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 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.

[Note:  Social Services Appeals Panel minutes are:-

(1)               approved following each meeting by the Members serving on that particular occasion and signed as a correct record by the Chairman for that meeting;

(2)               not submitted to the next panel meeting for approval.

Reasons: The Social Services Appeals Panel is constituted from a pooled membership.  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 at (1) above 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 reports from the Council’s Children’s Services, an Independent Investigator and The Atkinson Unit, including The Atkinson School, which set out the background to the current situation and outlined the reasons why a secure unit placement was still considered necessary.

The Panel carefully reviewed the case, taking into account the verbal updates and comments from various specialists present at the meeting, including the child’s guardian.  The child, his paternal grandmother and his uncle also spoke at the meeting and were present for the entire hearing.

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 at this time.  The secure accommodation was considered to be a safe environment for the child, as it would also help minimise the risk of the child absconding.

RESOLVED:  That the child remain in the Secure Unit until the secure accommodation order is reviewed on 30 September 2011, at which time a Judge would decide on any future placing.