What Is A Looked After Child?
Before reading this webpage, please note the following 3 points –
1) Education for looked after children is discussed elsewhere in this website. Please click on the link below.
LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR EDUCATION FOR LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN
2) Child arrangements for looked after children is discussed elsewhere in this website. Please click the link below.
LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR CHILD ARRANGEMENTS FOR LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN
3) We also have a section called safeguarding looked after children. Please click on the link below.
LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR SAFEGUARDING FOR LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN
WHAT IS A LOOKED AFTER CHILD (LAC)?
A looked after child is also known as a child in care.
A looked after child is one that is cared for by your local authority child services for more than 24 hours. Care can include living in accommodation provided by them for more than 24 hours.
A looked after child will be in the care of local authority child services through a court order or with agreement of the parents or person with parental responsibility.
HOW CAN A CHILD BECOME A LOOKED AFTER CHILD?
A child can become a looked after child in many ways. Some of them are:
1. BY A CARE ORDER OR INTERIM CARE ORDER – Under section 31 and section 38 of the children act 1989 local authority child services can submit an application to the family court for an interim care order to remove a child from where they are living and take them into care because they are at risk or in danger.
LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR SECTION 31 OF THE CHILDREN ACT 1989
LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR SECTION 38 OF THE CHILDREN ACT 1989
2. BY SECTION 20 OF THE CHILDREN ACT 1989 – Under section 20 of the children act 1989 local authority child services should provide accommodation (housing) for children in their authority area who are under the age of 18 years if they are in need, they have nowhere to live or are homeless.
LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR SECTION 20 OF THE CHILDREN ACT 1989
LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR SECTION 20 ACCOMMODATION
3. BY EMERGENCY PROTECTION ORDER – Local authority child services can submit an application to the family court for an emergency protection order for a child to be removed from their home or where they are living. The child will be taken into the care of the local authority child services.
4. BY CHILD ASSESSMENT ORDER – Local authority child services can submit an application to the family court to get permission to carry out an assessment of a child’s situation if they are concerned about the child’s welfare and well-being.
5. BY SECTION 46 OF THE CHILDREN ACT 1989 – Under section 46 of the children act 1989 a child will become a looked after child if the police remove a child from where they were living to safe accommodation.
LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR SECTION 46 OF THE CHILDREN ACT 1989
6. BY A SUPERVISION ORDER – A child will become a looked after child if their supervision order states they must live in local authority accommodation.
7. PLACED IN CARE – A child will become a looked after child if the court places them in care and does not grant the child bail.
WHAT IS A PREVIOUSLY LOOKED AFTER CHILD?
A previously looked after child is one that was in care and looked after by the local authority but has now returned home, been adopted or turned 18 years of age so is no longer in care.
WHAT IS LOCAL AUTHORITY CHILD SERVICES?
Child services is a department in all local authorities that are responsible for the care, protection and welfare of all children in the borough, especially vulnerable and looked after children (children in care). They undertake all the duties outlined in the order dated 2010 below.
WHAT IS CORPORATE PARENTING?
Corporate parenting is the combined care given by local authority child services, local authority support agencies, local services and local authority employees to look after the welfare, to support, to safeguard and protect all looked after children.
The care local authority child services should provide for a looked after child is detailed in section 22 (3) of the children act 1989.
LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR SECTION 22 (3) OF THE CHILDREN ACT 1989
WHAT IS A CARE PLAN?
Under part 2 section 5 of the care planning, placement and case review (England) regulations 2010, local authority child services will produce a care plan for every looked after child.
The care plan is aimed at planning and reviewing the care of a looked after child. It should be, if possible, produced and agreed with the parents or with the person who has parental responsibility, the child’s carers and any professionals involved with the care of the child.
The care plan should also be produced before a looked after child is placed in local authority accommodation or during the10 days after being placed.
A care plan will include and detail the following
1. The child’s needs.
2. How local authority child services and other professionals can cater for the child’s needs. How the child’s needs will be met.
3. Details of arrangements and provisions that will be put in place to look after the child’s welfare and to protect the child.
4. Why certain courses of action have been decided.
5. What are the desired outcomes of the care plan?
6. The timescale for these desired outcomes.
7. Long term plan for the child’s upbringing. A general plan for the future.
8. The wishes of the child and their parents or person with parental responsibility. Under section 22 (4) of the children act 1989 if possible a child’s feelings and wishes should be ascertained. If a child can be included in the decisions this would be preferable.
LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR SECTION 22 (4) OF THE CHILDREN ACT 1989
9. A health plan to meet the health needs of the child. Arrangements to monitor the child and to implement the health plan. An assessment of the child’s health will be done.
10. A personal education plan (PEP) to meet the education needs of the child.
11. Arrangements to meet the emotional and behavioural development of the child.
12. Arrangements to meet the identity, religion and culture of the child.
13. Arrangements to meet the family and social relationships of the child.
14. Arrangements to meet the self-care skills of the child.
15. The name of individuals who are helping the child and their family.
A care plan has to be reviewed by an independent reviewing officer (IRO).
WHAT IS AN INDEPENDENT REVIEWING OFFICER (IRO)?
The main aim of an independent reviewing officer is to make sure local authority child services are taking the child’s wishes, their views and concerns into consideration when producing the care plan.
An IRO is a very experienced social worker. They hold review meetings where care plans are discussed. An IRO will also help a child decide how they would like to convey their wishes and views to local authority child services and their social workers. An IRO may help a child attend a review meeting or if not will make sure the child’s wishes have been heard.
The IRO must inform the looked after child that they are entitled to an independent advocate.
LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR ADVOCATING FOR A LOOKED AFTER CHILD