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Contents

1. Frequency
2. Exceptions
3. Who should be Seen
4. Purpose
5. Recording

1. Frequency

Normally, social workers must visit Looked After Children at the following intervals:

• Within one week of the start of any placement;
• Then at intervals of no more than six weeks during the first year of any placement;
• Thereafter, at intervals of not more than 6 weeks (or 3 months if the placement is intended to last until the child is 18).

This applies to all new placements where, for example, a child moves from one placement to another.

Visits to a child in any placement should be made more frequently if circumstances require and whenever reasonably requested by the child or the staff/carer.

Some visits should be unannounced. (The foster carers, parent or residential unit should be informed by the child's social worker at the time of placing that there will be occasional unannounced visits and the reason for this explained.)

2. Exceptions

If the child is placed with parents pending assessment, social work visits must take place at least once a week until the first Looked After Review, thereafter at intervals of not more than 6 weeks.

If the child is living with the parents under an Interim Care Order, visits must take place at least once a week until the first Looked After Review, thereafter at intervals of not more than 4 weeks.

If the child is placed with parents under a Care Order, visits must take place within one week of the Care Order, thereafter at intervals of not more than 6 weeks.

If the child is placed with a Connected Person with temporary approval, visits must take place at least once a week until the first Looked After Review, thereafter at intervals of not more than 4 weeks during the period of the temporary approval. Once the Connected Person is approved as a foster carer, the frequency can be as set out in Section 1 above.

If the child is in the care of the Local Authority but another person is responsible for the child's living arrangements (for example where a child is placed in a Youth Offenders' Institution or a health care setting), visits must take place within a week of the start/any change of living arrangements, at intervals of not more than 6 weeks for the first year; and at intervals of not more than 3 months in any subsequent year.

3. Who should be Seen

Wherever possible, the child must be seen in private and alone (unless the child of sufficient age and maturity and refuses or the social worker considers it inappropriate to do so).  If this is not possible, a further visit must be made at short notice in order that the child can be seen alone and observed with the staff/carer.

On some occasions, the social worker should also arrange to visit at times when all members of a household can be seen; or for children's homes, a significant number of adults and children.

4.  Purpose

The purpose of the visit is to ensure the placement continues to promote the child’s welfare and in particular:

1. To give the child the opportunity to express his or her wishes, feelings and views
2. To advise, assist and befriend the child
3. To observe the child with the staff/foster carer/parent
4. To monitor the standard of care offered by the placement
5. To monitor how the contact arrangements are working
6. To provide support to the placement
7. To identify any areas where additional support is required
8. To evaluate whether the placement is helping to achieve the objectives of the child’s Care Plan.

Placement Planning Meetings can be undertaken during social workers visits.

5. Recording

A written report on each visit must be made by the social worker within Case notes on Paris using the case note type “LAC Statutory Visit” . The social worker must state clearly:

1. Who was seen,
2. Whether the child was seen and if not why not,
3. Whether the child was seen alone
4. Any comments made by the child or the staff/carers/parents
5. Any matters of concern or difficulties

End