Notifications from Other Local Authorities

1. Introduction

Where a Looked After child is placed by another local authority in Merton, a notification must be made by the placing authority through MASH.

The Education Service and the relevant Health Trust for the area in which the Looked After child is placed must also be notified.

The notification must include the address where the child is currently placed.

Merton will maintain a register of Looked After children for whom it is responsible and all looked after children placed in its area, including those children who are the responsibility of another neighbouring local authority.

Under the Children's Homes and Looked after Children (Miscellaneous Amendments) (England) Regulations 2013, the Manager of a children's home must notify without delay the area local authority (if different from the placing authority) of the admission to/discharge from the Home of any child.

The notification must state:

• The child's name and date of birth;
• Whether the child is Accommodated under Section 20 or subject to a Care Order or Supervision Order;
• The contact details for:
  • The child's placing authority; and
  • The child's Independent Reviewing Officer;
  • Care Plan;
  • Placement Information Record;
  • Review of Arrangements Form;
  • Any Other Reports.
• Whether the child has an Education, Health and Care Plan and, if so, details of the local authority which maintains the statement.

1.1 The Register of Looked After Children

The Register should include the following information in relation to each child:

• The name, gender and date of birth of the child;
• The name and address of the person with whom the child is placed and, if different, the name and address of the child's parents and all those with Parental Responsibility;
• The name of the placing authority;
• Whether the child has a Child Protection Plan;
• Whether the child has a disability or other special educational needs;
• The date on which the placement was made and the date when it terminated including the reason for the termination;
• The child's current legal status;
• Where arrangements have been made by Merton to undertake specific duties of the placing local authority. The arrangements should be clearly set out in writing with the name of the key person(s) and with whom agreed these duties.

2. Procedure on Receipt of Notifications in Relation to a Looked After Child

2.1 Responsibilities of the Children's Social Care teams

Any notification received from another local authority that a Looked After child has been placed in the authority will be passed to MASH. They will record a notification on mosaic system, check details of location and acknowledge receipt. MASH will alert QAPD of notification.

MASH will ensure there are clear lines of communication with the placing local authority where necessary, that the information required in Section 1.1, The Register of Looked After Children is provided and recorded.

MASH will arrange for enquires to be made of the address on the social care information system to establish whether there is any significant information recorded in relation to the address. If so, this information will be communicated to the allocated social worker in the placing local authority as a way of working in partnership. If other local authority request exceptional task to be undertaken requires notification to MASH of request. Mash confirm details, share with Team manager in First response for review and consideration.

Where the placing authority requests that Merton carry out certain functions in relation to the child on its behalf. Mash will confirm details, share with Team manager in First response for review and consideration.

It would never be appropriate for the authority to agree to a request to supervise a child placed in secure accommodation and/or subject to Section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933.

Where it is agreed Merton will undertake specific tasks on behalf of a placing authority, a social worker will be allocated to review and monitor this.

Any agreement to undertake specific tasks on behalf of the placing authority should be detailed in writing and signed by the Senior Manager from the Placing Authority. It will include an expectation that the allocated social worker in Merton will be invited to contribute to the child's Looked After Review.

Where a significant incident arises in Merton whilst the child is placed there, they will be expected to respond to any immediate and identified needs.

However, except in an absolute emergency situation (e.g. where it is not possible to contact the allocated social worker or their Team Manager, or if out of hours of the placing local authority's Emergency Duty Team), Merton should not take any significant action or remove the child, without consultation with the placing local authority.

Merton will not take action on the basis of the placing authority's verbal authority, but must request that any required actions are recorded and that the roles, responsibilities and expectations are clearly set out.

The case management responsibility will always remain with the placing authority.

In the event, Merton has to respond to an emergency situation where the child is at risk of Significant Harm and the placing authority cannot be contacted, any action should be on the basis of the requirements of the Merton Safeguarding Children Procedures and the London Safeguarding Children Procedures.

2.2 Maintaining the Register

On an annual basis, Quality Assurance Service will contact the local authority for those young people who were placed in Merton within the last 12 months and confirm they remain in this area. All documents and case records saved in SMART of the information shared.

Quality Assurance Service will alongside our data reporting team provide 6 monthly an overview of the children placed in Merton in respect of other Local Authorities (see Section 1, Introduction).

The register must include:

• Children looked after by Merton;
• Children looked after by another local authority but placed within Merton, where there has been agreement that Merton will carry out some of the responsibilities of the placing local authority;
• Children looked after by another local authority but placed within Merton, where the placing local authority continues to carry out all the functions in relation to the child.

See also:

• LAC Notification Process (Local Resources);
• Template LAC Notification letter (Local Resources).