Agenda and minutes

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

RESOLVED:  To note that the Independent Member, Caroline Ellis, served as 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, in accordance with Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item for the reasons set out below:

The Panel considered confidential reports from the Council’s Children’s Services, an Independent Investigator and The Atkinson Unit, including The Atkinson School, which set out the background and reasons why a secure unit placement had been necessary, including the progress made by the child since the last Panel meeting.

The Panel carefully reviewed the case, taking into account the verbal updates and comments from various specialists present at the meeting, including the child who was present at the meeting from 1.00 pm onwards. 

The Panel noted that the child had made significant progress, and that the Secure Accommodation Order would run until March 2012.  As a result, the Panel made a number of recommendations to the Corporate Director Children’s Services.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)               the recommendations made by the Panel be conveyed to the Corporate Director Children’s Services;

(2)               the next Panel meeting be held on 9 January 2011 to consider the outcomes from the actions requested.