Questions regarding looked after children

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Melizza Moore To FOI requests at
<[FOI #46032 email]> Hertfordshire County Council
<[Hertfordshire County Council request email]>
31/08/2010 16:38 cc
Subject Freedom of Information
request - Questions
regarding looked after
children

Dear Hertfordshire County Council,

I would like to ask the following questions
1. How often do Social care staff go on statutory visits to looked
after children in their foster contract placements?.

2. Are the social workers who are allocated to the children,
routinely check for certain issues, for instance child abuse in the
placement?.

3. Do the birth parent of the Looked after child get notified
straight away of any concerns after statatory visits?
4. Regarding medical tests, are the birth parents invited, as they
still have parental responsibility of their child?.

5. What are the procedures and guidelines if the child makes any
allegations?

6. How many professionals meetings, within the first year of foster
care placement are there. And or are the foster contract carers
present.

7. What is the annual turnover for foster contract carers "in
house" and private "agency" foster carers.

8. Are ALL the relatives and associates of foster contract carers
screened by enhanced CRB checks prior or during the foster
placement.

9. If a child makes an allegation, does the allocated social worker
visit the child straight away?

10. Are children offered an independant advocate, such as VOICE if
not, then can you explain why?

Yours faithfully,

Melizza Moore

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Reference number: FOI/CSF/09/10/2419

Dear Ms Moore,

Thank you for your correspondence of the 31st August 2010 requesting the
following information:

'Dear Hertfordshire County Council,

I would like to ask the following questions
1. How often do Social care staff go on statutory visits to looked
after children in their foster contract placements?.

2. Are the social workers who are allocated to the children,
routinely check for certain issues, for instance child abuse in the
placement?.

3. Do the birth parent of the Looked after child get notified
straight away of any concerns after statatory visits?
4. Regarding medical tests, are the birth parents invited, as they
still have parental responsibility of their child?.

5. What are the procedures and guidelines if the child makes any
allegations?

6. How many professionals meetings, within the first year of foster
care placement are there. And or are the foster contract carers
present.

7. What is the annual turnover for foster contract carers "in
house" and private "agency" foster carers.

8. Are ALL the relatives and associates of foster contract carers
screened by enhanced CRB checks prior or during the foster
placement.

9. If a child makes an allegation, does the allocated social worker
visit the child straight away?

10. Are children offered an independant advocate, such as VOICE if
not, then can you explain why?

Yours faithfully,

Melizza Moore'

Your request for information is being considered under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000. We will respond to your request as quickly as
possible, and by 28th September 2010 at the latest.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me, quoting
the reference number on this email.

Yours sincerely,
________________________________________
Information Governance Unit
Hertfordshire County Council
Telephone: 01992 555848
Fax: 01992 588117
Email: [email address]

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Dear Melizza Moore,

Reference number: FOI/CSF/09/10/2419

On 31st August 2010 we received the following request for information from
you:

"I would like to ask the following questions
1. How often do Social care staff go on statutory visits to looked
after children in their foster contract placements?.

2. Are the social workers who are allocated to the children,
routinely check for certain issues, for instance child abuse in the
placement?.

3. Do the birth parent of the Looked after child get notified
straight away of any concerns after statatory visits?
4. Regarding medical tests, are the birth parents invited, as they
still have parental responsibility of their child?.

5. What are the procedures and guidelines if the child makes any
allegations?

6. How many professionals meetings, within the first year of foster
care placement are there. And or are the foster contract carers
present.

7. What is the annual turnover for foster contract carers "in
house" and private "agency" foster carers.

8. Are ALL the relatives and associates of foster contract carers
screened by enhanced CRB checks prior or during the foster
placement.

9. If a child makes an allegation, does the allocated social worker
visit the child straight away?

10. Are children offered an independant advocate, such as VOICE if
not, then can you explain why?"

Your request for information has been considered under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000. I can confirm that Hertfordshire County Council does
hold the information you have requested and can respond as follows:

1. How often do Social care staff go on statutory visits to looked after
children in their foster contract placements?.
The statutory minimum is every 6 weeks during the first year of becoming
looked after and every 3 months after that. However, a social worker will
visit more often according to need.

2. Are the social workers who are allocated to the children, routinely
check for certain issues, for instance child abuse in the placement?.
Part of the statutory visit is to see the child alone precisely to give
the child the opportunity to share any concerns. These would then be
followed up through the appropriate channels.

3. Do the birth parent of the Looked after child get notified straight
away of any concerns after statatory visits?
Good practice would be to share concerns at an early stage with those who
share parental responsibility. However, this does depend on any court
orders, the age of the child, and their expressed views concerning this.
There may also be occasions when we are unable to share information
because it could compromise any investigation that may involve the Police.

4. Regarding medical tests, are the birth parents invited, as they still
have parental responsibility of their child?.
It depends on the circumstances, the age of the child, the child's views,
and any court orders in place. We would normally seek to involve parents
where possible. This may be limited by the very nature of the medical
intervention required, e.g. urgency, appropriateness.

5. What are the procedures and guidelines if the child makes any
allegations?
Any allegation where there is reasonable cause to suspect that a child has
suffered, or is likely to suffer, significant harm would be investigated
under s47 of the Children Act 1989. Allegations against any professional
are formally considered by the LADO (Local Authority Designated Officers)
for Child Protection and appropriate investigations are undertaken.

6. How many professionals meetings, within the first year of foster care
placement are there. And or are the foster contract carers present.
There would be four CLA review meetings (normally involving parents and
carers as well as the young person), a minimum of two meetings with the
school (for children of school age), and a `permanency planning' meeting
for all children to look at long term plans.

7. What is the annual turnover for foster contract carers "in house" and
private "agency" foster carers.
Research suggests a 10% turnover annually.

8. Are ALL the relatives and associates of foster contract carers screened
by enhanced CRB checks prior or during the foster placement.
No, however, anyone over the age of 16 who is part of the carer's
household, or are used as respite carers, will be checked.

9. If a child makes an allegation, does the allocated social worker visit
the child straight away?
This will be done as soon as possible after the allegation if
circumstances allow. However, if the worker is on holiday or sick, or if
the allegation occurs out of hours, then a duty worker, a worker from the
Emergency Duty team, or the Police would undertake this visit.

10. Are children offered an independant advocate, such as VOICE if not,
then can you explain why?
Yes, the County Council does provide details of the Voice advocacy service
and they do see all young people in residential care; this service can be
extended to those in foster care.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us, quoting
the reference number on this email.

If you are unhappy with the way the County Council has handled your
request for information, you may complain through the County Council's
complaints procedure which is available at www.hertsdirect.org/complaints

If you are unhappy with the outcome of the complaints procedure you are
entitled to ask the Information Commissioner to investigate your
complaint. You should write to: FOI/EIR Complaints Resolution, Information
Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9
5AF.

Yours sincerely,

Information Governance Unit
Hertfordshire County Council
Telephone: 01992 555848
Fax: 01992 588117
Email: [email address]

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