Looked After Children and International Kinship Placements

The request was successful.

Children and Families Across Borders

Dear [local authority],

I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to request the following information in relation to Looked After Children:

• The total number of Looked After Children under your local authority care, where family members outside the United Kingdom were explored between January 2015 and December 2017 inclusive.
• The number of Looked After Children under your local authority care that were subsequently placed outside the United Kingdom between January 2015 and December 2017 inclusive.
• The number and type of placement orders used for placing Looked After Children from your local authority care with family members abroad between January 2015 and December 2017 inclusive.

Please note that by ‘where family members outside the United Kingdom were explored’ in the first question, we mean where a family member outside the United Kingdom of a Looked After Child under your local authority care was identified, considered as a possible carer for the child, and steps to assess the family member as a suitable carer for the child were considered. Please include both:
o children where an assessment of a family member outside the UK was considered but not actually carried out; and
o children where an assessment of a family member outside the UK was carried out.

Please provide the information electronically.

Research conducted by Children and Families Across Borders (CFAB) in 2018 discovered considerable discrepancies in post-placement practices of UK local authorities for children in international kinship placements. Access to this information will support CFAB’s further research into the outcomes of international kinship placements and CFAB’s campaign for clear guidance on the appropriate steps to take when placing children with families abroad.

I understand that under the Act, you are required to respond to my request within 20 working days of receiving this letter. If this is request is unclear, I would be grateful if you could contact me and I will be happy to provide further clarification.

Thank you for your time and I look forward to your response.

Yours faithfully,

Carolyn Housman

CEO
Children and Families Across Borders (CFAB)
Victoria Charity Centre, 11 Belgrave Road, London, SW1V 1RB
[email address]

CNES FOI Team, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

Dear Children and Families Across Borders

I write to acknowledge receipt of your request for information and note
the terms of your request as detailed below.  We've automatically assigned
this request an reference of 2019102327000175.  Please use this reference
number in all correspondence with us (Tip: replying to this email, so that
the ticket ref is included in email subject is the easiest way to
correspond with us on this case)

Your request for information will be processed in accordance with the
Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 ("the Act") / Environmental
Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (`the EIRs') and guidance issued
by the Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner.  A response to
your request for information will be issued promptly and in any event
within 20 working days following receipt of the request.

--
Le durachd,
Freedom of Information Team
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar | Sandwick Road | Stornoway | Isle of Lewis |
HS1 2BQ
Web: [1]www.cne-siar.gov.uk
Tel: 01851 822721 (Extension 211 599)

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CNES FOI Team, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

Good afternoon,

Re: help desk request (ticket ref [1]2019102327000175)

Thank you for your recent request submitted under the Freedom of
Information (Scotland) Act 2002. Nil return/ zero from the Comhairle.   

 

 

If you are dissatisfied with this response you can request the Comhairle
to review this response to your request for information.  You have 40
working days from the date of receipt of this response in which to lodge
this request for review.  A request for review must be processed in
accordance with Part 1 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002,
must be in writing, describe your original request and explain why you are
dissatisfied.  An application for review should be sent to Legal Services
Manager, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Council Offices, Sandwick Road,
Stornoway, Isle of Lewis HS1 2BW ([2][email address]).  A
request for review lodged with the Legal Services Manager must be
processed promptly and in any event within 20 working days of receipt.

Should you remain dissatisfied after completion of the review process you
may, within 6 months, apply to the Scottish Information Commissioner,
Kinburn Castle, Doubledykes Road, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9DS, to establish
whether your request for information has been processed in accordance with
Part 1 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.  You may also
request an appeal through the Commissioner's online appeal service which
is available 24/7 and offers requesters real time help and advice about
their appeal - [3]www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal Should you remain
dissatisfied after the conclusion of an application to the Scottish
Information Commissioner you have the right to appeal to the Court of
Session on a point of law.

--
Kind regards
FOI Team
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar | Sandwick Road | Stornoway | Isle of Lewis |
HS1 2BW
Email: [Comhairle nan Eilean Siar request email]
Web: [4]https://www..cne-siar.gov.uk
Tel: 01851 600 501 (Extension 211598)

23/10/2019 17:40 - Children and Families Across Borders wrote:
[External Email]

Dear [local authority],

I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to request
the
following information in relation to Looked After Children:

•       The total number of Looked After Children under your local
authority care,
where family members outside the United Kingdom were explored between
January 2015
and December 2017 inclusive.
•       The number of Looked After Children under your local authority
care that
were subsequently placed outside the United Kingdom between January 2015
and
December 2017 inclusive.
•       The number and type of placement orders used for placing Looked
After
Children from your local authority care with family members abroad between
January
2015 and December 2017 inclusive.

Please note that by ‘where family members outside the United Kingdom were
explored’ in the first question, we mean where a family member outside the
United
Kingdom of a Looked After Child under your local authority care was
identified,
considered as a possible carer for the child, and steps to assess the
family
member as a suitable carer for the child were considered. Please include
both:
o children where an assessment of a family member outside the UK was
considered
but not actually carried out; and
o children where an assessment of a family member outside the UK was
carried out.

Please provide the information electronically.

Research conducted by Children and Families Across Borders (CFAB) in 2018
discovered considerable discrepancies in post-placement practices of UK
local
authorities for children in international kinship placements. Access to
this
information will support CFAB’s further research into the outcomes of
international kinship placements and CFAB’s campaign for clear guidance on
the
appropriate steps to take when placing children with families abroad.

I understand that under the Act, you are required to respond to my request
within
20 working days of receiving this letter. If this is request is unclear, I
would
be grateful if you could contact me and I will be happy to provide further
clarification.

Thank you for your time and I look forward to your response.

Yours faithfully,

Carolyn Housman

CEO
Children and Families Across Borders (CFAB)
Victoria Charity Centre, 11 Belgrave Road, London, SW1V 1RB
[email address]

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