Agenda and minutes

Social Services Appeals Panel - Monday 28 November 2005 1.30 pm

Venue: St Catherine's Secure Centre, Blackbrook Road, St Helens, Merseyside, WA11 9RJ

Contact: Michelle Fernandes, Committee Administrator  Tel: 020 8424 1542 E-mail:  michelle.fernandes@harrow.gov.uk

Items
Note No. Item

PART I - RECOMMENDATIONS - NIL

PART II - MINUTES

26.

Appointment of Chair

To appoint a Chair for the purposes of this meeting.

Minutes:

RESOLVED: That Dawne Cooper be appointed Chair of the Panel for the purpose of this meeting.

27.

Arrangement of Agenda

To agree that the reports listed under Item 6 of the agenda be considered with the press and public excluded on the grounds the reports contain exempt information, as defined in Paragraph 6 of Part 1 to Schedule 12A of the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, relating to the adoption, care, fostering or education of a particular child.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the item listed in Part II of the agenda be considered with the press and public excluded for the reason indicated below:

 

Item

 

Reason

6. The Keeping of a Child in Secure             Accommodation

This item was considered to contain exempt information as defined in Paragraph 6 of Part I to Schedule 12A of the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 in that it contains information relating to the case of a particular child.

28.

Terms of Reference

To note the terms of reference as set out below:

 

“To review in accordance with the Children (Secure Accommodation) Regulations 1991 the Keeping of Children in Secure Accommodation.”

Minutes:

RESOLVED: That the terms of reference of the Panel be noted.

Enc.

29.

Guidance Notes pdf icon PDF 66 KB

To note the enclosed guidance notes which set out the nature of the Panel.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the guidance notes setting out the nature of the Panel be noted.

30.

The Keeping of a Child in Secure Accommodation

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel considered a report of the Director of Children’s Services which set out the background to the current situation and outlined the reasons why a secure placement was still considered necessary. The Panel also considered a report from the Independent Investigator setting out the views of the child, and a report from the Secure Unit.

 

The Panel carefully reviewed the case, taking into account the verbal updates from the Social Services Officer and the Independent Investigator. The Panel also considered additional reports from the Secure Unit tabled at the meeting.

 

Having considered all the views expressed at the meeting including the wishes of the child and her father who were present at the meeting, the Panel

 

RESOLVED: That the child remain in the Secure Unit for a period of 6 weeks from 30 November 2005.