Agenda and minutes

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

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

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.”

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

Social Services Appeals Panel minutes are approved following each meeting by the Members serving on that particular occasion and signed as a correct record by the Chairman for that meeting.

Reason: The Social Services Appeals Panel is constituted from a pooled membership with an Independent Person as Chairman.  Consequently, a subsequent Panel meeting is likely to comprise a different Chairman and Members who took no part in the previous meeting’s proceedings.  The process referred to provides appropriate approval scrutiny.

(See Note at conclusion of these minutes).

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

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

To resolve that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business, on the grounds that it involves 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:

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

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 which gave an overview of the child’s situation and a report from the Secure Unit.

The Panel carefully reviewed the case, taking into account the verbal updates from officers of Children’s Services, the Independent Investigator, Secure Unit, and the wishes of the child who was present at the meeting.

The Panel Members were advised of the transition programme for a residential placement and were concerned about the safety of the child in the event that they were not in secure accommodation until the placement.

The Panel agreed that the criteria for the placement in secure accommodation continued to apply, that the placement continued to be necessary and that no other description of accommodation was appropriate.

RESOLVED:  That an extension to the Secure Order be sought for a period of three months from 20 April 2010.