Transcript LAC regs and guidance presentation

The streamlined legal framework
for looked after children
Implementation of Care Planning and
placements regulations and guidance
November 2010
Introduction

The Department has almost completed updating, amending and streamlining the
regulations and guidance for looked after children, in part following passage of the 2008
Act – most of these have already been made, the remainder will follow in the next few
months;

Aim to have a consolidated and streamlined framework which sets out ‘must dos’ while
extending flexibility for local authorities.
Recent progress:

Consultation on foster care & children’s homes regulations almost
completed;

Revised regulations and guidance for care leavers announced on 28
October;
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Working with local authorities and sector organisations to ensure
dissemination, understanding of the framework and effective
implementation.
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The new legal framework from April 2011 – 6 themes and
underpinning statutory guidance
Placements
Health and
education
[Care Standards Act 2000]
- Fostering (Vol. 4)
- Children’s Homes (vol. 5)
- Notification regs; Registration
regs
- National Minimum
Standards
Child at the centre
- Care Planning (Vol.2)
- Sufficiency Duty
Principles:
• mirrors journey through care
• timeliness and permanence
• maintain parental involvement
• cycle of: assessment, planning,
intervention, review
One, integrated care plan!
Voice of the
child
Care leavers
- IRO Handbook
- Lead Member and DCS
- Effective Advocacy
- Transitions to
adulthood (Vol. 3)
• PA to 25
Legal underpinnings:
- Children Act 1989
- International obligations
- Promoting health
- Promoting education
- Designated teacher
Vulnerable children
not looked after
- Short breaks
- Visits to former LAC in
detention
- Accommodated
children (visits)
- Family. & Friends
- Placements by
vol. orgs.
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Timeline of LAC regulations and guidance
2008
Nov - Royal assent of Children and Young Persons Act.
2009
1st wave : Social Work Practices, Emergency Protection Orders, Child Death information,
Independent Review Mechanism.
2nd wave : Designated Teacher and HE bursary regulations came into force, Residence and Special
Guardianship Orders to be easier for relatives.
2010
3rd wave (March): Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations made, with guidance –
also [independent visitor] IRO, sufficiency duty.
4th wave (Autumn): Make regulations on care leavers, visits to children in custody, children
accommodated in residential placements and notification. Short Breaks regs. Care Standards Act
registration regs into force.
Consultations on Fostering Services, Children’s homes, Placement of non-LAC by Vol Orgs
2011
5th wave (Jan) - Make Fostering Services regs, CH regs, non-LAC regs. Finalise NMS. Publish Family
& Friends guidance.
April – all above regulations and sections of Act in force.
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Disseminating messages about key changes to
regulations and guidance to practitioners and managers
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Purpose: To engage local authorities and other partners with recent and
upcoming changes to the regulations and guidance for looked after
children
Scope:
– Phase One - Care Planning, Transitions to Adulthood, other Children and
Young Persons Act 08 amendments;
– Phase Two - fostering service regs and guidance, children’s home regs
and guidance
Audience: LAC and leaving care managers and practitioners, ADs, other
agencies delivering services to LAC, foster and residential carers,
senior officers and members
Methods: Co-authoring of practice materials with key partners,
disseminating these– eg Expert seminars and workshops with key
partners, consolidated website materials, regional / national events,
peer-to-peer networks
Outcome: That key partners are aware of changes that will be brought in
by the regs and guidance that will come into force April 11, so that these
can inform working practices
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Planned engagement process for the next 6 months
•
•
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Agreeing scope and best methods with partners develop steering
group:
• [May – July] ADCS, LGA, BAAF, Fostering network, NCAS, CSP,
CWDC, Ofsted, 5 LAs
Phase 1: Care planning, transitions and other CYP (2008)
• [Oct – Dec] Draft practice materials to fit alongside other organisations’
plans for training
• [Jan] Trial practice materials with 5-10 LAs
• [Jan – Mar] Disseminate materials & engage with English LAs, other
key partners
April 2011 - Full set of LAC regulations, guidance and NMS come into
force
Phase 2: Children homes and fostering regulations and guidance,
NMS
• [April 2011 - ongoing] further materials and event to align the rest of the
updated materials as a package.
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