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4.2.4a The Temporary Approval of Family, Friends or other Persons who are connected with the Child

SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER

This is a new chapter which should be read in conjunction with Friends and Family Care Policy and Protocol for Duty in the Kinship Team.

February 2012.


Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Temporary Approval
  3. Procedures for the Assessment of the Temporary Approval of a Connected Person
  4. Procedures
  5. Statutory Checks
  6. Procedures once Temporary Approval is given
  7. Financial Support
  8. Visiting Requirements

    Appendix 1: Schedule 4


1. Introduction

1.1 Where the Local Authority considers that a child is likely to met or does met the criteria for becoming a 'looked after' child either by virtue of s20 or s31 of the Children Act 1989 it should first consider whether or not the child has a family member, friend or connected person who could assume care of him/her (Family and Friends Care: Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities (2010).
1.2 The possibility of these carers should be explored at an early stage and input from the family and child ought be invited directly during assessment, at an family group conference, before and following any pre proceedings meeting or at any other opportunity when the short or long term future care of the children is being discussed. The court will expect that the Local Authority has made relevant enquiries so far as it is able prior to bringing any applications for orders to the court.
1.3 Family, friends and connected people may also become carers pursuant to informal family arrangements, private fostering arrangements or obtaining court orders.
1.4 When a child is or will become looked after however the Local Authority may only place the child with an approved foster carer. This policy sets out the process for approval, temporary or full approval, of connected carers.


2. Temporary Approval

2.1 In urgent cases there may not be time to complete the full fostering assessment before a child requires a placement. The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010 make provision for the temporary approval of connected persons - which allows the child to be placed with the carer. This temporary approval can last for 16 weeks with the possibility of being extended in exceptional cases when the full assessment is not complete or the carer has an appeal to the IRM pending.
2.2 Other than an enhanced regime of social work visits (see 8.1) temporary approval is the same as being approved by the fostering panel as a foster carer. The approval is however granted by the Director or Assistant Director of Children's Services who will require the following information from the child's allocated social worker:
2.3 In the event that the placement is going to be taking place within days then the allocated social worker will need to have completed as much of the written assessment as possible and set out the reasons why the proposed placement is in the best interests of the child(ren) involved. The social worker should also carefully consider and set out the support needs of the placement bearing in mind that the circumstances leading to the need for placement could be surprising and/or distressing for the connected person and that the priority is that the child's identified needs are met. The child's wishes and feelings should be sought and the nature of the existing relationship between child and proposed carer should be carefully considered.
2.4

In the event of an immediate placement the social worker should

  1. Consider whether an informal agreement is possible that will adequately safeguard the child;
  2. Obtain as much of the information required in 3 as possible and speak directly to the Director or the Assistant Director about a very short approval to enable the written assessment to be completed;
  3. Temporary placement with 'stranger' foster carers to ensure safety with a clear explanation to the family of the timescale for the temporary approval assessment.


3. Procedures for the Assessment of the Temporary Approval of a Connected Person

3.1 Assessments can be undertaken by either the child's social worker or a social worker from the Kinship team if it can take place on a duty day.  The Kinship Team runs a duty system on a Monday and Thursday.  Referrals can be made via framework I.  The duty service can also be contacted on 0208 825 7379.
3.2

Assessment Requirements
3.3 The 2010 Care Planning, Placement and Case Reviews Regulations specify the assessment requirements before a child may be placed under temporary approval arrangements.
3.4

Before making a placement the social worker must

Assess the suitability of the connected person to care for the child, including the suitability of-

  1. The proposed accommodation; and
  2. All other persons aged 18 and over who are members of the household in which it is proposed that the child will live.

taking into account all the matters set out in Schedule 4 - see Appendix 1: Schedule 4

These are the minimum requirements for assessing the connected person's suitability within what may be a short time frame. Every effort should be made to maximise the level and quality of information available to support the decision as to whether the person should be temporarily approved.
3.5

In particular the assessment

  • Must assess the quality of the existing relationship between the child and the proposed carer as the intention of this provision is that the connected person is already known to the child;
  • Include the child's wishes and feelings about the proposed arrangements must be ascertained, subject to understanding, and recorded. Wherever possible, an Opportunity must be provided for the child to visit the connected person's home before the decision is finalised;
  • The views of the child's parents and others with parental responsibility must also be obtained before a decision is made.
3.6 The Social Worker must inspect the accommodation paying particular attention to issues of health and safety, and the proposed sleeping arrangements.
3.7 Information should be obtained about all persons living in the household and any regular visitors, including their full names, dates of birth, and any previous involvement with social services or in criminal activity.  Their identity must be verified by seeing, for example their passport or driving licence.  The home visit will also provide the opportunity to assess the nature and quality of the relationships, as well as their views about the proposed arrangements for the connected person to care for the child. All adults in the house should be interviewed prior to placement.
3.8 The assessment of suitability should also address the history and current lifestyle of other young people in the household who are under 18 in relation to the needs of the child who is to be placed, including their views about the proposed placement and its possible impact on them and this should if possible take place prior to placement.


4. Procedures

4.1 The assessment must be recorded on Part 1 Record of Key Information and Part 2 Assessment of Family and Friends Carers, which is available on Framework I. The assessment must cover those matters set out in Schedule 4 (see Appendix 1: Schedule 4).  Additional guidance on the areas to cover within the assessment, accompanies Part 2 on Framework I.  These forms are currently being reviewed and Part 1 will be shortened.
4.2 The assessment is likely to require more than one visit. Once completed the assessment should be signed off by the social workers supervisor.
4.3 When the manager has agreed the assessment it should be e mailed to Wendy Philips and Sophie Lynch (PA's to the Director and Assistant Director) who will forward it to Judith Finlay or Finola Culbert for agreement.  The Kinship Team Manager must be included in the e-mail.


5. Statutory Checks

5.1

The child's Social Worker must before a child is placed;

  • Check whether the carers, any members of their family living with them or regular visitors are known to Children's Services;
  • Contact the Child Protection police to ascertain whether the carer and any adult members over the age of 16 living in the household have any criminal convictions that might place the child at risk if placed with them;
  • Details of these checks must be recorded on Part One Record of Information.
5.2 The requirements for statutory checks to be undertaken should be explained and carers asked to give their written consent to these checks. Every household member over the age of 16 will undergo full CRB checks. Applicants must complete a full medical assessment and Local Authority, housing, environmental health, OFSTEAD must be undertaken on the applicants.  These checks will be undertaken by the Kinship Team apart from the CAIT and SSD check, which should be completed by the area team prior to placement.


6. Procedures once Temporary Approval is given

6.1

The Kinship Team Manager or Supervising Social worker will write to the carers confirming that temporary approval has been given.  The Carers must sign a written agreement prior agreeing:

  1. To care for the child as if s/he were a member of the family;
  2. To sign agreements for checks and Police, Health, Local Authority and Education references on all persons over 16 years who live in or have regular and substantive contact with the household;
  3. To allow a local authority officer to visit at any time;
  4. To keep information confidential;
  5. To comply with Court Orders and/or the local authority's requirements about contact;
  6. To permit the child to be removed at any time if the local authority decides it is no longer a suitable placement.
6.2 The assessing Social worker is responsible once confirmation is received of temporary approval for ensuring this agreement is signed and uploaded onto Framework I.
6.3 The case must be referred to the kinship team as soon as possible by sending part 1 & 2 of the assessment on Framework I.
6.4 The carers should be informed that once the child is placed the carer will receive support through a supervising Social Worker from the Kinship Team and that the assessment process will continue. The kinship Team will complete a full assessment of the family and friend carer as short term kinship foster carers and present them to the fostering panel for approval as short term foster carers.
6.5 A copy of the completed assessment must be sent to the carer and the child's Social Worker should record on the child's file that the agreement to proceed has been given or the reasons why it has been refused.


7. Financial Support

7.1 Once the child is placed all connected foster carers are entitled to receive a weekly allowance for the child.  This is based on the Fostering Network's minimum recommended levels to meet the needs of the child and should be spent on the child or saved for him or her.  Details of the allowance that is payable is available from the Kinship Team.
7.2 The Kinship Team can only make these payments. Therefore whenever a carer is approved as a temporary foster carer the Kinship Team Manager must be notified by e-mail of the placement and they will ensure that payments are set up once the carer's bank details are received.
7.3 In order to ensure that payments can be set up the child's Social Worker must obtain the carers bank details, scan these and send them by e-mail to the Kinship Team Manager.  This form is attached to this guidance and is also available on the Intranet.


8. Visiting Requirements

8.1 Once temporary approval is given the placement must be visited on a weekly basis until the first looked after children review (20 days after placement).  These visits will be shared between the Kinship and Area teams.  Social Workers must agree at the beginning of the placement dates for visits in order to ensure this requirement is met.
8.2 Thereafter visits must take place at least on a monthly basis until the case is taken to the Fostering Panel for full approval.  The Kinship Team will visit on a monthly basis during this period.  Thereafter visits can reduce to once every 6 weeks as a minimum


Appendix 1: Schedule 4

Matters to be taken into account when assessing the suitability of a connected person to care for a child

  1. In respect of the connected person-
    1. The nature and quality of any existing relationship with C;
    2. Their capacity to care for children and in particular in relation to C to-
      1. Provide for C's physical needs and appropriate medical and dental care;
      2. Protect C adequately from harm or danger including from any person who presents a risk of harm to C;
      3. Ensure that the accommodation and home environment is suitable with regard to the age and developmental stage of C;
      4. Promote C's learning and development; and
      5. Provide a stable family environment which will promote secure attachments for C, including promoting positive contact with P and other connected persons, unless to do this is not consistent with the duty to safeguard and promote C's welfare.
    3. Their state of health including their physical, emotional and mental health and medical history including any current or past issues of domestic violence, substance misuse or mental health problems;
    4. Their family relationships and the composition of their household, including particulars of-
      1. The identity of all other members of the household, including their age and the nature of their relationship with the connected person and with each other, including any sexual relationship;
      2. Any relationship with any person who is a parent of C;
      3. Any relationship between C and other members of the household;
      4. Other adults not being members of the household who are likely to have regular contact with C; and
      5. Any current or previous domestic violence between members of the household, including the connected person.
    5. Their family history, including-
      1. Particulars of their childhood and upbringing including the strengths and difficulties of their parents or other persons who cared for them;
      2. Their relationships with their parents and siblings, and their relationships with each other;
      3. Their educational achievement and any specific learning difficulty or disability;
      4. A chronology of significant life events; and
      5. Particulars of other relatives and their relationships with C and the connected person.
    6. Particulars of any criminal offences of which they have been convicted or in respect of which they have been cautioned;
    7. Their past and present employment and other sources of income; and
    8. The nature of the neighbourhood in which their home is situated and resources available in the community to support C and the connected person.

End