Questions regarding looked after children

Dear Ms Moore,

I note that you have forwarded a link to Staffordshire County Council
which contains details of a request you have made to Hertfordshire
County Council.

Can you please clarify if you are wishing to make this same request to
Staffordshire County Council?

Regards
Gemma Allen
Access to Information Officer
Information Governance Unit
Law and Democracy
Staffordshire County Council
1A Bailey Street
Stafford
ST17 4BG
Telephone: 01785 278568
Fax: 01785 278362
[email address]

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Thank you for your email. I am away from the office and will return on
Tuesday 27th September 2010. I will pick up my emails when I return.
If you have any urgent Data Protection or Freedom of Information queries,
please contact Lian Stibbs or Michelle Wiles on 01785 278568 or
[Staffordshire County Council request email]. For Protective Marking Scheme queries please
email [email address]
Regards
Gemma

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Dear Melizza Moore

Re: Freedom of Information Act 2000

Thank you for your request for information.

We have completed the search of our records and can confirm the following:

1. How often do Social care staffs go on statutory visits to looked after
children in their foster contract placements?

The minimum frequency of visits made by the child’s Social Worker to the
foster home will be:

•           Within 1 week of the beginning of the placement.

•           At intervals of not more than 6 weeks in the
first year.

•           Subsequently at intervals of not more than 3
months.

Visits may though be more frequent.

In the event that the child is also subject to a Child Protection Plan,
the child’s’ Social Worker will need to visit in accordance with the
Child Protection Plan, until a decision is made that the child be taken
off the Child Protection Plan.

On each occasion the child must be seen alone, unless they are of
sufficient age and understanding to refuse to do so.

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

Social workers will be alert to any signs of abuse which may become
apparent during a visit or brought to their attention via another route.
These will then be managed in accordance with the relevant procedures

Good practice guidance in Staffordshire defines high quality visits as:

•           Seeing the child alone

•           Looking at behaviour and demeanour of non-verbal
children to ascertain if they are safe and content

•           Considering the relationship between the child and
carer(s).

•           Looking at and consider the environment in which
the child is living

•           Taking prompt action to address and concerns
identified

•           Distinguishing between carers and child’s
opinions

•           Taking into account ethnicity, age and disability
of the child

•           Considering all 5 Every Child Matters outcomes.

•           Taking place within timescales

•           Recording the reason for the visit

3. Do the birth parents of the Looked after child get notified straight
away of any concerns after statutory visits?

This would be dependent on the nature of the issues

4. Regarding medical tests, are the birth parents invited, as they still
have parental responsibility of their child?

Local Authorities, as Corporate Parents, in collaboration with health
partners, will fulfil the role of active concerned parents in promoting
and monitoring the child or young person’s health and development and
should, where possible and appropriate, actively involve the child or
young person’s birth parents/foster carers/residential social workers.

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

[1]http://www.staffsscb.org.uk/Professional...

Chapters 5 & 7.

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

Present?

Foster carers are contacted at least monthly and visited a minimum of
every 6 weeks. A formal supervision takes place every 3 months when issues
such as support, training & development; equipment; compliments &
complaints, records/diary are discussed and checked. In addition issues
relating to foster children are discussed to ensure the child’s needs
are being addressed in terms of health; education; interests; skills
development; independence; equality/diversity. Foster carers are present
for these meetings.

In addition where a placement is seen to be vulnerable or there are
specific issues maintenance meetings are held involving the carer and key
professionals.

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

Staffordshire County Council has a very stable group of foster carers who
are supported; trained and reviewed on a regular basis. Turnover of carers
is very low; usually through retirement or change in family circumstances
such as accommodation, employment issues or family dynamics.

In 2009/10 there were 13 foster carers and 26 family & friends foster
carers who ceased to foster.

Information regarding the turnover of foster carers in Independent
Fostering Agencies is held by the individual agency and not by
Staffordshire County Council.

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

All adults in the household plus young people aged 16 plus living there
are subject to an enhanced CRB which currently has to be renewed every 3
years. Extended family and friends who regularly visit &/or stay are also
subject to an enhanced CRB.

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

If the allegation constitutes a child protection matter, then when and how
the Social Worker visits and speaks to the child will be planned as part
of this process to ensure that it is done in a timely, but appropriate
manner.

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

All Looked After children in Staffordshire have access to the Children’s
Advice and Representation Service (commissioned via the NSPCC).

If you have any queries or require any further information please do not
hesitate to contact me.

In the first instance if you have any comments relating to how your
request has been handled by our authority, please contact Philip Jones,
Head of Information Governance, Information Governance Unit, 1a Bailey
Street, Stafford, ST17 4BG.

If you have any further comments relating to how your request has been
handled by our authority, please contact the Information Commissioner,
Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

Yours sincerely

Gemma Allen

Access to Information Officer

Information Governance Unit

Staffordshire County Council

1A Bailey Street

Stafford

ST17 4BG

Telephone: 01785 278568

Fax: 01785 278362

[email address]

www.staffordshire.gov.uk

 

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