Assessing Extended Family Members As Suitable Carers

Dear Miss Griffiths

Thank you for your request for information under the Freedom Of Information Act 2000, of which we acknowledge receipt.

Your request has been passed to the appropriate officer to provide a response as soon as possible, and in any event within 20 working days, as required by the Act.

Kind regards

Paul Atkinson, for

Data Management Officer
North Yorkshire County Council
01609 533219 [email address]

Access your county council services online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at www.northyorks.gov.uk.

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North Yorkshire County Council.

Dear Miss Griffiths

Thank you for your Freedom of Information Act request. Please find the answers to your questions as follows:

1. Please find attached North Yorkshire County Council's policy and procedures in relation to the assessment of family and friends as foster carers.

2. In respect of viability assessments of extended family members, North Yorkshire County Council does not currently have such a policy.

3. Regulation 38 of the Fostering Services Regulation 2002 provides guidance on the assessment of family and friends foster carers. Please see the attached policy and procedures for further information.

4. There are no legal reasons provided for a Local Authority to knowingly mislead or provide inaccurate reports to Family Courts, and under no circumstances would North Yorkshire County Council knowingly carry out such actions.

5. I am advised that if an Officer of the Council was found to have mislead the court, disciplinary action in relation to that Officer would be considered. If the court was mislead either inadvertently or by an Officer acting without authority, then the Council would inform the court and the other parties of the correct position and the reasons for the misleading information being given.

I hope that this is helpful.

Yours sincerely

Penny Bartlett

Penny Bartlett
Strategy and Performance Officer
St. James's Lodge
Masonic Lane
Thirsk
YO71PS
Tel: 01609 536337
Email: [email address]

Access your county council services online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at www.northyorks.gov.uk.

WARNING

Any opinions or statements expressed in this e-mail are those of the individual and not necessarily those of North Yorkshire County Council.

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and solely for the use of the intended recipient. If you receive this in error, please do not disclose any information to anyone, notify the sender at the above address and then destroy all copies.

North Yorkshire County Council’s computer systems and communications may be monitored to ensure effective operation of the system and for other lawful purposes. All GCSX traffic may be subject to recording and/or monitoring in accordance with relevant legislation.

Although we have endeavoured to ensure that this e-mail and any attachments are free from any virus we would advise you to take any necessary steps to ensure that they are actually virus free.

If you receive an automatic response stating that the recipient is away from the office and you wish to request information under either the Freedom of Information Act, the Data Protection Act or the Environmental Information Regulations please forward your request by e-mail to the Data Management Team ([North Yorkshire County Council request email]) who will process your request.

North Yorkshire County Council.