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 Blackpool 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: Customer First
Blackpool Borough Council

15 October 2009

Dear Mrs Taylor

Thank you for your email dated 14th October 2009

So that we can deal with your enquiry, your email has been sent to: -

The FOI Officer for Children and Young People.

This Department will now deal with your enquiry.

If you have any further queries, please contact Customer First by:-

Email [Blackpool Borough Council request email]
Telephone 01253 477477
Facsimile 01253 478808
Web site www.blackpool.gov.uk

Or visit the Customer First Centre on Corporation Street Blackpool FY1
1NA.

We are open:-
Monday to Friday 8am to 5:30pm for Face to Face enquiries
Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm for telephone enquiries on 01253 477477.
Saturdays 9am to 2pm for Face to Face and Telephone enquiries

Please note our busiest times are Mondays and Fridays and over lunchtime
(12pm to 2pm).

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From: MIT(Educ)
Blackpool Borough Council

5 November 2009

Dear Mrs Taylor,

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 - INFORMATION REQUEST

As we have completed our search for the information you requested on 14
October 2009, I am now writing to confirm that Blackpool Borough Council
is aware of the obligations which the Public Law Outline and the Children
Act 1989 places upon it in the context of applications for care orders,
and, as part of that, it is obliged to disclose, within the proceedings to
the court and parties at a very early stage, the details of relatives and
family friend materials that it has garnered through social care work and
which it holds on its files.

I am not aware of any case where that has not been done.

Applications for care orders are made in the name of Mark Lewis, Head of
Legal and Democratic Services.

If you have a complaint about the handling of your request you may ask for
an internal review and you should submit this in writing to: Council
Complaint, Blackpool Council, PO Box 50, Town Hall, Blackpool, FY1 1NA.

If you are not happy with the outcome of the review, you have the right to
apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. You can
contact the Information Commissioner at: Information Commissioner's
Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9
5AF
([1]www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk).

If you have any queries about this letter you can contact me, or write to:
FOI, Town Hall, Blackpool, FY1 1NA, or email us at
[2][Blackpool Borough Council request email]. Please remember to quote your
reference number (MITAH/LT) when you contact us.

Yours sincerely

Jon Williams,
Principal Management Information Officer,
Management Information Team - Business Support Division,
Children & Young People's Department,
Blackpool Council,
Progress House,
Blackpool FY4 4US

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