Confirmation of information from Social Services

Dear Lancashire County Council,

I write to request information under the Freedom of Information Act
in relation to a non-related person and Senior Social Work
lecturer’s secretive, concerning and highly questionable
involvement with an emotionally vulnerable (minor).

That despite being told explicitly by me not to take our daughter
out from the LCC facility that was also reiterated to staff she
ignored this and led to Social Services recommendation to refer the
matter to the Police and the resulting action taken.

From medical records obtained and correspondence with Social
Services, it is clear to identify her vulnerability.

Taking note of the correspondence below, which is fraction of the
amount, amassed trying to get answers from facts that do not add
up.

Lancashire Constabulary (14 February 2011)
“ ***** ******* is a neighbour of yours who works as a social work
lecturer. ** ******* has formed a relationship with your daughter
and whilst ******* was residing at the children’s home made prior
arrangements with staff at the home to take her out in April.”

Department of Education (21 September 2011)
“Thank you for your letter setting out your concerns about
inappropriate behaviour by a person in a position of public trust.
The Attorney Generals office has asked the Department of Education
to reply to you, as we are responsible for legislation and policy
in relation to looked after children.

I can confirm that where a child is provided with accommodation by
a local authority under section 20 of the Children Act 1989. The
parents retain all parental responsibility. Only a person with
parental responsibility may take a child out from the accommodation
unless authorised by the parent or another person with parental
responsibility. The only exception to this would be a person
carrying out the statutory functions of the local authority in
relation to the child such as the child’s
allocated social worker”.

I would like to ask the following questions,

1) In three years of correspondence and contact with Social
Services, no mention has been made of this prior arrangement. From
your children’s records who gave this authority?

2) If prior arrangement was made, why did the staff, not know whom
to expect?

3) In line with the legislation above and Police statement, are you
saying that staff had the authority above this legislation?

4) Due to the fact that we have a conflicting Police account of
this particular incident. Can you confirm that authority was given
to this arrangement?

5) Therefore based on the above legislation, also confirmed in
correspondence that we had refused permission. It is fair to say
that this woman took an emotionally vulnerable child under 16, not
only without, but also totally against parental consent?

Yours faithfully,

Jim Ebbs

Dear Mr Sayles, (Freedom of Information),

In reply to your response as you can see no personal information
was given in my request. I will however reply as you suggest with
details in order that you can locate the relevant records.

Answers to the questions asked do not necessitate naming personal
information and relate to circumstances in relation to events and
the copy legislation supplied in that request.

As I have in my possession a letter from our MP relating to this
issue and I quote "I am disappointed at the County's refusal to
provide me with the information that I requested and have today
again written to Helen Denton Executive Director for Children and
Young people to ask for a more substantive response".

I have no issue with you answering them via the "whatdotheyknow"
site the principal being "Freedom of Information" rather than
hidden away in private correspondence.

Yours sincerely,

Jim Ebbs

Dear Freedom of Information,

I am writing in respect of my recent FOI to remind you that by law
a response should have been received promptly and by the 25th
November.

Yours sincerely,

Jim Ebbs

Dear Lancashire County Council,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of
Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Lancashire County
Council's handling of my FOI request 'Confirmation of information
from Social Services'.

No response has been received and is now outside of the timescales
stated in relation to the FOI.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is
available on the Internet at this address:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/co...

Yours faithfully,

Jim Ebbs