The safeguards applying to looked after children are set out in the relevant regulations, statutory guidance and National Minimum Standards. Issues of particular relevance to safeguarding looked after children include:
- If the local authority places a looked after child in another local authority area, the host authority must be notified of the placement.
- Assessments and plans must be kept up to date and services offered to meet assessed needs
- Looked after children must be seen on their own and account taken of their wishes and feelings
- Case records must be kept up to date
- Reviews of plans must be independently chaired and take place at the prescribed statutory frequency.
- Independent Reviewing Officers have particular responsibility to ensure that the care plan for the child takes account of their wishes and feelings and remains appropriate for the child
- Carers must be provided with full information about the child’s history and any risks of harm to or from the child
- Carers must be aware of the whereabouts of children they look after and follow the recognised procedure whenever a child is missing from their home
- If significant harm concerns arise, safeguarding procedures should be applied as for children living with their own families
It is not usual for a looked after child subject to an interim or full Care Order to also be subject to a child protection plan as the interim/full Care Order gives the local authority parental responsibility and makes the child subject to a care plan which addresses the management of any risks to their safety and welfare. If a child already subject to a child protection plan becomes looked after under an interim or full care order, a review child protection conference should normally be arranged to consider the discontinuation of the child protection plan.
If a child subject to a child protection plan becomes looked after under Section 20 Children Act, consideration should also be given to arranging a review child protection conference to consider the discontinuation of the child protection plan unless there are exceptional circumstances (e.g. very brief period of accommodation planned) where it would not be appropriate to discontinue the child protection plan.
