits, reports, consultation and decision-
making.
8 The young person is subject to statutory reviews as normal. If the Council
where they are placed is providing supervision of the placement, they must
be included in the review.
9 Where the move is to Scotland the Care Order can be transferred to a
supervision requirement under the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 Sec 70 if the
following conditions apply:
a) The court has given consent
b) The transferring Council have given their consent
c) The receiving Council in Scotland has through the Principal (Children ‟s
Hearing) Reporter notified the Court in England in writing that it agrees
to take over the case
d) The effect of the transfer is that the Care Order will cease to have effect
in England and Wales.
10 Where the child is moving to another jurisdiction in British Isles (including
Channel Islands and Isle of Man) the effect of the Care Order may be
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
transferred by virtue of Children Act 1989 Section 101.
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 Case records should indicate consideration of the child‟s wishes, feelings and Care Plan
views about the placement and how these have been taken into account.
2 Agreement to supervise child and placement is ratified with other Councils.
3 The child has an allocated social worker.
4 The case record should give evidence of:
a) the decision that the child should be placed in another Council
b) formal notification of placement to the receiving Council and other
relevant Councils
c) the transfer of appropriate information to the receiving Council
d) reports on progress, of each visit and reviews
e) any decisions required to safeguard or promote the child‟s welfare
5 The LAC system and standards applying to the care planning and review Care Plan
processes are complied with. LAC Review
6 Education at Key stage 4 cannot be disrupted unless it is in the child‟s
interest and all parties have been consulted. The Director of Children‟s
Services must sign off a plan if it involves a change of school at KS4.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 RAISE amendment form to be completed to Social worker Immediately
reflect the change of placement.
2 Inform the Council with whom you wish to Social worker or Notification of Immediately
place that the child is living in their area. Contracts Team Placement or
Change of
Placement of LAC
(LACT13)
and letter
3 Inform health and education of the placement Social worker Information Sheet Immediately
and make arrangements for supervision. for LAC
Notification
4 The young person should be registered with a Carer or RSW Case Recording Within 7 days
new G.P. and the current G.P. must be Sheet
informed of the change of address.
5 Check that the child has a new G.P. Social worker Case Recording After first visit
RAISE to be updated. Sheet
Notification of
Amendments
6 If the child is subject to a safeguarding plan: Social worker Case record and Immediately
the custodian of the receiving Council must be letter
informed; the custodian of Bournemouth Child B'mth Area Child
Protection register must be informed. Protection
Committee -
Child Protection
Register (ACPC5)
7 Decide whether the receiving Council will Social worker Letter and As circumstances
undertake the statutory visits. If no, then the Case Recording dictate
full responsibility lies with Bournemouth as if Sheet
the child was living in their own area.
8 Decide whether the receiving Council will Social worker Letter and/or As circumstances
undertake the statutory visits. If yes: Case Record on dictate
Case Recording
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
Sheet
9 Contact LAC administrator to request that a Social worker Case Recording Immediately
reviewing officer from Bournemouth can take Sheet
the case on and arrange a review. Follow
Review Procedures.
10 Hold a review chaired by a reviewing officer Reviewing LAC Review or Within 28 days
from Bournemouth. officer Arrangements of
placement
commencing
11 Give all necessary information to the receiving Team manager Review report, At review
Council about the needs and circumstances of relevant
the child. information
12 Check that arrangements are in place for the Team manager Case Recording At review
regular exchange of information. Sheet
LAC Review of
Arrangements
13 Agree visiting patterns. Team manager Review report At review
14 Arrange reporting and recording arrangements. Team manager Review report At review
15 Arrange support for the placement. Social worker & Review report At review
Team manager
16 Continue to arrange statutory reviews. Reviewing Review minutes At review
officer
17 If the child moves to Scotland then arrange a Reviewing Letter and case N/A
review to determine whether applications officer records
should be made to transfer the care order to a
supervision requirement under the Children
(Scotland) Act 1995, s70.
18 The relevant Council in Scotland will take over N/A N/A N/A
the supervision of the case if the order is
made.
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
6.33 Looked After Children : Placements Plans – Parts 1 and 2
Objective To ensure that placements are properly planned and everybody involved
in the process knows what they, and others, are doing to achieve
satisfactory outcomes for children who are being looked after.
Legal & Policy Status Children Act 1989, Looked After Children procedures. HMSO (1995)
The Children Act 2004
The Accommodated Children‟s visit Arrangements Regulations 2010
Care Matters Implementation Plan 2008
Children and Young Persons Act 2008
The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010
Fostering Services Regulations 2011
Children‟s Homes (amended) Regulations 2011
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 The placement plans should ensure that there are identifiable and
measurable objectives in line with ECM 5 outcomes set for each child or
young person who is looked after by the Council.
2 The placement plans should ensure that there is an identifiable plan which
demonstrates how these objectives will be achieved.
3 The placement plans should clearly indicate what are the roles and
expectations of all people mentioned in the plan.
4 It is vitally important that carers are provided with additional information
where the proposed placement may create risk, particularly to other children
in the household.
5 The placement plan as part of the care plan should be reviewed at the child‟s
statutory review.
6 This applies to children subject to care orders who are placed with their Placement with
parents. parents
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 Placement plan part one must always be completed before a child is left in Pre Placement
any placement ideally at the pre placement meeting or within 48 hours in the Meeting
case of an emergency placement.
2 Placement plan part two should also be completed before a child is left in a
placement. If this is not possible then it must be completed within 14
working days of the commencement of the placement.
3 Copies of plans must be shared with the relevant parties. A copy should be
placed in the child‟s „blue book‟.
4 Children must be involved in making plans to promote their welfare and for
their future, according to their age and ability. Children should be
encouraged to attend their review and understand the plans that are in place
for them.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 Placement plan (part 1) must be completed. Social worker Placement Plan Before
Part 1 placement
commences or
within 48
hours if an
emergency
2 Completed copy of placement plan part 1 to Social worker LAC Forms Before
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
carers, parents and send to independent Distribution to be placement
reviewing team. LAC Form distribution list to updated commences or
be updated. LAC file within 48
hours if an
emergency
3 Completed copy of placement plan part 1 on Social worker Copy on file Immediately
file and in child‟s „blue book‟.
4 Placement plan part 2 must be completed. Social worker Placement Plan Within 14 days
Part 2 of placement
5 Completed copy of placement plan part 2 to Social worker LAC Forms Within 14 days
carers, parents and send to independent Distribution to be of placement
reviewing team. LAC Form distribution list to updated
be updated. LAC file
6 Completed copy of placement plan 2 on file Social worker Copy on file Immediately
and in child‟s „blue book‟.
Reviewed September 2010
Agreed by CSMT October 2010
Next Review Date April 2012
6.34 Looked After Children : Placement with Parents of Children Subject to a Care Order
Objective To ensure the welfare and protection of children who are in the care of
the Council but for whom a decision is made to place them with parents
or other people with parental responsibility including a person with whom
a residence order was in force before the care order was made.
Legal & Policy Status The Children Act 1989
The Children Act 2004
Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations
Care Matters Implementation Plan 2008
The Children and Young Person‟s Act 2008
The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 This procedure and relevant regulations only apply to children subject to a Care Order
Care Order under Section 31 of The Children Act 1989 or an Interim Care
Order under Section 38 of The Children Act 1989.
2 The regulations take into account that in everyday life, the older child
increasingly accepts responsibility for his own decisions and parents gradually
relinquish their control accordingly. Therefore, to reflect this for the
placement of children aged 16 or over, only some sections of the regulations
apply.
3 These procedures apply to any stay of 24 hours or overnight stays which may
not exceed 24 hours.
4 The Children Act places emphasis on the right of children/young people to be
involved in decision-making affecting their welfare and requires their
involvement in the Council‟s planning for the future, subject only to the
understanding of the child/young person.
In everyday life, the older child increasingly accepts responsibility for his
own decisions and parents gradually relinquish their control accordingly.
5 The term parent in this context refers to a parent or other person with Residence Order
parental responsibility; or a person in whose favour a Residence Order was in
force before the Care Order was made.
6 The placement of a child, (who is subject to a Care order), with relatives or LAC
friends other than described above will be subject of Care Planning, Immediate
Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010 for an immediate placement, Placements
Regulation 38 Foster Services Regulations 2011.
7 Before making a placement the Council is required to undertake all necessary
enquiries and assessments.
8 These regulations do not prevent an immediate placement of a child where it
is in their best interests.
9 Children should not be placed outside of England and Wales unless all the
requirements of the Regulations can be met so far as is reasonably
practicable. The effect of such a placement on parental contact must be
considered.
10 No placement of a child in care outside of England and Wales is permitted
unless the Council have obtained the approval of a court.
11 If the child or any other child/ren of the proposed household has been
subject of a child protection conference then serious consideration should be
given as to whether a conference is convened. All relevant agencies should
be advised of proposed plans.
12 The move under these regulations constitutes a change in the Care Plan and a Care Plans
review must be called to change the Care Plan. Reviews
13 Placements should be terminated if the placement is no longer in the child‟s
best interests.
Reviewed September 2010
Agreed by CSMT October 2010
Next Review Date April 2012
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 Children in care should in the main only be placed with parents where the
plan is to actively work towards the discharge of the care order.
2 However, a plan for a child may envisage that the child spends regular
periods with parents and yet remain in either a placement subject to Foster
Placement Regulations or a residential/educational establishment. This
combination of care arrangements would be subject of Placement with
parents procedures.
3 Termination of placements should take place in a planned way wherever
possible.
4 For placements in another Council see the policy on placements in other local Placement in other
authorities. Council areas
5 Children placed with parents retain their looked after status, whilst they
remain on a care order, and they therefore remain within the scope of the
LAC system.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 SEEKING APPROVAL Team manager Case Recording See Procedures
Be aware that if a child on a care order is Sheet
placed with parents who live out of
Bournemouth‟s area then consideration needs
to be given to the „Placement in other
Councils‟ Policy.
2 Ensure that such a placement would not be Social worker Legal File Before
incompatible with any section 34 order made Case Recording Commencement
by the court. Sheet
3 Establish whether the child or any other child Social Worker Case Recording Prior to seeking
of the household has been subject of a Sheet approval for any
conference. change in
placement
4 If the child or any other child of the household Team Manager / Management Prior to seeking
has been subject of a Child Protection Senior Decision Sheet approval for any
conference, serious consideration should be Practitioner Case Recording change in
given as to whether a Child Protection Responsible Sheet placement
Conference should be re-convened. Officer
5 Convene Look After Children Review. Social Worker LAC Review of See Procedures
All relevant agencies to be advised of proposed Arrangements
plans.
6 Continue work to prepare report to seek Social Worker
approval of the placement.
a) Visit(s) to the prospective carer(s) for
discussion about possible placement.
Ensure that all parties are clear about the
aims and objectives of the placement
b) Collect factual information about the
household and gain permission(s) to
undertake necessary enquiries
c) Complete social history of all members of
the household
d) Ensure that a clear understanding is
obtained regarding the plans that have
been made for the child whilst in care.
Detail the outcomes of these and any
effect on the child. Identify any risk factors
that may transfer or arise within the
Reviewed September 2010
Agreed by CSMT October 2010
Next Review Date April 2012
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
proposed placement.
e) A full assessment of the risk, detailing
significant elements of the proposed
placement
f) The view in detail of those concerned with
the proposal should be included. If a
conference has been convened the minutes
should be attached to the report.
g) The views of the child should be sought
h) The responses to the existing or previous
concerns about the child should be
examined and detailed within the proposal.
i) Views from any professional involved within
the proposed household or with the child
should be included in the report.
j) Specific and detailed proposal for
supervision should be included in the
Placement Agreement Form and attached
to the report. This will not only detail the
supervision by the Council but also the
work and visits proposed by other agencies.
k) A summary should be given which balances
the risk factors in an objective way and
gives clear reasons for the
recommendations to place the child with
the family.
7 Undertake agency checks: Police Education Social Worker Case Recording Immediately
Probation Health Sheet
8 Details on police check forms should be Social worker Case Recording At time of
checked against birth certificates or other Sheet signing consent
identifying documents for adults in the to checks
household not party to the care proceedings.
9 Any new information should be updated on Social worker Case Recording Immediately
RAISE. Sheet
10 Report to be concluded, outcomes of checks to Social worker Report Documentation
be recorded, copy of child protection to be signed by
conference minutes if appropriate and Team Manager
Placement Agreement to be attached and sent within 2 days of
to Service Manager approval. completion
11 Approval or dissent. Service Manager Report Within 10 days
of receipt of
documentation
THE PLACEMENT
12 Notification of change of placement to: Virtual Social Worker Information Sheet Immediately
School Head, Designated Teacher, Looked After for LAC
Children Team, Looked After Children Nurses, Notification
GP and any other relevant professionals.
13 Inform other parent or person with parental Social Worker Letter Immediately
responsibility involved with the child, prior to
the care proceedings. (Subject to whereabouts
being known).
14 RAISE to be updated. Social Worker Notification of Immediately
Amendment Form
15 The child remains subject to Looked after
Children Arrangements.
Reviewed September 2010
Agreed by CSMT October 2010
Next Review Date April 2012
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
16 Personal Health Plans and PCHR – copy to be Social Worker Health Plan Prior to
given to parent. Looked After placement
Children(C8018)
and PCHR
17 Personal Education Plans – copy to be given to Social worker Personal Prior to
parent. Education Plan - placement
LAC(PEP)
18 Looked After Child Review to be held. Social Worker Follow Within 28 days
Procedures of placement
19 Visiting Requirements. Minimum to be Social Worker Case Recording Minimum –
followed, however needs of child and Sheet within 7 days of
placement will reflect in increased schedule. placement.
Every six weeks
for first year.
Every 12 weeks
thereafter
PREPARATION FOR PLACEMENT AND THE
PLACEMENT DECISION
NB: It is recognised that in many instances,
young people will vote with their feet; in such
cases the steps need to be followed
retrospectively.
Therefore, to reflect this for the placement of
children aged 16 or over, only some sections of
the Regulations apply.
a) the Council must be satisfied that the
placement of a child is the most suitable
way of performing their duty under Section
22 (3) of the Act (General Duty of Council
in respect of children looked after by
them) and that the placement is the most
suitable having regard to all the
circumstances. (Regulation 4)
b) the placement should only take place after
the normally delegated placement decision
has been made (Regulation 5)
c) the procedures for placements outside
England and Wales and termination of
placements apply (Regulations 10 and 11).
However, not withstanding the above, the
Council will need to consider how far to
apply the principles of the other
Regulations in the arrangements for such
cases, depending on the maturity of the
child and the individual circumstances.
1 Social worker discusses possible placement Social worker Supervision Note As appropriate
with supervisor. Decision taken as to whether and in
to apply only the minimum requirements keeping with
(below) Dependant on the maturity of the the child‟s care
child, and their individual circumstances any of plan
the procedural requirements for children aged
0–16 may need to be applied.
2 Minimum Requirements
3 a) Views of young person sought Social worker Case recording As appropriate
b) Views of carers sought. and in
c) Placement Agreement Form completed. keeping with
d) No young person can be placed outside of the
Reviewed September 2010
Agreed by CSMT October 2010
Next Review Date April 2012
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
England and Wales without the approval of child‟s care
the Court. plan
e) Agency checks undertaken (Police, health,
Probation and Education)
4 Relevant paper work presented to Service Service Manager Service Manager Within 10 days
Manager for decision. Placement decision - Placements agreement of receiving
made. Services documentation
5 Placement follow Steps 12–19 Social worker
PLACEMENT WITH PARENTS – TERMINATION OF PLACEMENT
1 Decision to terminate placement Service Manager Case Recording
Sheet
2 Planned Moves: Notification of the decision to Social worker Case Recording Within 2
terminate a placement must be sent in writing Sheet working days
to:
the child having regard to age and Letter
understanding,
the carer(s), parent or qualifying person
where not the carer.
When the child is moved to new placement
amend RAISE.
3 Unplanned Moves: Social worker Letter Within 2
Notification that placement has been working days
terminated to:
The carer(s) parents and other qualifying
persons, health, education, the child‟s G.P.
any other Council involved in the
placement decision and any other person
whose views were sought pre-placement.
Reviewed September 2010
Agreed by CSMT October 2010
Next Review Date September 2011
6.35 Looked After Children : Pocket Money and Savings
Objective To make clear the Council‟s commitment to preparing young people for
adulthood, and encouraging a philosophy of saving for the future
Legal & Policy Status The Children Acts 1989 & 2004
The Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000
Care Matters Implementation Plan 2008
The Children and Young Persons Act 2008.
The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010
Planning Transition to Adulthood for Looked After Children Guidance
The Children (Leaving Care) (England) (Amendment) Regulations [2010]
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 The Council wants the best possible outcomes for looked after children. One
of the 5 ECM outcomes is „achieving economic wellbeing‟. Part of this relates
to learning how to manage money, and save for the future.
2 The Council expects all those caring for looked after children and young
people to set up bank accounts for them, and to use a proportion of the
weekly allowance as regular saving for them. This applies to foster carers and
to children‟s homes.
3 In addition to this children and young people should themselves be encouraged
to save from their pocket money. Carers are free to offer incentives to young
people, for example, matching what they save, over and above the amount
the carer will save as a minimum, or to invite children and young people to
earn additional savings by doing age appropriate chores around the house.
4 Clearly not all pocket money is for saving and children also need to learn to
spend money wisely. Carers should provide children and young people with a
level of pocket money for :-
the child/young person to have the ability to have some spending
power on a regular basis
the child/young person to have an understanding of the value of
regular saving which accumulates over time, and enables them to buy
bigger or special items
5 With teenagers it is good practice to gradually enable them to manage larger
amounts of money, for example to use the clothing element of the allowance
to purchase their own clothes. Carers are also encouraged to agree with young
people who pays for leisure activities, mobile phones, bus fares etc. Thus
young people can make mistakes and learn from them whilst still in a safe and
supportive environment.
6 Carers may, where a Child Trust Fund is set up, choose to save for the child by Child Trust Funds
making payments into this. Child Trust Funds can only be accessed by the
child/young person when they reach the age of 18, so this type of saving is for
adulthood and the longer term.
7 Social workers will assist carers if they experience any difficulties in setting up
savings accounts
8 Responsibility to provide pocket money should not be withdrawn without LAC review
consultation via the LAC review, if a young person becomes eligible for any
type of benefit or begins earning
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 Foster carers and residential staff are required to save a minimum of 5% of
the overall allowance for the child‟s or young person‟s future.
Reviewed September 2010
Agreed by CSMT October 2010
Next Review Date September 2011
Cross-Referencing
Standards
2 A savings account should be set up for this purpose. This may be done at any
time, after the child or young person becomes looked after, but must be
done within one year of this. Deposit accounts with 90 day access facilities
and co-signatory facilities should be used.
3 Alternatively, where a child has a Child Trust Fund,this may be used.
4 At the LAC review held 10 months after the child became looked after the
IRO will confirm arrangements are in place
5 Through the review process, levels of pocket money and measures used to
encourage the child/young person to save for themselves from their pocket
money will also be discussed, along with any incentives foster
carers/residential staff may use to encourage this
6 Carers will support children and young people in developing their skills in
managing money, whilst they are in placement. With teenagers, the
„preparing for Independence‟ pack can be used to assist in this.
7 Savings and management of pocket money should be discussed within the Keyworking
foster carers/residential workers supervision/keyworker sessions
8 If the young person changes placement their savings book should move with
them
9 Pocket money cannot be withheld as fines, but deduction can be made for a
contribution to repairing damage or repaying theft. Written records of this
should be made.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 When young person becomes looked after, the Child‟s social IPC Pre-placement
child‟s social worker should confirm levels of worker
pocket money within the Individual Placement
Contract
2 The carer will confirm whether they intend to Foster/ IPC Pre-placement
use the Child Trust Fund, or a savings account residential
for the child carer
3 The child‟s social worker will give assistance if Child‟s social Case recording Within case
needed, to set up regular monthly payments worker recording
from the allowance into the Fund or savings requirements
account
4 The carer and child will agree how the child Foster/ Diary/ log See diary/ log
wants to save a portion of their pocket money residential
carer
5 These arrangements will be reviewed through IRO LAC review As for LAC
the LAC review process paperwork reviews
6 The carer will work with the child/ young Foster/ Diary/log See diary/ log
person in an age appropriate manner, to help residential
them develop the skills to manage money carer
wisely
7 If financial reparation from the child‟s pocket Foster Diary/ log a/a
money is deemed appropriate this should be /residential
discussed with the child‟s social worker before carer
the money is deducted
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
6.36 Looked After Children : Pre-placement and post-placement meetings
Objective To ensure all children who are looked after have the best possible chance
of settling well in their placement, and that all parties are clear about
what is expected of them
Legal & Policy Status The Children Acts 1989 & 2004
The Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000
Care Matters Implementation Plan 2008
The Children and Young Persons Act 2008
The Care of Children: Principles and Practice Regulations and Guidance,
DoH, HMSO 1989
National Minimum Standards for Fostering & Residential Care 2011
Children‟s Social Care Complements/Complaints procedures
The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010
Planning Transition to Adulthood for Looked After Children Guidance
The Children (Leaving Care) (England) (Amendment) Regulations [2010]
Children‟s Homes (amended) Regulations 2011
Fostering Services Regulations 2011
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 The Council wants the best possible outcomes for looked after children. One
of the best ways to ensure this is to plan any placement well, and to make Matching process
sure child, carers, social worker, parents, and all other parties, know exactly
what will happen, and what is expected of them, ideally before the
placement begins.
2 This policy also covers Pathway Carer placements.
3 A pre-placement meeting should take place, up to three days before the Essential
child moves to the new placement. At that meeting any necessary LAC Information
paperwork can be completed, with all parties present. Some of the details Records
which are so important to successful placements, such as the child‟s Placements Plans
routines, likes and dislikes for meals, how contact will work can be discussed
4 If for any reason it is impossible to hold a meeting before the child moves
into the placement, a post-placement meeting should be held within 72 hours As above
of the child‟s placement. The purpose of this meeting is the same
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 The child‟s social worker must ensure the appropriate people are invited to a
pre-placement meeting. This will include:-
the child
the proposed carers
the child‟s social worker
the supervising social worker, or the residential worker or team
manager
the child‟s parents, as appropriate
2 The child‟s social worker and for in-house placements, the supervising social
worker or residential team manager share responsibility for setting the
meeting up in advance of the placement beginning.
3 The child‟s social worker is responsible for completing all relevant LAC EIR records
paperwork, and providing copies for the child‟s Blue Book, held by the foster Placement Plans
carer. Blue Books
4 The supervising social worker/ residential manager is responsible for ensuring
the child has information about the placement, including the information
packs to take away
5 In most cases it will be appropriate to share a similar level of information
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
Cross-Referencing
Standards
about the placement with the child‟s parents. There are some occasions
though, where this is not appropriate. The child‟s social worker will, in all
cases, confirm the position in advance of the meeting
6 There are contractual matters to be agreed at this meeting as well. It
provides a forum for completing the Individual Placement Contract, which Access To
covers practical details, like pocket money, transport arrangements etc. and Resources Team
also the outcomes being sought for the child, during the course of the
placement. Completion of this is the responsibility of the child‟s social
worker. Using this meeting as a forum for completing the IPC ensures all
parties are clear about the practical details, and what we are trying to
achieve in making the placement. Once completed the social worker will
return to the Access To Resources Team.
7 Where the placement is an external resource, either an independent
fostering agency or a private residential provider, the Access To Resources
Team will share responsibility with the child‟s social worker, for ensuring this
meeting is set up. All other aspects of the meeting will be the same as for in-
house placements.
8 In rare circumstances, the placement may be an emergency placement, and
setting up/holding the meeting in advance of placement will be impossible. It Information packs
is then the child‟s social worker‟s responsibility to ensure the child has at EIR 1, Placement
least written information and photographs about the placement before the Plan 1.
worker actually arrives at the placement with the child. The worker is also
required to complete basic information, on LAC paperwork, leaving a copy
with the carers. In these circumstances, a meeting must be convened within
72 hours of the placement beginning. All aspects of this meeting are the
same as for a pre-placement meeting
9 At these meetings, the child‟s social worker will ensure the child, where of The Promise
an age to understand them, is given a copy of the leaflets:- What You Can
The Promise Expect From Us
What You Can Expect From Us Advocacy
The Advocacy Service leaflet Participation
The latest copy of Free2Talk,
The participation service leaflet
Compliments/complaints
At future meetings, the child‟s worker can ensure the child fully understands
the commitments we make to them as a looked after child.
Even where children are unable to read, the content of these leaflets should
be explained to them, by their worker, as soon as they are able to
understand the concepts.
We intend to publish these leaflets in a range of age appropriate and
accessible formats, in due course.
10 It is essential that, when planning for entry into the „looked after‟ system,
these meetings also consider timescales and plans for the child(ren)/young
person to return home.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 At the point of referral for a placement, the Allocated social Case recording See case
child‟s social worker must begin planning the worker recording
pre-placement meeting.
2 As soon as the proposed placement is identified Child‟s social
the supervising social worker/residential team worker/ As above As above
manager and the child‟s social worker must supervising
agreed date/time/venue of the meeting, and social worker or
those to be invited. If the placement is an residential team
emergency and the meeting is impossible, pre- manager
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
placement, it must be convened within 72
hours of the placement taking place
3 Where the placement is an external placement, ART worker
the above responsibility will be shared between Child‟s social As above As above
the ART and the child‟s social worker worker
4 During the meeting, the child‟s social worker See LAC
will ensure all relevant LAC paperwork and the Child‟s social LAC paperwork paperwork and
IPC are completed worker IPC IPC
5 During the meeting, the supervising social Supervising
worker/residential manager will ensure the social worker/ Case recording See case
child, and the parent as appropriate, has residential team recording
information about the placement, including an manager
information pack which they can keep
6 During the meeting the child‟s social worker Child‟s social
will ensure the child has the range of worker Case recording See case
information/ leaflets noted in „standards‟ recording
above
7 Plans made during this meeting will be Child‟s social
reviewed as part of the LAC review process worker LAC review See LAC
IRO documentation review
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
6.37 Looked After Children : Protocol for Joint Funded Placements
Objective To ensure an appropriate response to the care arrangement for children
with complex needs
Legal & Policy Status Children Act 1989 & 2004
National Assessment Framework 2003
Education Act 1981
Joint Purchasing Panel Terms of Reference
Care Matters Implementation Plan 2008
Children and Young Persons Act 2008
Health Continuing Care Policy 2010
Section 39 of the Health Act 1999
Sufficiency: Statutory Guidance on Securing Sufficient Accommodation
for Looked After Children 2010
Children, Schools and Families Act 2010
Statutory Guidance on Promoting the Health and Well-being of Looked
After Children 2010
Care Planning, Placement & Case Review Regulations 2010
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 This protocol has been written to provide a structured framework for joint
consideration and decision making where there is a requirement for a multi-
agency response to the care arrangements for children with complex needs.
It takes account of the Health Continuing Care Policy and statutory powers in
Section 39 of the Health Act 1999.
2 As such, it will cover children who have a statement of special education
needs (or who are being assessed towards such a statement), and children
who have specialist health care needs and where there is a recognised need
for the Children's Social Care to provide family support and/or respite
accommodation services.
3 The response to need is the shared ownership, and responsibility, of the
statutory agencies.
4 It is recognised, that on occasions, the legal/tribunal framework within which
each agency works may make decisions which impact on this agreement (e.g.
decisions made in Care Proceedings or an SEN Tribunal). Where possible,
inter-agency discussions will take place before the matter is considered by a
court/tribunal.
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 Inter-agency or inter-departmental disputes concerning funding must not
unduly delay or prevent an appropriate response to the assessed need of a
child and his or her family.
2 Enhanced local services should always be used if they can respond
appropriately to the assessed need.
3 A holistic view of a child‟s, and the carer‟s, needs must be taken and
recognition given to the interdependency of a child‟s health, educational and
social care and development needs.
4 Young people and their parents/carers must participate in the assessment of
need and be consulted about how these needs may be best met.
5 All proposed packages must be placed in the context of how they will
contribute to the child‟s life plan.
6 All placement and packages of care will be subject to a 6 monthly review LAC Review
(annually in the case of education) and their continuation will depend upon
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
Cross-Referencing
Standards
them continuing to meet the assessed need.
7 Workers must be able to state the outcomes they would expect from the
placements in the context of evidence based practice.
8 Proposed placements must comply with the appropriate regulatory /
registration framework and any contract standard specified by the agencies.
Children‟s Social Care, Children‟s Learning and Engagement, and health
colleagues should make a joint assessment of suitability.
9 Packages and placements will be assessed in the context of Value for Money
requirements.
10 Where joint assessment of a provision has taken place, funding splits will be
agreed in principle prior to Joint Purchasing Panel. Agencies will share
information regarding funds available to them, commitments, and future
budget planning.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 If there is an indication that the child‟s needsKey Worker Children in Need - Within 35
cannot be met through the local provision of Health, Core Assessment working days
any agency, consideration should be given to Education or for Children‟s
undertaking a joint agency assessment for an Social Worker Social Care
out of borough facility.
Where the lead agency is Children's Social
Care, the assessment will be a core
assessment under the National Assessment
Framework.
Where the lead agency is Children's
Learning and Engagement, the assessment
will be in accordance with the Code of
Practice for Special Educational Needs.
Where the lead agency is Health, the
assessment framework will meet the
requirements of the NHS Trust and/or
Health Authority.
In each case, the agency undertaking the
assessment may need to call on specialist
advice from the other agencies.
2 Where the child‟s needs are complex and Lead Agency Report to Joint Report to be
require the consideration of resources that lie Purchasing Panel joint signed by
outside of the normal in-house or commissioned and Minutes all agencies.
services of the three principle agencies, the
Joint Purchasing Panel will consider the
recommendations arising from the assessment .
3 No commitment should be confirmed with the
family concerned before the Panel has agreed
the recommendations arising from the
assessment.
Reviewed September 2010
Agreed by CSMT October 2010
Next Review Date April 2012
6.38 Looked After Children : Quality of Opportunity – Personal Appearance
Objective To ensure that children and young people are guided in and able to make
their own suitable choices with regard to their clothing and appearance.
Legal & Policy Status The Children Act 1989
The Children Act 2004
Children Act Guidance And Regulation Volume 4 1. 143
Care Matters Implementation Plan 2008
Children and Young Persons Act 2008
The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 Clothing is important for developing confidence and self esteem.
2 Children and young people should feel good about their clothes and
appearance. This is more likely to be the case if they are involved in choosing
them.
3 No child under the age of 18 should have a tattoo.
4 A child who is deemed to be competent is able to consent to body piercing at
the age of 16 and above.
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 Children and young people should feel comfortable with what they are
wearing.
2 Children and young people can confirm that they have been able to exercise
choice in purchasing clothes and personal toiletries.
3 That children and young people can confirm that they are offered guidance
with their appearance from adults.
4 Older teenagers, in settled circumstances, have control over monies for
clothing and decide where and what to purchase.
5 Young women are able to confirm they have their own personal supply of
sanitary protection.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 Wherever possible the parent/carer should be Social Worker Case Recording
encouraged to supply sufficient suitable Sheet
clothing for the child at the time the child
becomes looked after.
2 Ensure that the minimum items of clothing are Residential List upon Prior to
available. Support Worker placement to be placement or
/ Foster Carer compiled by Foster within 14 days
Carer, Residential
Worker
2 Any shortfall to be notified to social worker and Social Worker Placement Plan Prior to
a proposed initial sum to rectify should be Part 2 Section 30 placement or
agreed. within 14 days
3 Clothing should be purchased on a regular basis Residential Placement Plan Prior to
to ensure that the child or young person has Support Worker Part 2 Section 30 placement or
well fitted clothes in good condition. / Foster Carer within 14 days
4 In addition to clothing the child or young Social Worker Prior to
person should have school bag, lunch box, placement or
toilet bag and holdall or suitcase. within 14 days
5 Confirmation of choice and sufficiency of Reviewing LAC Review of Each review
Reviewed September 2010
Agreed by CSMT October 2010
Next Review Date April 2012
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
clothing is available. Officer Arrangements
Reviewed September 2010
Agreed by CSMT October 2010
Next Review Date April 2012
6.39 Looked After Children : Quality of Opportunity – Leisure Activities
Objective Children have ample opportunity to engage in purposeful and enjoyable
activities.
Legal & Policy Status The Children Act 1989
The Children Act 2004
Children Act Guidance And Regulations Vol.4, 1. 87
SSI Standards Volume 3
Bournemouth Borough Council - Health And Safety Policy
ECM 2003
Care Matters Implementation Plan 2008
Children and Young Persons Act 2008
Safety Aspects of Outside Activities – a Code of Practice
The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010
Statutory Guidance on Promoting the Health and Well-being of Looked
After Children 2010
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 All Looked After Children and young people will have a personal leisure plan.
2 Steps will be taken to ensure that children and young people interact
positively with staff, their carers, and their peers, and are encouraged in a
broad range of interests and activities.
3 Children and young people who are looked after should have access to a
range of leisure and recreational experiences including excursions, activity-
based trips and holidays, set out within a Personal Leisure Plan.
4 Careful consideration should be given to the objective of any trip, which
should be full consistent with the child‟s/young person‟s needs.
5 Well-planned and controlled trips will include arrangements to ensure the
safety and supervision of children and young people and security of others.
6 Children and young people do not claim with good reason to be bored.
7 Children and young people can confirm that they frequently talk and do
things with staff, their carers and peers.
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 BH Life (Leisure Trust) commissioned by Bournemouth Borough Council, may
be consulted if necessary, in order to develop a Personal Leisure Plan.
2 That children and young people are encouraged to spend part of their leisure
time in a purposeful activity.
3 Children and young people can confirm that trips out to events for enjoyment
or interest are encouraged or organised by staff or their carers.
4 Children and young people are encouraged to read for pleasure and interest
according to their ability.
5 Children and young people should be given access to books and the
opportunity to use the library facilities.
6 That children and young people are encouraged to talk about hobbies or
interests.
7 That children and young people with particular leisure interests are helped to
pursue them through encouragement from carers or staff and where
necessary with reasonable financial support.
8 Evidence that cultural pursuits are encouraged, should be noted on file.
9 A detailed risk assessment should be carried out for any planned trip or Risk Assessment
activity by the residential unit or in the care of family placement by the
Child‟s Social worker. All aspects of the trip or activity should be assessed
Reviewed September 2010
Agreed by CSMT October 2010
Next Review Date April 2012
Cross-Referencing
Standards
including:
Previous assessed level of vulnerability
Age of Child
Time of Day/Night
History of Self Harm
Physical disability or learning difficulty
State of mind at the time of the activity
Group behaviour
Any guidance within the child‟s care plan
Measures should be put in place to reduce risk wherever possible
Staff child ratio according to assessed need
Identification of appropriate behaviour management techniques that may
be necessary to ensure the safety and well being of the child and others
The activity and the qualifications of proposed group leaders should meet
the standards included in “Safety Aspects of Outside Activities – a Code
of Practice”.
10 Parental consent should be sought prior to any potential hazardous activity.
11 Children and young people who are looked after and are under 16 years of
age cannot be taken abroad without consent of the parent and service
manager if the child is subject to a care order.
12 If a child is in residential placement the planning of a holiday should be
discussed with the line manager for the establishment.
13 If a child/young person is in a foster placement the planning of a holiday
should be discussed with the team manager, Fostering and Placements Team.
14 Before any outdoor activity is planned consideration should be given to
“Safety Aspects of Outside Activities – a Code of Practice”.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 Wherever possible activities and hobbies should Social Worker LAC Placement Prior to
be maintained after a child becomes Looked Plan Part 2 placement or
After. Social Worker/ Section 33 within 14 days
An individual Leisure Plan is to be completed Residential LAC - Leisure Plan
with the child. Support Worker
/ Carer
2 Through discussion with the child ensure that a Residential Residential log Ongoing
range of activities or access to local facilities is Support Worker Case Recording
available to the child. Contact Leisure Services / Foster Carer / Sheet
if necessary, to develop a Personal Leisure Social Worker Foster carer diary
Plan. Assessment and
Brokerage Service is to be used to identify Action Records
activities that have been identified.
3 Assessment of risk of activity or vulnerability of Residential Case Recording Ongoing
child including reference to "Safety Aspects of Support Worker Sheet
Outside Activities – a Code of Practice". / Social Worker Risk Assessment
Qualifications of / Foster Carer Record
instructors/supervisors/leaders to be sought
and verified with relevant sporting body.
4 Parental permission for activities should be LAC Placement
Social Worker / Prior to
sought from parents or carers with parental Residential Plan Part 2 activities or
responsibility. Section 37 signed
Support Worker holiday being
Case Recording booked if
Sheet possible
5 Encouragement to maintain and establish Residential Assessment and Ongoing
activities and leisure pursuits. Support Worker Action Records
Reviewed September 2010
Agreed by CSMT October 2010
Next Review Date April 2012
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
/ Foster Carer /
Social Worker
6 Ensuring that the child‟s right to social Reviewing LAC Review of At each
activities or attendance at cultural events is Officer Arrangements review
promoted.
7 Holidays outside of the United Kingdom: Details to be Case Recording Prior to
Report to be prepared which includes full given to social Sheet booking the
details of the proposed holiday including: worker by Report to Service holiday
Dates of holiday; destination: accommodation foster carer or manager for
and sleeping arrangements; travel residential approval
arrangements; holiday insurance arrangements; support worker
proposed activities during holiday; permission prior to booking
or view of parent or carer with parental the holiday
responsibility.
All holidays excepting those arranged by the
school should take place during the school
breaks. When the proposal is for the holiday to
take place in term time, permission is to be
granted by the Children's Learning and
Engagement. If any other adults will be taking
part in the holiday who are not normally part
of the child‟s placement, full details and
agency checks should be undertaken.
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
6.40 Looked After Children – Quality of Opportunity – Meals
Objective To ensure that young people are provided with adequate quantities of
suitably prepared food, having regard to their needs and wishes and have
opportunity to shop for and prepare their own food.
Legal & Policy Status The Children Act 1989
The Children Act 2004
Children Act Guidance & Regulations Vol 4 1.136 SSI Standards, Volume 3
National Minimum Standards, Fostering and Residential Services 2010
Care Matters Implementation Plan 2008
Children and Young Persons Act 2008
The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010
Fostering Services Regulations 2011
Children‟s Homes (amended) Regulations 2011
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 Children and young people are to be consulted and to have the opportunity
to be actively involved in the preparation of meals.
Standards Cross-Referencing
1 Children and young people should be provided with a well balanced diet.
2 Children and young people should be provided with a range of food they
enjoy.
3 Children and young people should have the opportunity to eat some of their
meals together with other children either in a family placement setting or
within the residential home, and that they regard these meals as a positive
social event.
4 Children and young people consider there is sufficient quantity and choice.
5 Children and young people in children‟s homes and residential schools are
consulted about menus and the times of meals.
6 Children and young people confirm that there is cultural diversity in the
menu.
7 Children and young people have their dietary needs respected in terms of
cultural and religious requirements.
8 Children and young people are able to go shopping for food.
9 Children and young people are given the opportunities to prepare their own
food.
10 Children and young people with special dietary requirements have their
needs met without difficulty or embarrassment.
11 Consideration should be given as to whether children and young people
should have opportunities to share meals with their families during contact.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 All foods required to confirm the child‟s Social Worker EIR 1 within 14 Prior to
cultural identity should be identified with the days placement
child and the family. Any food allergies are to LAC Placement
be clearly recorded within Essential Plan Part 2 Section
Information 1 and discussed with carer upon 30
placing child.
2 Dietary requirements should be ascertained Social Worker EIR 1 Available at
prior to placement and all relevant information time of
given to foster carers or residential social placement or
workers. in an
emergency as
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
soon as
possible
3 Food choices, likes and dislikes are to be Senior RSW / Log book in
recorded. A contribution to shopping and Foster Carer residential care or
preparation of meals is to be encouraged and foster carer‟s diary
the young person‟s ability assessed.
4 If the child remains accommodated following RSW / Foster Assessment and
the second review then this information will be Carer / Social Action Records
recorded, with the child whenever possible, Worker
within the Assessment and Action Records.
5 Children are to be encouraged to consider RSW / Foster Consultation Prior to each
these matters and to record this within their Carer / Social Paper. LAC Review of
consultation paper prior to Review. Worker / arrangements
Advocate
6 Shared meals with the family are an Social Worker LAC - Care Plan
expectation. arrangements for
contact section 11
7 Ascertain that the child is happy and satisfied Reviewing LAC Review of
with the choice and availability of food and Officer Arrangements
that the arrangements meet the child‟s cultural
or religious requirements, dietary needs and
are regarded as part of a positive social event.
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
6.41 Looked After Children : Representation at Reviews
Objective To ensure that children attending their review are encouraged to be able
to fully engage in the process through having the support of a person of
their choice.
Legal & Policy Status The Children Act 1989 and the Children Act 2004
Children Act 1989 Regulations and Guidance
National Advocacy Standards
Care Matters Implementation Plan 2008
Children and Young Person‟s Act 2008
The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010
IRO Handbook 2010
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 Children should be able to choose who they want to be present to support Review
them at their review. Their wishes should be accepted unless their welfare arrangements
would be significantly harmed if their wishes were followed. Independent visitors
2 Consideration should be given to the size of group to be convened.
3 Alternative methods of eliciting information from interested or relevant
parties should be pursued.
4 Attendance at reviews of independent people, for example an advocate Advocacy
from the Advocacy service or individuals important to the young person
should be welcomed and positively encouraged.
5 If an Independent Visitor has been appointed they should attend the review. Independent Visitor
6 The child and family should be prepared for the review; the child should be
given a booklet explaining the process and what they can expect. The social
worker should clarify the parents and child‟s understanding of the process
before the review commences.
7 Children and parents should be encouraged to be full participants in the
review. This can only be constructively achieved if preparation has taken
place and the consultation papers completed.
8 Action for Children provides the Advocacy Services for Bournemouth.
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 Children should always be made aware of the option to have a friend or
supporter of their choice.
2 Written information should be available for children.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 Child or young person to be informed of the Social worker Case Recording Two weeks prior
review. Sheet to first review
2 Child or young person to be given any relevant Social worker Case Recording
information regarding the format of the review Sheet
meeting and there will be a discussion regarding
who may attend.
3 If an Independent visitor has been appointed they Social worker Letter re - LAC Two weeks prior
are to be invited to the review. Review (LACT09) to first review
4 Consultation paper to be forwarded to the child Social worker Case Recording Two weeks prior
for completion with SW or with carer. Sheet to first review
5 If young person has involvement with the Social worker Letter re - LAC Two weeks prior
Advocacy service, the advocate is to be informed Review (LACT09) to first review
of the forthcoming review.
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
6 Consultation with any other person who may Social worker Case Recording
information regarding the child‟s view. Sheet
7 Ensure child‟s views are represented at review. Reviewing LAC Review of
Officer Arrangements
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
6.42 Looked After Children : Review of Arrangements
Objective To ensure the needs of children being looked after by the Council are
continually being assessed and met and to provide alternate care plans if
they are not.
Legal & Policy Status The Children Act 1989 Sec 26
Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations Vol.3, 4 and 6
Adoption & Children Act 2002 and accompanying guidance
Adoption Agency Regulations 2005
Brighton and Hove ACPC, Part 8 Report concerning JAS 2001
Care Matters Implementation Plan 2008
Children and Young Person‟s Act 2008
The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010
IRO Handbook 2010
Accommodated Children Visiting Arrangements Regulations 2011
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 Full participation of the parents and children in the review is necessary. The Participation
wishes and feelings of the children must be ascertained.
2 Children should be given a choice of venue and who they want to be present.
Unless a child‟s welfare is at risk, the child‟s wishes should be adhered to.
3 Reviews are an opportunity to celebrate the success of the child or young
person. They are not to become a forum for professionals to debate their
differences.
4 An Independent Reviewing Officer will be allocated to chair and undertake
the Review of Arrangements and will ensure the appropriateness of the care
plan and that its implementation is being achieved in a timely way.
5 The Chair of the Review should introduce her or himself to the child before
the meeting and agree an agenda with the child. Ideally this will be prior to
the day of the review and will enable the reviewer to get a good sense of the
child‟s wishes and feelings.
6 Reviews are a process, not simply a meeting. This process should include
information gathering, consultation and planning. This should commence
between one and eight weeks before the review meeting and conclude two
weeks after it.
7 If the child chooses not to attend, alternative provision should be made to
involve the child.
8 If the child wishes they can be accompanied at the review by a friend or Representative at
supporter of their choice. The child should always be made aware of this Reviews
option. However, the child should be properly informed of any sensitive
material to be discussed as this may influence the choice of friend or
supporter.
9 There may be people entitled to be present at the review meeting who the Representative at
child does not want to see. Separate attendance at the meeting can be Reviews
arranged or the views of these people must be obtained in advance and they
must be consulted with after the meeting.
The number of people at the review should be kept to a minimum:
a) Chair
b) Child
c) Parents (including those without parental responsibility)
d) People with parental responsibility
e) Social worker
f) Carers
10 Other professionals should add to the review via written report or prior
consultation with the social worker. The child‟s agreement is required for
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
them to attend the review meeting. There may be others who the child
would like to be involved via the meeting or in consultation with the social
worker.
11 Where siblings are placed together it would normally be the case that they
would be reviewed together. However, each child must have their own needs
considered. Although siblings placed separately would normally be reviewed
separately, reviewing together may be considered if the plan is to unify the
sibling group.
12 Children placed for adoption will continue to be reviewed within 4 weeks of
placement, not more than 3 months after the first review, then not more
than 6 months after the previous review, until the adoption order is granted.
13 The lessons learnt from the Brighton and Hove Part 8 review must be
remembered in working with children and adoptive families. Children in
adoptive placements are also vulnerable to abuse and all workers must be
alert to this possibility in supervising and reviewing placements.
14 Where an adoption placement disrupts before an adoption order has been
made, a disruption review is required, no earlier than 28 days or no later
than 42 days after the date on which the adoptive placement ended.
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 The review should follow LAC Review procedures. LAC Review
2 Reviews must be conducted within 20 days of the start of the placement,
then within three months of the first review then every six months.
3 Consideration should be given to permanency planning by the second review Permanency
(i.e. 4 months) and a plan should be presented to that review. A plan to find Planning meetings
a permanent home could involve the child returning to birth parent(s), living Permanency
long term in foster care, residence order, special guardianship or adoption Planning
into a new family. The key factor is that a plan should be in place with Working with Birth
timescales and best interest decisions made. Consideration should be given Families and
to family group meeting as a means of identifying family who may be able to Children
offer a child or young person a permanent home. A referral will be made to
the Permanency Planning Meeting at the 2nd review.
4 Where authority to place a child for adoption has been obtained, either with Children's
formal witnessed consent or a placement order, but the child not yet placed, Reviewers
a review must be held not more than 3 months after the authority to place
was obtained, and then not more than 6 months after the date of that
review. If the child has not been placed for adoption by second review, then
the Council must consider the following matters at that second review for
children subject to placement orders:-
- Why the child has not been placed for adoption;
- What further steps should be taken;
- Whether the child should still be placed for adoption.
5 Once a child has been placed for adoption, a review must be held within 4
weeks, within 3 months of that review, then within a further 6 months until
an adoption order is granted, in line with the requirements of the Adoption
Agencies Regulations 2005, in particular regulations 35-38.
This includes children brought into the UK for the purposes of adoption from
overseas.
6 The following people must be consulted before the review meeting:
a) The child
b) The parents of the child (including those without parental responsibility)
c) People with parental responsibility
d) Professionals the Council considers relevant
e) Family members or friends of the child the Children's Social Care
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
Cross-Referencing
Standards
considers relevant
f) Others the child feels should be consulted
7 Consideration should be made of the suitability of these people attending the Children‟s
review meeting and they should all receive notification of the decisions made Reviewers
by the meeting.
Where a child is placed for adoption, it would not be appropriate to invite
birth parents to the review meeting, even though they retain parental
responsibility until the adoption order is made. They should, however, be
advised of the outcome of the review in summary form. They should not be
sent a copy of the review document as this will identify the adopters and the
whereabouts of the child.
8 By the end of each review process, the essential information record parts 1 EIR records
and 2, placement plans and care plans should have been updated. The review
form should be complete. Please note that a different format is used for
recording adoption reviews, which recognises the particular issues in
adoption placements.
9 The chair of the second review should state that action and assessment Assessment and
records should be completed by the time of the following review unless the Action Record
child is to return home and thereafter started at alternative reviews.
10 Reviews should be based in part upon the information collected in the Assessment and
assessment and action records. Action Record
11 Each review should consider contact arrangements, education plans, personal PEP
health plan and establish whether there are any outstanding Criminal Injury Personal Health
Compensation Award matters. Plans
12 Each review should ascertain that the child/young person has access to Quality of
leisure activities, appropriate clothing and choice of food age-appropriate Opportunity:
and that will meet any religious or cultural needs. Personal
Appearance and
Meals
13 A review where an adoptive placement disrupts is a statutory review, with an
extended agenda which must also address the following issues.
a. Whether the adoption agency remains satisfied that the child should be
placed for adoption.
b. The child‟s needs, welfare and development, and whether any changes
need to be made to meet his needs or assist his development.
c. The existing arrangements for contact, and whether they should continue
or be altered.
d. In consultation with the appropriate agencies, the arrangements for
assessing and meeting the child‟s health care and educational needs.
e. Whether direct work is needed to help the child understand the
disruption.
f. If and how the birth family will be told of the disruption.
g. Whether further assessment of the child‟s needs is required before a new
placement is considered.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 Inform Reviewing Unit that the child has Social worker Information Sheet On the day the
become looked after. for LAC child is looked
Notification after
2 Inform Education caseworker, and LAC nurses Social worker Information Sheet On the day the
and designated teacher at child‟s school. for LAC child is looked
Notification after
3 Child‟s name entered onto LAC Independent IRO Admin Database On the day the
Reviewing Officer database. child is looked
after
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
4 Ensure any other agencies are informed. Social worker Case Recording On the day the
Sheet child is looked
after
5 Book first review. Social worker Case Recording By the third
Sheet day the child
is looked after
6 Reviewing Officer LAC file compiled. IRO Admin IRO LAC file
7 Send copies of EIR parts 1 and 2 to Review Social worker IRO LAC file By the third
Team. day the child
is looked after
8 Placement Plan Part 1 and Part 2 to Review Social worker IRO LAC file By the third
Team. day the child
is looked after
9 Care Plan to Review Team. Social worker IRO LAC file By the third
day the child
is looked after
10 LAC documentation checklist updated as IRO Admin IRO LAC file As received
documentation is received.
11 Notify Parent, Guardian or prospective Team Admin Letter to Parent / As soon as
Adopters of review date. Include consultation Guardian re - LAC date is
papers for completion. Review (LACT 07) confirmed
12 Notify foster carer, residential worker or Team Admin Letter to Carer re - As soon as
prospective adopters of review date. Include LAC Review date is
consultation papers (LACT08) confirmed
for completion.
13 Inform child of review date and discuss purpose Social Worker Case Recording As soon as
and content of review (see representation at Sheet date is
reviews procedure). Ensure child has Letter re - LAC confirmed
consultation document and that the child has Review (LACT09 )
identified who would assist the child to Consultation
complete the document if required. document
14 Notify health, education and any other relevant Team Admin Invitation Letter to
professional of review date. LAC Review
(LACT11)
15 Ring reviewing officer to discuss case and agree Social worker Case Recording 14 days prior
agenda. Sheet (C0212) to review
16 Consider if AARs should be commenced. Social worker LAC Review of 14 days prior
Arrangements to review
Section 10
17 Consult with all relevant agencies regarding the Social worker Case Recording 14 days prior
child‟s needs. Wherever possible or appropriate Sheet to review
consult with the young person and their family LAC Review of
regarding the young person‟s needs. Arrangements
Section 21
18 Consider all LAC dimensions; (health, Social worker LAC Review of 14 days prior
education, family & social relationships, Arrangements to review
emotional and behavioural development, Section 14
identity, social presentation and self care
skills).
19 Send all completed papers to the reviewing Social worker IRO LAC file 7 days prior to
office, review of arrangements form, reports, review
consultation papers, PEPs if completed, Health
assessments, any other useful documents, e.g.
chronology, core assessment.
20 Hold first review, set date for next review. Reviewing LAC Review of Date of next
Officer Arrangements review to be
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
held within 12
weeks
21 RAISE to be updated Social Worker Immediately
22 Complete the review report and send to social Reviewing LAC Review of Within 14 days
worker. officer Arrangements of review
23 Complete distribution list. Social worker LAC Review of Within 2 days
Arrangements of receipt of
Section 34 review
24 Send review report to relevant people. Team Admin. LAC Review of Within 28 days
Arrangements of
review
25 Second review to be held on date agreed at Social Worker Within 12
first review meeting or to be held within 12 weeks of first
weeks of that date. review
26 Complete steps 9–15. As indicated
above
27 The EIR part 1 and part 2 and Placement Plan Social worker EIR 1 and EIR 2 14 days prior
part 1 and 2 should be updated. Copies sent to LAC Placement to review
Independent Reviewing Officer, and others Plan Part 1
identified on LAC forms distribution list. LAC Placement
Plan Part 2
LAC Forms
Distribution List
28 LAC documentation checklist updated as IRO Admin IRO LAC file
documentation is received.
29 Send all completed papers to the reviewing Social Worker IRO LAC File
officer – review of arrangements form, reports,
consultation papers, PEPs, Child Health Plans.
30 Ring reviewing officer to discuss case and agree Social worker Case Recording 2 weeks prior
agenda. Sheet to review
31 Consult with all relevant agencies regarding the Social worker Case Recording 1 week prior
child‟s needs. Wherever possible or appropriate Sheet to review
consult with the young person and their family LAC Review of
regarding the young person‟s needs. Arrangements
Section 21
32 Consider all LAC dimensions; (health, Social worker LAC Review of 1 week prior
education, family & social relationships, Arrangements to review
emotional and behavioural development, Section 14
identity, social presentation and self care
skills).
33 Send all completed papers to the reviewing Social worker IRO LAC File 1 week prior
officer, review of arrangements form, reports, to review
consultation papers, PEPs if completed, Health
assessments, any other useful documents, e.g.
chronology, core assessment.
34 Hold second review, set date for next review. Reviewing LAC Review of Date for third
Ensure that permanency planning is Officer Arrangements review to be
commenced including consideration of Family held within 26
Group meeting. weeks
35 RAISE to be updated. Social Worker Immediately
36 Complete the review report. Reviewing LAC Review of Within 14 days
officer Arrangements of review
37 Complete distribution list. Social Worker LAC Review of Within 14 days
Arrangements of review
Section 34
38 Send review report to relevant people (as Team Admin. LAC Review of Within 28 days
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
indicated Section 34 above). Arrangements of review
Section 34
39 Third and subsequent review. Complete Steps As identified As identified
9–15 and 23–29, including children placed for
adoption.
40 NB Assessment and Action records will have Social Worker IRO LAC file
been completed, copy of Summary to be sent
to Reviewing Team.
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
6.43 Looked After Children : School Exclusions
Objective To ensure that schools, Children‟s Learning and Engagement and
Children's Social Care work together to prevent the need for school
exclusions. However if they do occur then the Council works corporately
to ensure full time, mainstream schooling as soon as possible.
Legal & Policy Status The Children Act 1989
The Children Act 2004
DoH Education of Children Looked After LAC (94) 11
DfES/DoH „Guidance on the Education of Children and Young People in
Public Care‟, LAC (2000) 13
Pupil Support and Social Inclusion
Raising the Educational Achievement of Looked After Children, Joint
Panel on the Educational Needs of Looked After Children, November 2002
Better Outcomes for Children in Care (2003)
Corporate Parenting Strategy
Care Matters Implementation Plan 2008
DCSF „Improving Behaviour and Attendance: Guidance on exclusion from
schools and Pupil Referral Units
The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010
Children, Schools and Families Act 2010
The Designated Teacher (Looked After Pupils) (England) Regulations 2009
Looked After Children Commissioning & Service Improvement Strategy
2011-2016
Cross-
Key Points Referencing
1 Children who are looked after have the same rights as all children to education.
2 The Council has a corporate responsibility to ensure the maximum educational
opportunities for children looked after.
3 Research shows that of the factors most likely to disadvantage young people
who are Looked After, loss of education is one of the most significant.
4 Children's Social Care will work alongside schools and the Children's Learning
and Engagement to ensure that all the steps to be taken before exclusions take
place.
5 When a child has been excluded from school, a parent has a right to appeal on
the child‟s behalf. The Council as the corporate parent is expected to act as a
champion for the children in their care and advocate for their needs in exactly
the same way
6 Local Education Authorities (CLE in Bournemouth) are expected to set a
maximum time limit of 20 school days within which they must secure an
education placement for any pupil in public care. It will be a full time place in a
local mainstream school unless the circumstances and needs of the child make
such provision unsuitable.
7 When a looked after child has been excluded it will be expected that all
attempts have been made to avoid the exclusion. Stability of school placement
is vital to the child‟s social inclusion. Appeal can be made on behalf of the child
by the social worker or by the foster carers in consultation with the social
worker.
8 Any Social Worker or Designated Teacher who feels a child or young person is
giving cause for concern should notify the LAC caseworker.
Cross-
Standards Referencing
1 Social workers and the carers of the child should be aware of the grounds for
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
Cross-
Standards Referencing
exclusion and of the Council appeals procedure.
2 Social Worker and carers should be informed and updated by the school of any
behaviour that may lead to exclusion.
3 Immediate short term education arrangements will be put in place from Day 1
4 An appropriate full time education placement must be found at the earliest
opportunity, generally within 20 days of the child becoming looked after.
5 The Social Worker and/or carer should act immediately to liaise with dedicated
teachers for looked after children once they are informed that the child has
been excluded.
6 The exclusion should be discussed with the child and the parent(s) or those with
parental responsibility and their views are recorded.
7 The social worker or other nominated person should act as the child‟s advocate
at the appeals panel.
8 It is the responsibility of the school to provide work for excluded pupils.
9 The relevant manager in the Children's Learning and Engagement should be
informed about all exclusions (Virtual School Head).
10 If the behaviour of a child or young person is giving concern at school, it is
essential that this is communicated to the carer and Social Worker.
11 The report regarding the child should include:
details of the child/young person concerned
an indication of the issue to be resolved
the main facts of the case
the action taken to date
possible options for further action
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 Inform Social Worker and carers if the child is Designated Case Recording
causing concern at school. Teacher Sheet
2 Contact the Chair of the Children Giving Cause Social Worker / Case Recording Immediately
for Concern meeting to book a slot at the next Designated Sheet
meeting Teacher
3 Attend the meeting and represent the child's Social Worker / Minutes
situation and contribute to the plan of action. Designated
Teacher
4 Communicate the plan of action to carers, Social WorkerCase Recording
child or young person, parent if appropriate. Sheet
5 EXCLUSION Social Worker Residential Record Immediately
Ensure that the school has set work for the / Residential or Foster Care
child for the duration of the exclusion. Support Worker Diary
/ Foster Carer Case Recording
Sheet
6 Discussion with LAC education colleagues about Social Worker
alternative provision from day 1 / Residential
Support Worker
/ Foster Carer
7 Speak to teacher/s about what that work Child ‟s carer Residential Record As soon as
entails. or Foster Care possible
Diary
8 Consult with school about the reasons for Social Worker Case Recording Within 5
exclusion and determine what action is taken Sheet school days
to support the young person in successfully re-
integrating into school.
9 Inform parents and people with parental Social Worker Case Recording Immediately
responsibility about the school exclusion and Sheet
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
their right to make complaints and
representations to the CLE & CSC.
10 Talk to the young person about the exclusion Social Worker / Case Recording As appropriate
and ascertain their views about how they can Foster Carer Sheet or but within 5
return to school. residential file/ days of
Foster Carer Diary exclusion
11 If the exclusion is permanent liaise with the Social Worker Case Recording Within 5
local education authority regarding the Sheet school days
appropriate alternative educational placement.
11 Inform Service and Strategy Manager, CLE, if an Social Worker Letter/Note Immediately
education placement has not been provided
within 20 school days.
12 Inform Team Manager if an education Social Worker Case Recording Immediately
placement has not been provided within a Sheet
further 10 school days.
13 Ensure that all action plans regarding the Reviewing LAC Review of Next available
proposals for education are enacted. Officer Arrangements meeting
14 RAISE to be updated with all periods of Social Worker As necessary
exclusion.
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
6.44 Looked After Children : Termination of Pregnancy
Objective To ensure that young people are provided with advice, support and
independent counselling to enable them to make an informed decision
about whether or continue with the pregnancy or have a termination.
To ensure they are fully supported once they have made the decision.
Legal & Policy Status Statutory Guidance on Promoting the Health & Wellbeing of Looked After
Children 2010
The Children Act 1989 Sec 22(3) Sec 33(3)
The Abortion Act 1967
Mental Health Act 1983 Code of Practice 19 (The Fraser Guidelines)
Children & Young Person Act 2008
Cross-
Key Points Referencing
1 The Council has the duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of any young
people looked after by them. Consent for seeking termination should be given
by the Service Manager, Children‟s Social Care where the Council holds Parental
Responsibility for the young person, or the Service Director if specific concerns
are raised.
2 It should not be assumed that a young woman would wish to have a termination.
Independent advice provided as early as possible by appropriately trained
counsellors should help her to recognise the importance of such a decision.
Eligibility for less intrusive terminations must be maintained during the period
of early counselling within 12 weeks of conception.
3 Young people have the right to:
a) Emotional support before, during and after the decision making process.
b) Privacy and confidentiality.
c) Encouragement and help in telling their parents where possible.
4 If the young person decides to seek a termination of pregnancy, two registered
medical practitioners are required to sign the application form.
Cross-Referencing
Consent to a Termination
1 Young people over 16 are able to give their own consent
2 For young people under 16 who are accommodated the right to give consent Parental
rests with the parents (but see below). Responsibility
3 If the young person is on a care order, then the Council shares parental Care Order
responsibility with the parents. Thus, negotiation should take place with Consent
parents as to who should give consent subject to the young person‟s right to
privacy and confidentiality (but see below).
4 Young people under 16 are able to give their own consent, according to the
Fraser Guidelines based on the Gillick principle established in Gillick v West
Norfolk and Wisbeach AHA (1986) AC112. This Provision is only accessible if
the two signing medical practitioners are satisfied that:
a) The young person understands the advice and has the maturity to
understand what is involved.
b) They (the Drs) are unable to convince the young person to inform their
parents/carers with parental responsibility.
c) They (the Drs) cannot obtain consent of the young person to inform their
parents/carers with parental responsibility on their behalf.
d) The young person‟s physical and/or mental health will suffer if they do
not a have a termination.
e) It is in the young person‟s best interests to have the termination without
parental consent.
f) In all cases where the young person is under 16, then the sexual
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
Cross-Referencing
Consent to a Termination
activity/lifestyle leading to pregnancy should be considered within child
protection procedures.
g) The final decision as to whether or not to perform a termination of
pregnancy rests with the consultant who will be carrying out the
procedure.
5 If the young person is to have a termination appropriate practical
arrangements must be made to support her before, during and after the
operation.
6 Young people should be offered support, advice and counselling after the
termination to ensure they are able to make informed choices about future
sexual relationships, sexual health and contraception.
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 Without delay, a young woman who is pregnant should be offered counselling
from someone independent of their social worker or key worker. This
Counsellor should be appropriately trained e.g. Brook Clinic, local family
planning clinic etc.
2 The social worker and carers should be sensitive to issues of confidentiality
and ensure only those with a "need to know" are informed. The young person
needs to feel confident that this is complied with and knows who is to be
told.
3 The young person feels supported before, during and after the termination.
4 After any termination, the young person will continue to be provided with
appropriate advice, support and counselling.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 If young person indicates that they consider Social Worker / Case Recording As soon as
they may be pregnant ensure that they are Foster Carer / Sheet possible
taken to GP or another local service for a Residential Residential log
pregnancy test. Support worker Foster carer diary
2 If pregnancy is confirmed young person to have Social worker Case Recording
access to unbiased pregnancy advise on options Sheet
– keeping baby, termination or adoption.
Referral and or appointment made with GP,
Youth Advisory Clinic, LAC Nurse.
3 Young person to be accompanied to Worker, Carer Case Recording
appointment if so chooses. of choice Sheet
4 Young woman encouraged to discuss with Health Service. Health Records.
parents.
5 If young person is considered not to be Social worker Legal meeting
competent to make an informed choice legal minutes
advice is to be sought.
6 If the Council hold PR and the young woman Social worker Report As soon as
makes the choice to have a termination, report information is
to be prepared for permission from Service available
Director of Children's Social Care.
The report should include:
options that have been explored
Independent advise that has been made
available
Views of the doctors regarding consent
point
4 key points Consent to a termination
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
Support that will be available after the
termination
7 Plan support for young woman prior to and Social worker Case Recording Prior to
following termination Sheet termination
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
6.45 Looked After Children : The Council’s Pledge to Looked After Children
Objective To ensure all staff are aware of the commitments and promises made to
looked after children by the Council, and will ensure these promises are
kept
Legal & Policy Status Children Act 1989 and 2004
Care Matters Implementation Plan 2008
Children & Young Person‟s Act 2008
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 The Government requires all Councils to develop a „pledge‟ to looked after
children and young people, which outlines the minimum standards they can
expect from the Council
2 In Bournemouth the „pledge‟ is entitled „The Promise‟. Looked after young
people and care leavers were consulted and their suggestions have formed
the basis for the Council‟s promise to them.
3 The details of the promise can be found in two leaflets, both attached to this
policy; they are “The Promise” and “What You Can Expect From Us”
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 All staff working with looked after children and care leavers must be aware
of the commitments made to looked after children, as outlined in “The
Promise” and the leaflet “What You Can Expect From Us”
2 All staff must make every effort to ensure the Council acts in accordance
with these commitments. If staff become aware that we are failing in our
promise to children and young people they must ensure a senior manager is
made aware of this
3 The Council will be audited, on an annual basis by the Children In Care
Council (CLICK) and feedback given to the Corporate Parenting Panel on how
well the Council is adhering to its commitments made in “The Promise” and
“What You Can Expect From Us” .
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 Staff must ensure that a newly accommodated The child‟s Case recording As soon as
child/young person is given the two leaflets, social worker child is placed
“The Promise” and “What You Can Expect From
Us” as soon as they become accommodated.
They must ensure the child understands the
commitments made within this leaflet. If the
child is unable to read, they must agree who is
best placed to explain the content to the child
2 During visits to the child, the worker should The child‟s Case recording immediately
check to ensure the standards outlined in the social worker
promise leaflets are being met. If they are not
a senior manager should be informed via the
relevant team manager, so that relevant action
can be taken
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
6.46 Looked After Children : Transfer Between Childcare Area Teams and Looked After
Children’s Team
Objective To ensure a smooth transition of case responsibility from one team to
another.
Legal & Policy Status The Children Act 1989
The Children Act 2004
Care Matters Implementation Plan 2008
Children and Young Persons Act 2008
Cross-
Key Points Referencing
1 The aim will be to transfer cases at the 4 month point (from coming into the
care system), by which time a permanent plan should be known.
2 A case will not transfer in a state of crisis or without a clear plan.
3 A case will be presented to a Permanency Planning meeting after the 4 month
review by the Childcare Area Team Social Worker, unless the child/young
person is returning home, or is subject to Care proceedings.
4 Care proceedings will remain the task of the ChildCare Area Teams, and Looked Legal
After responsibilities will transfer to the LAC Team.
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 Case responsibility will only transfer to the Looked After Children‟s Team,
following liaison between the LAC Team Manager/Senior Practitioner and
ChildCare Area Team Manager/Senior Practitioner.
2 At point of transfer, case files will have a Transfer Summary, up to date
Chronology and a case file audit, and will have been signed off by ChildCare
Area Team Manager/Senior Practitioner.
3 Where placement includes social care, education and health input, funding will
have been agreed.
4 Careful consideration will be given to whom the case will be allocated within
the LAC Team, with reference to particular skills needed/gender requests etc.
5 Where possible, transfer will include a handover and introductory visit to the
child/young person, by the previous and the current practitioner, within two
weeks of transfer.
No Task Responsible Record required on Performance
officer RAISE standard
1 Discussion re: transfer of case Locality Recording sheet. As needed.
responsibility, including timescales. Team/LAC Team
Manager/Senior
Practitioner
2 Preparation of file for transfer. Locality Transfer summary Prior to
Practitioner. /up to date transfer
Chronology/Case date.
File Audit.
3 File to be signed off. Locality Team Transfer Prior to
Manager/Senior Summery/Case File transfer.
Practitioner. Audit.
4 Arrangement made for files to be Locality Team Case transfer As needed.
transferred from office to office. Admin Support. notification AC0916
5 Case allocated to new practitioner in the LAC Team As needed.
LAC Team. Manager/Senior
Reviewed April 2011
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
No Task Responsible Record required on Performance
officer RAISE standard
Practitioner.
6 Relevant people within Borough notified of LAC Team Admin On allocation
change of worker. Support.
7 Introductory/handover visit to child/young Locality and LAC Case recording Within 2
person. Team sheet. weeks of
Practitioners. transfer.
Reviewed N/A
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
6.47 Looked After Children : Visiting Arrangements / Requirements
Objective To ensure children are safeguarded and that support and supervision of
the placement takes place.
Legal & Policy Status The Children Act 1989 Regulation 32–34
Children Act Guidance
Care Matters Implementation Plan 2008
Children and Young Persons Act 2008
The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010
Fostering Services Regulations 2011
Children‟s Homes (amended) Regulations 2011
Accommodated Children Visiting Arrangements Regulations 2011
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 The care planning guidance above provides a framework of requirements for
the social worker‟s task of supervision of the placement and working with the
child and carer towards achieving the objectives of the care plan for the
child.
2 The social worker who is the supervisor of the placement should have
knowledge of the child before placement and the child should know the
particular social worker.
3 Visits should take place as often as the circumstances of the individual child
and placement require, but at the very least as detailed below.
4 It is necessary to check out the perceptions of the child and their
carer/residential social worker in relation to the aims of the placement plan.
5 In order to monitor the suitability of the placement environment the
supervisor will need to assess the attitudes of others in the household to the
child and the placement and to be aware of significant changes in their
attitudes or circumstances.
6 Whilst the support and development of the foster carer is the responsibility
of the Fostering & Placement Team, (if an in-house resource) the child‟s
social worker needs to relate to the carer(s) and ensure open communication
is encouraged.
7 Statutory visiting requirements are applicable to children subject to care Placement with
orders who are placed with their parents. parents
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 Visiting requirements are:
a) Within one week of the beginning of the placement
b) At intervals of not more than 6 weeks during the first year of the
placement
c) Thereafter at intervals of not more than 12 weeks and also whenever
reasonably requested by the child or the person with whom the child is
placed.
2 The child should be seen alone on each visit, unless this is not appropriate,
i.e. a very young child or one who requires an interpreter.
3 Any decision to not see the child alone should be recorded on the child‟s case
file.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 Visit the child. Social worker Case Recording Within one
Sheet week of
Reviewed N/A
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
placement
commencing
2 Assess the child‟s needs and circumstances and Social worker Case Recording During visit
how the placement is meeting these needs and Sheet
promoting their welfare. This should include
consideration of their health, educational,
emotional, social, religious and cultural needs.
3 Report to team manager, family placement Social worker Case Recording Immediately
social worker, if there is concern about the Sheet
child‟s well-being or the functioning of the
placement.
4 Make a decision about how the concerns will be Team manager Case Recording Immediately
dealt with, this should include consideration of Sheet
informing the parent and person with parental
responsibility, relevant Council or family
placement team.
5 In circumstances where there are concerns that Social worker Case recording Immediately
the child may be at risk of significant harm the Sheet
Team Manager should be informed and
decisions made about the possibility of
implementing the safeguarding procedures.
6 Record the placement visit. Social worker Case Recording Within 2
Sheet working days
7 Repeat process not less than every six weeks Social worker Case Recording Within 2
during the first year of placement. Sheet working days
8 Repeat process not less than every twelve Social worker Case Recording Within 2
weeks thereafter. Sheet working days
Reviewed N/A
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
6.48 Looked After Children : Former Looked After Children In Detention
Objective To ensure staff are aware of local authority responsibilities towards
former looked after children in custody.
Legal & Policy Status Children Act 1989
Local Authority Social services Act 1970
Children & Young Persons Act 2008
The Visits to Former Looked After Children in Detention (England)
Regulations 2010
Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need & Their Families
Care Standards Act 2000
Cross-Referencing
Key Points
1 Research and data indicates that looked after children enter custody at a
higher rate than other children.
2 Where a child is subject to a Care Order (under S:31 CA1989) and a local
authority shares parental responsibility, they will have ongoing duties to
support the child in custody and post release resettlement period.
3 Where children are entitled to support as care leavers, they become relevant
children and are entitled to support in custody and in post release
resettlement period.
4 This guidance applies to children who lose their looked after status on
entering custody. These are: children who were accommodated under S:20
CA1989 prior to custody and whose sentence ends before their 16th birthday,
children who are aged 16 or 17 but have been looked after for less than 13
weeks since the age of 14.
5 If parents or wider family are assessed as being able to meet their needs
whilst in custody and on release, there is no ongoing role for the local
authority.
6 Where there are concerns about the child‟s safety in custody, the local CA1989 Guidance &
authority does not have the power to terminate the placement, but can take Regulations.
other steps and ensure the child‟s welfare. Responsibility
towards former
looked after
children in
custody.
7 Where the plan is for the child to become looked after again or to receive
support services in the community post release, the local authority must be
involved in the plan for release.
Cross-Referencing
Standards
1 All children who may be in need are entitled to an assessment under
S.17.CA1989.
2 When a young person is remanded or sentenced to custody, the local
authority must then appoint a representative to visit the child.
3 This representative should be a qualified social worker though there may be
some circumstances where a residential worker or someone familiar to the
child might be appropriate.
4 The Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) must be informed of the child‟s
placement in custody.
5 Within 5 working days the local authority must provide information to the CA1989 Guidance &
custodial establishment. Regulations. Local
Authority
Reviewed N/A
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
Cross-Referencing
Standards
responsibilities
towards former
looked after
children in
custody.
6 The child must be visited within 10 working days of their entering custody.
7 The assessment of a child‟s needs must be completed within 20 working days
of the child entering custody.
8 Where parents are unavailable or unable to exercise their parental rights, the
local authority will undertake ongoing visits and provide support and
practical help whilst the child is in custody.
9 Every local authority will have a designated manager to decide how the local
authority will act on the representative‟s recommendations and delivery the
service to the child in custody.
10 There will be joint protocols between local authorities and Youth Offending
Teams (YOT) for delivery of support services to former looked after children
in custody.
11 Where it has been agreed that the child will need ongoing support whilst in
custody, or that they will need to become looked after again on release, they
should be visited in the same way as any other looked after child, i.e. at
intervals of not more than 6 weeks for the first year and 3 months thereafter.
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
1 On a child entering custody, the responsible LAC Team SS 162 Immediate
authority must allocate a Personal Advisor and Manager/Senior RAISE record
work with the young person to prepare a Practitioner
Pathway Plan.
2 Inform ECO of placement in custody. RAISE record Immediate
3 The custodial unit must be contacted with the Local RAISE case note Within 5
following information: Authority‟s working days
Child‟s previous care status; representative
Person/s with PR
Name/contact details of local
authority‟s representative and
designated manager;
Immediate information to ensure safety;
Relevant information about family/
carers;
Any other information that will enhance
care and of child;
Date of representative‟s visit.
4 Visit child in custody. Local RAISE record Within 10
Authority‟s working days
representative
5 Complete assessment of child‟s needs whilst in Local Assessment Within 20
custody and on release, to include: Authority‟s RAISE record working days
Risk of self harm; representative
Emotional state;
Educational, health, religious and
cultural needs;
Child‟s parents‟ ability to meet their
needs whilst in custody and on release;
Child‟s wishes and feelings and parents‟
views.
Reviewed N/A
Agreed by CSMT May 2011
Next Review Date April 2013
No Task Responsible Record required Performance
officer on RAISE standard
6 Assessment to be forwarded to relevant Local Authority RAISE record Immediate
people, including child, YOT, custodial unit, representative
parents/carers
7 Visit as per requirements for any other looked Local RAISE record At least 6
after child. Authority‟s weekly for
representative first year,
thereafter 3
monthly
8 Where a child is serving a long sentence, Youth Local RAISE record Immediate
Justice board to be informed. Authority‟s
representative
9 Prior to release, child must know: Local RAISE record No later than
Who is collecting them; Authority‟s 14 days before
Where they will be living; representative release
Reporting arrangements;
Sources of support;
Arrangements to meet health,
education and financial needs;
When they will see their SW/PSW
