This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Protecting Human Rights in Care Proceedings.'.




 
 
Essex County Council 
Schools, Children & Families Directorate 
PO Box 47, County Hall 
Chelmsford, Essex 
CM1 1YS 
 
 
L S Palmer 
Our ref: ECC-009541-11
request-58762-
xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx 
Your ref: N/a
Date: 14 February 2011  
 
Dear L S Palmer 
 
Your Freedom of Information Request: 
 
I am pleased to enclose the following information, which I believe satisfies your 
request.  Your questions were: 
 
1.  Since 1 April 2009 how many applications for a Care Order have been 
made by the Local Authority? 
 
Please see attached Spreadsheet 1. 
 
2. At the date of replying, how many children are in the care of the Local 
Authority under: 
a. A S31 Order 
b. A S20 Order 
 
Please see attached Spreadsheet 2. 
 
3. How many of the applications for a Care Order made since 1 April 
2009 have resulted in: 
a. A Supervision Order. 
b. A Care Order - Permanent Foster Care/Care Home. 
c. An Adoption Order. 
d. A Special Guardianship Order - placed with family. 
e. No Order. 
 
Unfortunately, given the specific information that has been requested we 
would need to read each of the 511 files to answer this question.  We estimate 
that compliance with this part of your request would exceed the appropriate 
costs limit under section 12 of the Freedom of information Act 2000. This is 
currently £450. This limit is calculated 18 hours of work at a cost of £25 per 
hour. This serves as a refusal notice in respect of this part of your request. 
 
Contd. 
 2007-2008 Emergency Planning 
 
 

 
Page 2 
 
4. In relation to 3b, 3c and 3d how many of the parents had: 
a. Been convicted of a criminal offence against their children 
Protocol, our Social Care system, does not keep reportable data on the 
Criminal procedures of the parent. 
b. Had the benefit of a residential family assessment 
Unfortunately, given the specific information that has been requested we 
would need to read each of the 511 files to answer this question.  We estimate 
that compliance with this part of your request would exceed the appropriate 
costs limit under section 12 of the Freedom of information Act 2000. This is 
currently £450. This limit is calculated 18 hours of work at a cost of £25 per 
hour. This serves as a refusal notice in respect of this part of your request. 
 
5. In relation to 3c how many applications for freeing orders were made? 
 
You can no longer apply for freeing – freeing was replaced by Placement 
Orders under the Adoption and Children Act 2002. 
 
6. In relation to question 1, how many of the parents had made an official 
complaint against children's services prior to the commencement of 
care proceedings? 
Unfortunately, given the specific information that has been requested we 
would need to read each of the 511 files to answer this question.  We estimate 
that compliance with this part of your request would exceed the appropriate 
costs limit under section 12 of the Freedom of information Act 2000. This is 
currently £450. This limit is calculated 18 hours of work at a cost of £25 per 
hour. This serves as a refusal notice in respect of this part of your request. 
 
You may reuse all or part of this information free of charge in any format or 
medium.  You must reuse it accurately and not in a misleading context. 
 
Please contact me if you would like further advice or assistance about your 
request or your right to access information held by Essex County Council. 
 
If you are not satisfied with my response to your request, please let me know.  If I 
am unable to resolve the issue immediately, I will explain our complaints 
procedure.  If, after following our complaints procedure, you are still not satisfied, 
you are entitled to ask the Information Commissioner to review our decision.  You 
can contact him at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF, 
telephone 01625 545700. 
 
Yours sincerely 
Lauri Almond  
Information Governance Officer 
Schools, Children and Families 
Essex County Council 
Telephone: 08457 430430