Being in Care, Looked After or Accommodated

Sometimes a family's everyday life can be severely disrupted, whether this is through illness, tragedy or some other reason, and a parent may decide to ask Children, Education and Social Care (CESC) to agree to accommodate their child on a voluntary basis.

Where there are concerns about the child's welfare, and a parent agrees, they may be accommodated without a legal order.

In other circumstances, the Local Authority will seek a Legal Order to remove a child and in these circumstances they will share parental responsibility and the child or young person will be subject to a care order and go into care.

Accommodation means that the Local Authority will look after the child until the family are able to care for the child again. It is usually intended as a short-term measure and CESC want to help children return home as soon as possible.

A Social Worker will only agree to a request for accommodation if it is felt that it is necessary and in the child's best interests. It is not a decision to be taken lightly, for any disruption in a child's life is serious and research clearly indicates the children who remain in care longer than six weeks can be disadvantaged.

The Children Act 1989 is also clear that children should remain with their own families wherever possible.

CESC has a Panel made up of Managers and chaired by a Senior Manager, that agrees to the accommodation of every child as this is not just the responsibility of the social worker.

It is important for children to see their parents while they are looked after, and when a child is accommodated, the parents will keep their parental rights. That means they still have the final say on all decisions affecting the child and contact will be promoted actively.

A child or young person can be looked after for days, weeks or months, depending on the circumstances. Once a child or young person is looked after they will have a written plan detailing what will happen. This plan will be reviewed at regular intervals of 1 month, three months and 6 months thereafter. Usually all those professionals that are involved with the child will be invited to the review and or asked to provide information in terms of the child's progress.

If the child is of school age, he or she will also have a Personal Education Plan, compiled by both the school and Social worker. This will be reviewed on a six-monthly basis to ensure the child receives the support they need.

How long will a child or young person be in care?

It all depends. Some children are in care for a short while, others for longer.
The responsible social worker will keep the child or young person up to date with what's happening.