Photographs of final contact in cases of forced adoption

The request was successful.

Dear Derbyshire County Council,

What is your policy with regard to taking photographs at final contact visits where a child is being put into forced adoption?
Where photographs are taken who takes this important final record - social services or a photographer?
Do you charge for providing these photographs to the parents or to other relatives?
If so how much is charged and what is the actual cost of the photographs to social services?
How are they produced - by computer print out in the office or commercially?
Is any charge means tested?
Does it take into account vulnerability of the parent or relative in the process who cannot afford to pay?
Do you charge parents or siblings under the age of 18?

Yours faithfully,

Mary Carr

Mary Carr

Access2info (Corporate Resources), Derbyshire County Council

Dear Ms Carr,

I refer to your request for information received on the 19 October 2015.

We will be dealing with your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. In accordance with the legislation, the deadline for responding is 20 working days from receipt of the request, this being the 16 November 2015. However, we shall endeavour to deal with your request promptly, and if possible before this date.

Yours sincerely,

Lucie Collard
Senior Solicitor
For John McElvaney
Director of Legal Services
Derbyshire County Council
Tel: 01629 538373

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CAYA FOI (Children and Younger Adults), Derbyshire County Council

Dear Ms Carr

 

Thank you for your information request dated 18^th October 2015. Your
request has been dealt with under the terms of the Freedom of Information
Act 2000. The answers to your questions are shown below.

 

What is your policy with regard to taking photographs at final contact
visits where a child is being put into forced adoption?

 

Derbyshire County Council does not have a specific policy with regard to
taking photographs at final contact visits where a child is being placed
for non-consensual adoption.  

 

Where photographs are taken who takes this important final record - social
services or a photographer?

 

The photograph would be taken by a member of the department.

 

Do you charge for providing these photographs to the parents or to other
relatives? NO

 

If so how much is charged and what is the actual cost of the photographs
to social services? N/A

 

How are they produced - by computer print- out in the office or
commercially?

 

It is not possible to say how such photographs might be produced as custom
and practice will vary.

 

Is any charge means tested?  N/A

 

Does it take into account vulnerability of the parent or relative in the
process who cannot afford to pay? N/A

 

Do you charge parents or siblings under the age of 18?  N/A

 

I hope this now deals with your request for information. However should
you wish the outcome to be reviewed, please follow the procedure as set
out below;

 

Stage 1:

In the first instance, please send in your comments, and wherever
possible, a copy of your request and the covering letter enclosing the
information or refusing your request to:

Access to Information Solicitor

Legal Services

Derbyshire County Council

County Hall

Matlock

DE4 3AG

Email: [1][Derbyshire County Council request email]

 

Please ensure that correspondence is marked as “Request for a review of my
Freedom of Information Act / Environmental Information Regulations
request”, and bears any case references you have been given.   

 

Stage 2:

After completing the above procedure, if you wish to challenge the
decision further, then you have a right to contact the Information
Commissioner’s Office as follows: 

Information Commissioner’s Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

 

Tel. 0303 123 1113/ Fax: 01625 524510

ICO Weblink: [2]http://www.ico.org.uk/complaints.aspx

 

Kind regards

 

Anne

 

Anne Kernaghan

Management Information Assistant

Children’s Services

[3][email address]

 

For FOI responses please use:

[4][email address]

 

Tel:   01629 536470 (direct line)

       49936470 (internal non voip phone)

       36470 (internal voip phone) 

 

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Dave Darby left an annotation ()

Chapter 37 of The Protection of Children Act 1978, is the only piece of UK Legislation that mentions anything about taking pictures of children. ANY person, can take a picture of ANY child, without consent, providing those pictures are not indecent. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1978....
If the images are being used for a professional purpose, then usually a minor image release form is signed.

Many contact centres and social workers are saying no to pictures, because many centres charge a fee for picture taking....shocking!

David Darby
Trying to be a loving father to Tommi Cayden Darby #tommi