Welfare Checklist (PLO) 2008 introduced to ensure children are placed with relatives rather than in care

Mrs L Taylor made this Freedom of Information request to Derby City Council This request has been closed to new correspondence. Contact us if you think it should be reopened.

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Dear Sir or Madam,

http://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk...

December 2006 - Evidence shows children in care are being let down
and suffer more than those placed with relatives.

We are interested to see how the introduction of the PLO (Public
Law Outline) Welfare Checklist 2008 has altered the outcomes for
children.

I would be grateful if under the FOIA you could advise how many
times your Local Authority has applied for care orders via the
Family Courts WITHOUT the Welfare checklist set out in section 1 of
the Children Act 1989 being completed. The completion of the
Welfare Checklist would confirm that extended family members had in
fact been contacted prior to any application for a care order.

Whoever signs the application for a care order is responsible for
ensuring that the Welfare checklist has been fully completed,
please state who within your authority holds this position.

‘The Government recognises the importance of family members taking
care of children who cannot be cared for by their parents. We know
that a child brought up by a family member benefits from living
with someone they already know and trust rather than a stranger.
The Children Act 1989 placed a duty on local authorities to support
the upbringing of children by their families wherever possible, and
that services should be provided to children in need and their
families to enable this to happen.

There is now an increased focus on the steps that must be taken
prior to any court proceedings. Unless it is necessary to take
emergency action to protect a child from immediate harm, the local
authority must undertake various steps before initiating care
proceedings. Welfare checklist set out in section 1 of the Children
Act 1989’

Yours faithfully,

Mrs L Taylor

FOI, Derby City Council

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City Council, PO Box 6291, The Council House, Derby, DE1 2YL | Tel: 01332
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FOI, Derby City Council

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I acknowledge your request for information received on 14/10/09.

Your request is being considered and you will receive the information
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If the information you request contains reference to a third party then
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There may be a fee payable for supplying the information in the form of
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is payable. The fee must be paid before the information is released and
the 20 working day time limit for responses is suspended until payment is
made. You will have 3 calendar months to submit your payment.

If you have any queries or concerns then please contact the

Freedom of Information Officer
Derby City Council
Room 213
P O Box 6291
The Council House
Corporation Street
Derby
DE1 2YL

Telephone 01332 256265 or 256262 or e-mail [Derby City Council request email]
<<<[1]mailto:[Derby City Council request email]>>>
Further information is also available from the Information Commissioner
at:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 01625 545 700
[2]www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

Kind regards

Angela Harding
Freedom of Information Team

Freedom of Information Team | Resources Department | Derby City Council,
PO Box 6291, The Council House, Derby, DE1 2YL | Tel: +44 (0) 1332 256265
| minicom number: +44 (0) 1332 256666 | [3]www.derby.gov.uk
Derby City Council - committed to being an Excellent council

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FOI, Derby City Council

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Dear Mrs Taylor

Before we can provide a response to your recent FOI request, we need to
obtain some clarification from you.

The PLO does not require us to complete a welfare checklist when
commencing proceedings. Therefore, please can you specify exactly which
form you are referring to.

The Freedom of Information Act says that we must comply with your
request for information within 20 working days, from the date following
receipt of your request unless we have to ask for clarification, as in
this case. The 20 day clock will stop on the day we ask for the
clarification and will start again on the day we receive your response.
You can write to us at the address below, e-mail us at [Derby City Council request email]
or telephone us on 01332 256265. The 20 day clock is stopped from the
date on this message. Please quote reference FOI 1475 in all
correspondence. If we do not hear from you by Friday 6th November 2009
we will assume that you no longer require the information and will close
the request.

Once clarification is received we will comply with your request unless
the information requested is subject to a statutory exemption on
disclosure or the information contains reference to a third party. For
your information, the Act defines a number of exemptions, which may
prevent release of the information you have requested. There will be an
assessment and if any of the exemption categories apply then the
information will not be released. You will be informed if this is the
case, including your rights of appeal. If the information you request
contains reference to a third party then they may need to be consulted
before a decision is taken on whether the information can be released to
you. You will be informed if this is the case. There may be a fee
payable for supplying the information in the form of disbursements. This
will be calculated and you will be informed if a fee is payable. The fee
must be paid before the information is released and the 20 working day
time limit for responses is suspended until payment is made. You will
have 3 calendar months to submit your payment.

If you have any queries or concerns then please contact the

Freedom of Information Officer
Derby City Council
Room 213
P O Box 6291
The Council House
Corporation Street
Derby
DE1 2YL

Telephone 01332 256265 or 256262 or e-mail [Derby City Council request email]

Further information is also available from the Information Commissioner
at:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 01625 545 700
www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

Yours sincerely

Rachael Collier

Freedom of Information Team

Freedom of Information Team | Resources Department | Derby City Council,
PO Box 6291, The Council House, Derby, DE1 2YL | Tel: +44 (0) 1332
256265 | minicom number: +44 (0) 1332 256666 | www.derby.gov.uk
Derby City Council - committed to being an Excellent council

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FOI, Derby City Council

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Dear Mrs L Taylor

We sent you an email requesting clarification in relation to a FOI request
that you raised; I have attached a copy of the clarification that we sent
to you. As we have not heard from you within the timescales given this
request will now be closed.

If you have any queries or concerns or are unhappy with the handling of
your request then please contact:

Freedom of Information Officer

Derby City Council

Room 213

P O Box 6291

The Council House

Corporation Street

Derby

DE1 2YL

Telephone 01332 256265 or 256262 or e-mail
[1][Derby City Council request email]<mailto:[Derby City Council request email]>

Further information about Freedom of Information is available from the
Information Commissioner at:

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Telephone: 01625 545 700

www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk<http://www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk>

Kind regards

Angela Harding

Freedom of Information Team | Resources Department | Derby City Council,
PO Box 6291, The Council House, Derby, DE1 2YL | Tel: +44 (0) 1332 256265
| minicom number: +44 (0) 1332 256666 | [2]www.derby.gov.uk
Derby City Council - committed to being an Excellent council

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