CHILDREN IN CARE SOUTH KENT
Ashford
1 Child in Care Team
Comprises of one Team Manager: Pat Hatcher, 6 Social Workers and 2 Senior Practitioners.
3 Family Support Teams
1 Assessment & Intervention Team
Dover
1 Child in Care Team
Comprises of one Team Manager: Rebecca Ransley, 6 Social Workers and 2 Senior Practitioners.
3 Family Support Teams
1 Assessment & Intervention Team
Shepway
1 Child in Care Team
Comprises of one Team Manager: Nicola Smith, 6 Social Workers and 2 Senior Practitioners.
3 Family Support Teams
1 Assessment & Intervention Team
The Adolescent Team covers all of South Kent. The Team Manager is Stewart Law.
The Service Manager for South Kent Children in Care , the Adolescent Service and the Fostering Service
is Michelle Woodward.
The Child’s Journey to the Child in Care
Team
Children are placed in foster care through the Assessment and Intervention Teams and
also through Family Support Teams as well as on occasion through the Central Referral
Unit.
The transfer point to Child in Care Teams is generally at the first Child in Care Review
or the first court hearing if proceedings have been issued. Children may not transfer
to the Child in Care Team if the care plan is rehabilitation to the parents care.
This can mean that a child or young person will experience a number of changes in
social worker throughout their involvement with the Local Authority and this can
cause frustration, confusion and upset to children and their families as well as other
professionals.
Different Types of Care
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S.20 – Section 20 Accommodation is with the agreement of parent(s) with parental
responsibility. S.20 is often used at the start of a child being placed in foster care and
parental responsibility remains with the parents. Practically this means that neither the
foster carer or Local Authority can consent to any medical treatment or provide consent
for school trips etc. unless the parents has provided written and ongoing consent. This
can remain ongoing for a significant period of time as long as the parents remain in
agreement and the arrangement is workable for the child.
Interim Care Order (ICO) – This will mean that the court has found that there is
reasonable grounds for believing that there are grounds for a full care order. An interim
care order can be made for period of 8 weeks and then renewed on a monthly basis.
A Care Order – The Court can only make a care order if:
the child has suffered, or is likely to suffer, significant harm and
the harm or likelihood of harm is attributable to the care given to the child, or
likely to be given if the Order were not made, not being what would be reasonably
expected of a parent;
or the child is beyond parental control.
A Care Order remains in place until a young person reaches the age of 18.
Emergency Protection Order (EPO) - An Emergency Protection Order is a short term
order with either removes the child or allows the child to be placed in a place of safety
or requires an alleged abuser to leave the family home. An EPO can be made for 8
days and extended by a further 7 if absolutely necessary. The Local Authority acquires
parental responsibility however this does not remove it from the parents.
Special Guardianship Order (SGO) – Special Guardianship Orders are generally made to
family members and remain in place until the child is 18. Parental responsibility is
acquired through the granting of an SGO however the parents retain some parental
responsibility. Children subject to a Special Guardianship Order do not retain a Child
in Care status.
Different Type of Placements
Children in care can be placed in different types of placement, for
example:
KCC Foster Placements;
Independent Foster Carer Agency Placements;
Residential Placement;
Placed with parents under a Care Order (Placed with Parents Regulations 2010)
Connected Persons Foster Care Placement
Private Fostering – No Child in Care Team Involvement however if you are aware of a
child that is privately fostered there is a legal requirement to notify the Local
Authority. Private fostering is when a child under the age of 16 (under 18 if disabled)
is cared for by someone who is not their parent or a 'close relative'. This is a private
arrangement made between a parent and a carer, for 28 days or more. Close relatives
are defined as step-parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, uncles or aunts (whether
of full blood, half blood or marriage/affinity).
There were only 35 arrangements notified in Kent last year which indicates that this
type of placement is under reported.
The Numbers……
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In Ashford there are 58 Children in Care
In Dover there are 85 Children in Care
In Shepway there are 101 Children in Care
The Adolescent Team has 10 Children in Care and 53 Children in Need
The total Children in Care at the current time, in South Kent is 254.
9 Interim Care Order
142 Care Order
51 Placement Order
1 On Remand
51 Section 20
Across the whole of Kent there are 1,818 children in care.
The Role of a Child in Care Social
Worker
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Individualised care planning for each child which will include: placement needs, health,
emotional welfare, education and contact;
Undertaking assessments of family members and preparing court documents;
Progressing court care plans within a 26 week timetable;
Attending court;
Preparing adoption papers for court and the Local Authority’s Agency Decision Maker;
Identifying adoptive placements for children;
Identifying foster placements for children;
Attending Child in Care Reviews on a 6 monthly basis and preparing the care plan and report
for the Review;
Attending PEP Meetings on a 6 monthly basis;
Arranging and attending Child in Care Health Assessments on a six monthly to yearly basis;
Ensuring that children and young people attend six monthly dental/opticians appointments;
Working with children and their families to improve and build on their relationships so that
rehabilitation can be achieved when and if it is in the child’s best interests;
Statutory visits to Children In Care are undertaken at least six weekly;
Liaison with families, schools and health.
The Role of the Independent
Reviewing Officer
• An Independent Reviewing Officer is the person who ensures that
children looked after by the Local Authority have regular reviews
to consider the care plan and placement. It is the role of the
Independent Reviewing Officer to ensure that a child’s views are
taken into consideration and that the Local Authority is fulfilling
its duties and functions.
• The Independent Reviewing Officer chairs and minutes Children in
Care Reviews and makes decisions and recommendations and
monitors the effectiveness of the Local Authority’s plan. The
Independent Reviewing Officer will meet with the child before the
review to ascertain their wishes and feelings and will assist the
child to take part in the review.
• In accordance with The Adoption and Children Act 2002 section
118 an Independent Reviewing officer must be appointed to
participate in statutory reviews to consider the care plan of
children looked after by the Local Authority.
Some contacts you might find
useful…..
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Child in Care Team Ashford: 03000 412794
Child in Care Team Dover: 03000 410632
Child in Care Team Shepway: 03000 414800
Adolescent Team: 01233 208677
Private Fostering: 0300 3336106