Adoption services

[name removed April 2013] made this Freedom of Information request to Aberdeen City Council This request has been closed to new correspondence. Contact us if you think it should be reopened.

The request was successful.

[name removed April 2013]

Dear Aberdeen City Council,

Here is a link to some criminal conduct offences capable with
disposal at a HM Forces summary hearing (a solicitor is not allowed
for summary hearings, and in some cases the person with the
criminal record does not know they have one):-
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006...
Subject to section 1 of the freedom of information act 2000:
1) Can you please provide any guidelines or policy that relates to
fostering children with a criminal record?
2) Can you please provide any guidelines or policy that relates to
adopting children with a criminal record?
3) With the list of convictions in the above link would any serving
or an ex Sailor, Soldier or Airman be refused the right to adopt or
foster? (Please break down the individual convictions and whether
or not fostering/adopting would be denied)

Yours faithfully,

[first name of requester removed] [last name of requester removed]

Foi Enquiries, Aberdeen City Council

Dear Mr [last name of requester removed],

Information enquiry reference FOI-12-1195.

Thank you for your recent request for information, which we received on
31 October 2012.

The scheduled date for our response to your request for information is
on or before 28 November 2012.

Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any queries in the
meantime.

Yours sincerely,

Steven Dongworth
Freedom of Information Compliance Officer

Access to Information Compliance Team
Legal and Democratic
Corporate Governance
Aberdeen City Council
Lower Ground North (Hub 2)
Marischal College
Broad Street
ABERDEEN AB10 1AQ

[Aberdeen City Council request email]
01224 523827/523430/522875/523602

Tel 08456 08 09 10
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk

show quoted sections

[name removed April 2013]

Dear Foi Enquiries,

Would you mind if I added an additional question?

If you received an application for adoption with an
individual with a failed CRB check with a criminal conviction from this

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2009/...

These offences are unique to our armed forces but are also
recordable offences, what would your policy be? This debate has
already been started by UKBA
http://www.channel4.com/news/army-wrongl...

Yours sincerely,

[first name of requester removed] [last name of requester removed]

Foi Enquiries, Aberdeen City Council

Dear Mr [last name of requester removed],

We feel in order to provide you with the information you require in the
most efficient and timely manner possible, it would be best to keep your
previous ongoing information request and this supplementary information
request separate. This way, you will still receive the information you
requested originally on or before the 28 November 2012, and it will not
be delayed to the scheduled date of response to this request, which is
10 December 2012.

Information enquiry reference FOI-12-1236.

Thank you for your recent request for information, which we received on
12 November 2012.

The scheduled date for our response to your request for information is
on or before 10 December 2012.

Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any queries in the
meantime.

Yours sincerely,

Steven Dongworth
Freedom of Information Compliance Officer

Access to Information Compliance Team
Customer Service and Performance
Corporate Governance
Aberdeen City Council
Lower Ground North (Hub 2)
Marischal College
Broad Street
ABERDEEN AB10 1AQ

[Aberdeen City Council request email]
01224 523827/523430/522875/523602

Tel 08456 08 09 10
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk

show quoted sections

Foi Enquiries, Aberdeen City Council

Dear Mr [last name of requester removed],

Thank you for your information request of 31 October 2012, made under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA). Aberdeen City Council (ACC) has completed the necessary search for the information requested.

Here is a link to some criminal conduct offences capable with disposal at a HM Forces summary hearing (a solicitor is not allowed for summary hearings, and in some cases the person with the criminal record does not know they have one) :- http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006...

Subject to section 1 of the freedom of information act 2000:

1) Can you please provide any guidelines or policy that relates to fostering children with a criminal record?
If you have been convicted of certain offences including violence or crimes against children you will not be able to foster. However, other minor offences may not affect your application. You will need to disclose any convictions during the assessment process. If you do not disclose something which subsequently comes to light, your assessment with us will be closed and you will be unable to proceed any further. Each application is looked at on an individual basis and any convictions will be considered with all other information gained during the assessment period.

Please find further information at:
http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/social_ca...

2) Can you please provide any guidelines or policy that relates to adopting children with a criminal record?
A record of offences will need to be carefully looked into but, apart from some offences against children, will not necessarily rule someone out from adopting a child. To protect children from harm there are some offences that would bar people from adopting. These include murder, manslaughter and offences involving children such as abandoning or exposing them to harm. Offences of a sexual nature would also preclude people from adopting. All people applying to adopt will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure (Scotland) check to find out if they have a criminal record and to check whether they are on the Scottish Ministers List of those disqualified from working with children. If you are concerned about a criminal record, you should ask to discuss this matter with us at the earliest opportunity.

Please find further information at:
http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/web/inclu...

3) With the list of convictions in the above link, would any serving or an ex Sailor, Soldier or Airman be refused the right to adopt or foster? (Please break down the individual convictions and whether or not fostering/adopting would be denied)
Please see information above and on ACC website. Prospective foster carers/adoptive parents all undertake an assessment, so each applicant is reviewed on an individual basis. Any convictions including those detailed would be viewed and assessed as part of the application process as a whole so may not automatically mean being refused as a prospective foster carer/adoptive parent.

We hope this helps with your request.

Yours sincerely,

Steven Dongworth
Freedom of Information Compliance Officer

FURTHER INFORMATION

Requesting an Internal Review
ACC hopes that you are satisfied with the response to your information request. If you are not satisfied with the response to your request for information, or the way in which your request has been handled, you may request that ACC review our response. You should do this within 40 working days after receipt of this information. To request a review, please write to or email us at:

Access to Information Compliance Team
Customer Service & Performance
Corporate Governance
Aberdeen City Council
Marischal College
Lower Ground North
Business Hub 2
ABERDEEN
AB10 1AQ
Email: [Aberdeen City Council request email]

Your request for review must include:

● your name and address (an email address is fine)
● the reference number for your original request for information
● your reason(s) for requesting a review

Appealing to the Scottish Information Commissioner for a decision
If you are not satisfied with the outcome of your request for an internal review, you can apply directly to the Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner (OSIC) for a decision. Generally, OSIC cannot make a decision unless you have been through the ACC’s review procedure. To make an application to OSIC, please write or email OSIC at:

The Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St Andrews
Fife
KY16 9DS
www.itspublicknowledge.info

An application to OSIC must be made in writing within six months of receipt of ACC’s Review Decision Notice. When applying to OSIC for a decision you should give your name and address for correspondence. Please note that OSIC will not be able to investigate if you have not used your real name to make your information request. You must also specify:

● which request for information your requirement for review relates to
● the reason that you asked ACC to carry out a review of your request
● the reason why you are not satisfied with ACC's review outcome decision

The Commissioner will contact ACC and invite its comments on your application. Thereafter (if no settlement has meantime been reached), the Commissioner must reach a decision within 4 months of receiving your application, or within such other period as is reasonable. You will receive written notice of the outcome of the Commissioner’s decision.

Should you wish to appeal against the Scottish Information Commissioner's decision, there is an appeal to the Court of Session on a point of law only. Any such appeal must be made within 42 days after the date of the decision has been issued.

Access to Information Compliance Team
Customer Service and Performance
Corporate Governance
Aberdeen City Council
Lower Ground North (Hub 2)
Marischal College
Broad Street
ABERDEEN AB10 1AQ

[Aberdeen City Council request email]
01224 523827/523430/522875/523602

Tel 08456 08 09 10
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk

show quoted sections

Foi Enquiries, Aberdeen City Council

Dear Mr [last name of requester removed],

Thank you for your information request of 12 November 2012, made under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA). Aberdeen City Council (ACC) has completed the necessary search for the information requested.

If you received an application for adoption with an individual with a failed CRB check with a criminal conviction from this:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2009/...

These offences are unique to our armed forces but are also recordable offences, what would your policy be? This debate has already been started by UKBA:
http://www.channel4.com/news/army-wrongl...

Prospective adoptive parents all undertake an assessment, with each application reviewed on an individual basis. Any convictions, including those detailed above, would be viewed and assessed as part of the application process as a whole. Therefore many convictions will not automatically preclude a prospective adoptive parent from adopting.

Further information can be found on the ACC website, at the following address: http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/web/inclu...

We hope this helps with your request.

Yours sincerely,

Steven Dongworth
Freedom of Information Compliance Officer

FURTHER INFORMATION

Requesting an Internal Review
ACC hopes that you are satisfied with the response to your information request. If you are not satisfied with the response to your request for information, or the way in which your request has been handled, you may request that ACC review our response. You should do this within 40 working days after receipt of this information. To request a review, please write to or email us at:

Access to Information Compliance Team
Customer Service & Performance
Corporate Governance
Aberdeen City Council
Marischal College
Lower Ground North
Business Hub 2
ABERDEEN
AB10 1AQ
Email: [Aberdeen City Council request email]

Your request for review must include:

● your name and address (an email address is fine)
● the reference number for your original request for information
● your reason(s) for requesting a review

Appealing to the Scottish Information Commissioner for a decision
If you are not satisfied with the outcome of your request for an internal review, you can apply directly to the Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner (OSIC) for a decision. Generally, OSIC cannot make a decision unless you have been through the ACC’s review procedure. To make an application to OSIC, please write or email OSIC at:

The Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St Andrews
Fife
KY16 9DS
www.itspublicknowledge.info

An application to OSIC must be made in writing within six months of receipt of ACC’s Review Decision Notice. When applying to OSIC for a decision you should give your name and address for correspondence. Please note that OSIC will not be able to investigate if you have not used your real name to make your information request. You must also specify:

● which request for information your requirement for review relates to
● the reason that you asked ACC to carry out a review of your request
● the reason why you are not satisfied with ACC's review outcome decision

The Commissioner will contact ACC and invite its comments on your application. Thereafter (if no settlement has meantime been reached), the Commissioner must reach a decision within 4 months of receiving your application, or within such other period as is reasonable. You will receive written notice of the outcome of the Commissioner’s decision.

Should you wish to appeal against the Scottish Information Commissioner's decision, there is an appeal to the Court of Session on a point of law only. Any such appeal must be made within 42 days after the date of the decision has been issued.

Access to Information Compliance Team
Customer Service and Performance
Corporate Governance
Aberdeen City Council
Lower Ground North (Hub 2)
Marischal College
Broad Street
ABERDEEN AB10 1AQ

[Aberdeen City Council request email]
01224 523827/523430/522875/523602

Tel 08456 08 09 10
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk

show quoted sections