Agenda and minutes

Social Services Appeals Panel - Thursday 20 November 2008 11.00 am

Venue: The Lodge, Leverton, Dark Lane, Great Warley, Brentwood

Contact: Miriam Wearing, Senior Democratic Services Officer  Tel: 020 8424 1542 E-mail:  miriam.wearing@harrow.gov.uk

Items
Note No. Item

PART I - RECOMMENDATIONS - NIL

PART II - MINUTES

6.

Appointment of Chairman

To note that the Independent Member, Carol Ellis, will serve as Chairman of the Panel for this meeting.

 

Minutes:

 

RESOLVED:  That Caroline Ellis be appointed Chairman of the Panel for the purpose of this meeting.

7.

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.

8.

Guidance Notes pdf icon PDF 19 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.

9.

Exclusion of the Press and Public

To resolve that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business, on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of confidential information in breach of an obligation of confidence, or of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972:

 

Agenda Item No

 

Title

Description of Exempt Information

6

Keeping of a Child in Secure Accommodation

Information under paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, relating to any individual.

 

Minutes:

 

RESOLVED:  That the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item for the reasons set out below:

 

Item

Title

 

Reason

6.

The Keeping of a Child in Secure Accommodation

Information under paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, relating to any individual.

 

10.

The Keeping of a Child in Secure Accommodation

Minutes:

The Panel considered a report of the Corporate 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 who was present at the beginning of the meeting, the Panel

 

RESOLVED:  That the child remain in the Secure Unit for a period of 4 weeks from 25 November 2008.