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3.3.3 Secure Accommodation (Criteria) Reviews

SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER

This procedure applies to children placed in secure accommodation.


Contents

  1. Purpose of Secure Accommodation Reviews  
  2. Timing of Secure Accommodation Reviews
  3. Convening and Chairing of Secure Accommodation Reviews
  4. Secure Accommodation Review Panel
  5. Arranging a Secure Accommodation Panel
  6. Invitations
  7. Preparation for Secure Accommodation Reviews
  8. Conducting the Secure Accommodation Review
  9. Following the Review


1. Purpose of Secure Accommodation Reviews

The purpose of a Secure Accommodation Review is to consider the following:

  • whether the criteria for keeping a child in secure accommodation continue to apply, on the day of the review;
  • whether such a placement continues to be necessary and
  • whether or not any other form of accommodation would be appropriate.


2. Timing of Secure Accommodation Reviews

Secure Accommodation Reviews must be convened within one month of a child being placed in secure accommodation, and then at intervals not exceeding three months.

These are maximum timescales.


3. Convening and Chairing of Secure Accommodation Reviews

Secure Accommodation Reviews are convened by the Review Coordinator in the Safeguarding Children and Quality Assurance Service in the same way as for Looked After Reviews.

The review will be chaired by the Service Manager, Safeguarding Children and Quality Assurance or his/her nominee.


4. Secure Accommodation Review Panel

The Secure Accommodation Panel is responsible for listening to the views of those who attend/contribute, and coming to a decision about whether they believe the criteria for secure accommodation are still met. The Panel cannot come to a decision about whether the child should remain or leave secure accommodation; it can only make a recommendation on this to the Designated Manager (Secure Accommodation Placements).

The Panel consists of three people: 

  • The Review Chair
  • The Team Manager for the social worker of the child concerned
  • An independent member, normally from VOICE


5. Arranging a Secure Accommodation Panel

The Review Coordinator in the Safeguarding Children and Quality Assurance Service will be responsible for arranging a date for the first Secure Accommodation Review in consultation with the Chair, other members of the Review Panel, the child's social worker and the relevant secure unit.


6. Invitations

As with Looked After Reviews, the child's social worker will arrange invitations to the review. Apart from those who form the Secure Accommodation Review Panel, the following people should be invited:

  1. The child and parent(s)
  2. Those who previously have had or may have care of the child upon discharge
  3. The Children's Guardian
  4. The child’s Independent Visitor or advocate, if appointed
  5. The Link/Keyworker for the child from the Secure Unit

Legal Services should be consulted beforehand as necessary.


7. Preparation for Secure Accommodation Reviews

Prior to the Secure Accommodation Review, the Chair will liaise with the social worker to ensure the following is undertaken:

  • Invitations are extended to those who should be invited (other than the Panel members); or that they are asked to contribute.
  • The child and parent(s) are clear about the purpose of the Secure Accommodation Review and have been given adequate support to prepare for it;  which may include arranging for an independent person to assist them. 
  • The social worker has prepared a report for the review, outlining why the child was originally placed in secure accommodation, demonstrating that the criteria were met at that time, setting out the extent to which it is felt the criteria still apply, whether the child should continue to remain in secure accommodation and whether any other description of accommodation would be appropriate.
  • The social worker will ensure that the child's Care Plan and Placement Plan/Placement Information Record are available for the Review.
  • Arrangements have been made for the staff in the secure placement to prepare a report, taking account of the progress made with the child and stating their view as to whether the criteria still apply and whether any other description of accommodation would be appropriate rather than remaining in secure accommodation.

The social worker's report, together with the Care Plan and Placement Plan/Placement Information Record, must be forwarded to the Chair by the social worker at least 3 working days before the review date.


8. Conducting the Secure Accommodation Review

The Secure Accommodation Review does not take the place of a Looked After Review, it is distinctly different.

However, it is acceptable to conduct the Secure Accommodation Review on the same day as other reviews, so long as they are conducted separately.

The Review can be conducted in one of two ways:

  • in the form of a meeting which everyone attends and may hear the views of the other participants;
  • in the form of the Panel hearing the views of each person, separately.

The Chair will decide how the review is to be conducted. In either case, the Chair must ensure that those who contribute understand the purpose of the review and the way in which the review will be conducted.

The Secure Accommodation Panel is responsible for listening to the views of those who attend/contribute, and coming to a decision about whether they believe the criteria are met.  Before the review, the independent member of the Panel should meet with the child. The secure unit needs to be made aware of this by the social worker, so that they can facilitate the meeting.

The key questions that must be considered are:

  • Whether the criteria continue to apply on the day of the review, and even if they do
  • Whether the placement in secure accommodation continues to be necessary; and
  • Whether any other description of accommodation would be appropriate.

In considering these matters the Panel must have regard to the child’s welfare.

It is not sufficient, simply, to retain a child in secure accommodation to complete an assessment or treatment programme or whilst other accommodation is sought.  Regard must be given to the fact that it is unlawful for the liberty of a child to be restricted unless the criteria are met, no matter how short the period of security.

Having given due regard to the views and contributions of those who attend or were invited, the Secure Accommodation Review Panel should retire to consider their decision, in private. Once the Panel has made a recommendation, it should be recorded, together with reasons, and communicated to the other participants at the Review. Where relevant, a date for the next Review Panel should also be fixed.

If the child requests further explanation, the Chair and/or social worker should see him or her immediately after the review in order to provide this.

All communications should be confirmed in writing.


9. Following the Review

The social worker and his or her Team Manager are responsible for implementing the outcome of the review and stating their reasons for any action or inaction in response to the decisions.

If the Panel recommends that the criteria are not met, this must immediately be communicated to the Designated Manager (Secure Accommodation Placements) and a decision made about whether to accept the recommendation of the Panel.  If the recommendation of the Panel is accepted, it will be necessary to consider the need for an alternative placement.  Legal advice should be sought in coming to this decision. 

If the parents were not in attendance at the meeting, the social worker must take steps to inform them immediately of the outcome of the meeting. 

Minutes will be prepared by the Chair within 15 working days of the meeting and the Review Coordinator will arrange for copies to be circulated to all participants and those who were invited but unable to attend.

End