The streamlined legal framework for looked after children Implementation of Care Planning and placements regulations and

1. The streamlined legal framework for looked after children Implementation of Care Planning and placements regulations and guidance November 2010

2. Introduction • The Department has almost completed updating, amending and streamlining the regulations and guidance for looked after children, in part following passage of the 2008 Act – most of these have already been made, the remainder will follow in the next few months; • Aim to have a consolidated and streamlined framework which sets out ‘must dos’ while extending flexibility for local authorities. Recent progress: • Consultation on foster care & children’s homes regulations almost completed; • Revised regulations and guidance for care leavers announced on 28 October; • Working with local authorities and sector organisations to ensure dissemination, understanding of the framework and effective implementation.

3. The new legal framework from April 2011 – 6 themes and underpinning statutory guidance Placements [Care Standards Act 2000] Health and education • Child at the centre • - Care Planning (Vol.2) • - Sufficiency Duty • Principles: • mirrors journey through care • timeliness and permanence • maintain parental involvement • cycle of: assessment, planning, intervention, review • One, integrated care plan! • Fostering (Vol. 4) • Children’s Homes (vol. 5) - Notification regs; Registration regs - National Minimum Standards • Promoting health • Promoting education • Designated teacher Voice of the child Vulnerable children not looked after • Care leavers • - Transitions to adulthood (Vol. 3) • PA to 25 • Short breaks • Visits to former LAC in detention • Accommodated • children (visits) • Family & Friends • Placements by • vol. orgs. • IRO Handbook • Lead Member and DCS • Effective Advocacy . Legal underpinnings: - Children Act 1989 - International obligations

4. Timeline of LAC regulations and guidance

5. Disseminating messages about key changes to regulations and guidance to practitioners and managers • Purpose: To engage local authorities and other partners with recent and upcoming changes to the regulations and guidance for looked after children • Scope: • Phase One - Care Planning, Transitions to Adulthood, other Children and Young Persons Act 08 amendments; • Phase Two - fostering service regs and guidance, children’s home regs and guidance • Audience: LAC and leaving care managers and practitioners, ADs, other agencies delivering services to LAC, foster and residential carers, senior officers and members • Methods: Co-authoring of practice materials with key partners, disseminating these– eg Expert seminars and workshops with key partners, consolidated website materials, regional / national events, peer-to-peer networks • Outcome: That key partners are aware of changes that will be brought in by the regs and guidance that will come into force April 11, so that these can inform working practices

6. Planned engagement process for the next 6 months • Agreeing scope and best methods with partners develop steering group: • [May – July] ADCS, LGA, BAAF, Fostering network, NCAS, CSP, CWDC, Ofsted, 5 LAs • Phase 1: Care planning, transitions and other CYP (2008) • [Oct – Dec] Draft practice materials to fit alongside other organisations’ plans for training • [Jan] Trial practice materials with 5-10 LAs • [Jan – Mar] Disseminate materials & engage with English LAs, other key partners April 2011 - Full set of LAC regulations, guidance and NMS come into force • Phase 2: Children homes and fostering regulations and guidance, NMS • [April 2011 - ongoing] further materials and event to align the rest of the updated materials as a package.