Welfare Checklist (PLO) 2008 introduced to ensure children are placed with relatives rather than in care

Mrs L Taylor (Account suspended) made this Freedom of Information request to South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council

The request was successful.

From: Mrs L Taylor (Account suspended)

14 October 2009

Dear Sir or Madam,

http://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk...

December 2006 - Evidence shows children in care are being let down
and suffer more than those placed with relatives.

We are interested to see how the introduction of the PLO (Public
Law Outline) Welfare Checklist 2008 has altered the outcomes for
children.

I would be grateful if under the FOIA you could advise how many
times your Local Authority has applied for care orders via the
Family Courts WITHOUT the Welfare checklist set out in section 1 of
the Children Act 1989 being completed. The completion of the
Welfare Checklist would confirm that extended family members had in
fact been contacted prior to any application for a care order.

Whoever signs the application for a care order is responsible for
ensuring that the Welfare checklist has been fully completed,
please state who within your authority holds this position.

‘The Government recognises the importance of family members taking
care of children who cannot be cared for by their parents. We know
that a child brought up by a family member benefits from living
with someone they already know and trust rather than a stranger.
The Children Act 1989 placed a duty on local authorities to support
the upbringing of children by their families wherever possible, and
that services should be provided to children in need and their
families to enable this to happen.

There is now an increased focus on the steps that must be taken
prior to any court proceedings. Unless it is necessary to take
emergency action to protect a child from immediate harm, the local
authority must undertake various steps before initiating care
proceedings. Welfare checklist set out in section 1 of the Children
Act 1989’

Yours faithfully,

Mrs L Taylor

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From: foi
South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council

15 October 2009

Hello, Can you pleas let me have your Christian name in order that I can process your request.

REgards
Muriel Hurst

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From: Mrs L Taylor (Account suspended)

15 October 2009

Dear Muriel Hurst,

A Christian is not a requirement of the FOIA.

Please show which part of the FOIA you are referring to that
requires a Christian name in order to process a FOIA request.

Regards,

Mrs L Taylor

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From: foi
South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council

15 October 2009

Good Afternoon, It is the Council's Policy to request full name and address in order to process any FOI.

Regards
Muriel Hurst

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From: Mrs L Taylor (Account suspended)

15 October 2009

Dear Muriel Hurst,

It may be your policy but this is not a requirement of the FOIA.

Please refer to the FOI Act or contact the Information
Commissioner's Office for further advice.

Regards,

Mrs L Taylor

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From: foi
South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council

16 October 2009

Dear Mrs Taylor

Your FOI Request was received by South Tyneside Council on 15th October
2009.

I now write to confirm that a decision about your request will be made
within the next 20 working days, if not sooner from the date we received
your request. Should there be any delays or discrepancies with your
request then this will be communicated to you in due course.

If you have any further queries regarding this matter then please do not
hesitate to contact me

Regards
Muriel Hurst
Clerical Assistant
Records Management Team
South Tyneside Council
Tel: 0191 424 6539
email: [email address]

This email and any files transmitted with it are intended solely for the
named recipient and may contain sensitive, confidential or protectively
marked material up to the central government classification of
"RESTRICTED" which must be handled accordingly. If you have received this
e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by e-mail and delete
from your system, unless you are the named recipient (or authorised to
receive it for the recipient) you are not permitted to copy, use, store,
publish, disseminate or disclose it to anyone else.

E-mail transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free as it
could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or
incomplete, or contain viruses and therefore the Council accept no
liability for any such errors or omissions.

Unless explicitly stated otherwise views or opinions expressed in this
email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent
those of the Council and are not intended to be legally binding.

All Council network traffic and GCSX traffic may be subject to recording
and/or monitoring in accordance with relevant legislation.

South Tyneside Council, Town Hall & Civic Offices, Westoe Road, South
Shields, Tyne & Wear, NE33 2RL, Tel: 0191 427 1717, Website:
[1]www.southtyneside.info

References

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From: Marie Galloway
South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council

16 October 2009

Dear Ms Taylor

The Council will only process FOI requests where they have a full name.

Marie Galloway
Records Management Team Leader
Records Management Team
South Tyneside Council

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From: Mrs L Taylor (Account suspended)

17 October 2009

Dear Marie Galloway,

"The Council will only process FOI requests where they have a full
name."

The Council is in breach of the FOIA; explain why you have answered
the following.

T Thomas

A Johnson

M Mellan

Please refer to the FOI Act which supersedes any policy you presume
to hold and/or contact the Information Commissioner's Office for
further advice.

Regards,

Mrs L Taylor

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From: Susan Morris
South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council

10 November 2009

Attachment FOI.09.5291 L Taylor Response letter.doc
45K Download View as HTML

Please find attached the Council response to your FOI request
<<FOI.09.5291 - L Taylor(Response letter).doc>>
Susan Morris
Records Management Team
South Tyneside MBC
9-10 Charlotte Terrace
South Shields
Tyne & Wear
NE33 4NU

Tel: 0191 4246537
email: [email address]

This email and any files transmitted with it are intended solely for the
named recipient and may contain sensitive, confidential or protectively
marked material up to the central government classification of
"RESTRICTED" which must be handled accordingly. If you have received this
e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by e-mail and delete
from your system, unless you are the named recipient (or authorised to
receive it for the recipient) you are not permitted to copy, use, store,
publish, disseminate or disclose it to anyone else.

E-mail transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free as it
could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or
incomplete, or contain viruses and therefore the Council accept no
liability for any such errors or omissions.

Unless explicitly stated otherwise views or opinions expressed in this
email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent
those of the Council and are not intended to be legally binding.

All Council network traffic and GCSX traffic may be subject to recording
and/or monitoring in accordance with relevant legislation.

South Tyneside Council, Town Hall & Civic Offices, Westoe Road, South
Shields, Tyne & Wear, NE33 2RL, Tel: 0191 427 1717, Website:
[1]www.southtyneside.info

References

Visible links
1. http://www.southtyneside.info/
http://www.southtyneside.info/

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