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

Our reference: 1629 FOI
 
Dear Mrs Taylor
 
Thank you for your request of 14 October 2009 in which you asked for the
following information:

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'

Your request is being considered and Oxfordshire County Council will
respond as soon as possible within the next 20 working days in compliance
with the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This means that the council
will send a response to you by 11 November 2009.

 
There may be a fee payable for this information. You will be informed if
this is the case and you can decide if you wish to proceed with your
request.

 
If appropriate, the information requested can be made available in
alternative formats, including other languages, Braille, large print, and
audiocassette. If you require any of these formats then please let me
know.

 
Please contact me if you have any have further enquiries about your
request. I would be grateful if you could quote the reference number
given at the top of this email.

 
Yours sincerely,

Michele Cooke
Complaints & Information Support Officer

Oxfordshire County Council
Legal & Democratic Services
Complaints & Freedom of Information Team
County Hall
New Road
Oxford
OX1 1ND

Tel: 01865 815906
Fax: 01865 783195
[email address]

[1]www.oxfordshire.gov.uk

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Our reference: 1629 FOI
 
Dear Mrs Taylor
 
Thank you for your request of 14 October 2009 in which you asked for the
following information:

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'

It is a statutory requirement for the court to consider the welfare
checklist contained in the Children Act 1989 before making a care order
for any child. The welfare checklist has accordingly been in place since
the Children Act came into force and has not been changed by the Public
Law Outline.

All reports submitted to court by the Local Authority recommending the
making of a care order contain the welfare checklist. In arriving at the
decision to recommend a care order, full consideration will have been
given to placing the child within his or her family if at all possible.

The approval of the decision to seek a care order will be made by the
relevant service manager of the social work team for the child(ren) and
authorised by the Monitoring Officer or the Deputy Monitoring Officer
under delegated authority.

Feedback

If you would like to feed back to the FOI Team, please email
[1][Oxfordshire County Council request email].

Help Us To get It Right

If you are dissatisfied with the service or response you have received you
can complain as follows:
 
o Use the online complaints form on our website -
[2]www.oxfordshire.gov.uk;
 
o Complete the leaflet "How do I complain about a council service?".
Copies are available from any Oxfordshire library or by telephoning 01865
815906. Large print and audio tape versions are available on request from
this number;

 
o Write to us at our FREEPOST address:

Complaints and Comments
Oxfordshire County Council
FREEPOST (SCE 7709)
Oxford OX1 1YA.
 
Please let me know if you have further enquiries. I would be grateful if
you could use the reference number given at the top of this email.

Yours sincerely,

James Willoughby
Complaints and FOI Manager
Oxfordshire County Council
Legal and Democratic Services
Complaints and Freedom of Information Team
County Hall
New Road
Oxford
OX1 1ND

Tel: 01865 810584
Fax: 01865 783195
E-mail: [email address] (direct)
E-mail: [3][Oxfordshire County Council request email] (for FOI requests) or:
[4][email address] (for complaints)
Internet: [5]www.oxfordshire.gov.uk

This email, including attachments, may contain confidential information.
If you have received it in error, please notify the sender by reply and
delete it immediately. Views expressed by the sender may not be those of
Oxfordshire County Council. Council emails are subject to the Freedom of
Information Act 2000. http://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/emaildiscl...

References

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3. mailto:[Oxfordshire County Council request email]
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