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

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Dear Mrs Taylor
I am writing further to your email below.

I have had a discussion with the Senior Solicitor at the Council who has
responsibility for this area of work. The Childrens Act 1989 came into
force in October 1991. Since that time the authority has been following
the criteria contained in the welfare checklist. However, the checklist is
not 'filled in' by anyone, rather the criteria is followed by the courts,
guardians and ourselves when determining the best care for the child. The
contacting of extended family members is not actually one of the criteria
on the checklist, however I can confirm that this authority will always
make all possible enquiries to ensure that extended family members are
contacted. As far as this authority is concerned, the care of a child by a
family member is always going to be the preferred way forward.

I hope this information is useful to you, and completes your request for
information. If you are not completely satisfied with my response, please
contact me again, or write to the complaints officer at: Dorset County
Council, County Hall, Colliton Park, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1XJ. Or you
can follow the complaints procedure that can be found on our website
www.dorsetforyou.com at http://212.104.140.176/index.jsp?article...
If your appeal is not resolved to your satisfaction, you have the right to
apply to the Information Commissioner for a decision.

Yours sincerely

Freedom of Information Team
Dorset County Council

Mrs L Taylor
<request-21172-d7
8dc286@whatdothey To
know.com> FOI requests at Dorset County
Council <[Dorset County Council request email]>
14/10/2009 23:14 cc

Subject
Freedom of Information request -
Welfare Checklist (PLO) 2008
introduced to ensure children are
placed with relatives rather than
in care

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

show quoted sections

We acknowledge receipt of your request for information.
This will now be passed to the relevant area(s) of the authority and a
response sent within 20 working days.
If for any reason we cannot respond in full within 20 days, we will let you
know.

"This e-mail is intended for the named addressee(s) only and may contain information about individuals or other sensitive information and should be handled accordingly. Unless you are the named addressee (or authorised to receive it for the addressee) you may not copy or use it, or disclose it to anyone else. If you have received this email in error, kindly disregard the content of the message and notify the sender immediately. Please be aware that all email may be subject to recording and/or monitoring in accordance with relevant legislation."

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