Looked After Children and International Kinship Placements

Response to this request is long overdue. By law, under all circumstances, Newcastle upon Tyne City Council should have responded by now (details). You can complain by requesting an internal review.

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]

Freedom Of Information Requests Mailbox, Newcastle upon Tyne City Council

Acknowledgement: FOI 15727

Thank you for your request for information. We are dealing with it under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

We have passed your request to relevant colleagues who will respond within 20 working days starting the working day after receipt of your request.

Regards
Freedom of Information Team

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Children and Families Across Borders

Dear Freedom Of Information Team,

On 23 October 2019 we wrote 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.

Thank you very much for acknowledging that you have received our request.

I understand that under the Act, you are required to respond within 20 working days of receiving a request, whereby the timescale has now been exceeded.

This information is still valuable to CFAB, and I would be grateful if you could please provide the requested 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.
If this request is unclear, I will be happy to provide further clarification.

Yours faithfully,

Eva Pizzey
Children and Families Across Borders (CFAB)
Victoria Charity Centre, 11 Belgrave Road, London, SW1V 1RB