main content Looked after children service

We provide help and support to children and young people whenever it is decided that they need to be looked after by social services.

Who can benefit from this service?

Children and families in various situations may benefit from social services support. As every child’s situation and family circumstances are different,  only broad examples are listed below.

• Children who need protection from physical, sexual or emotional harm caused within their own family. This may lead to permanent removal and adoption or to longer-term care. In some cases children can also be returned back successfully to the  care of their parents or a member of the extended family.
• Children whose home situations have broken down and have no alternative carers available within the extended family. This may be, for example, when a parent has died or gone into hospital or prison.
• Children whose behaviour at home has become unmanageable for their parents and this is causing risk to themselves and others.
• Children who have committed a serious offence and the court decides that the child should be looked after by social services rather than at home until the court process is concluded.
• Children who have severe learning or physical disabilities and where periods of short-term respite care will allow the parents to continue to care for them.

How do children become "looked after"

There are two main legal routes through which children become ‘looked after’.

1. Through a court process where the court decides that a child should be remanded into accommodation following an offence; or  the court make an interim or full care order where they have found that a child has suffered significant harm.

2. Where a parent requests that the local authority look after their child, usually on a short term basis, to cover a family crisis or as part of a package of care, for example to help care for a child with severe disabilities.

Who makes decisions about the care of looked after children?

The main difference between being in care and being provided with accommodation is that when a child is in care, the local authority as well as the parent has parental responsibility for the child. When the child is accommodated the local authority does not have parental responsibility.

This makes a big difference as to who has responsibility for decision making and planning,  but in both instances the local authority must work closely with the parents, extended family and the child to plan clearly and take account of everyone’s views, wishes and feelings.

In all these situations  detailed "core assessments" will be completed, involving other professional staff, parents, extended family and the child, to help  determine what is in the child’s best interests.

What support is available for looked after children?

Children who are in care or provided with accommodation are subject to several legal requirements and responsibilities, which the local authority has to ensure are carried through.

• This includes regular meetings (called reviews) to set up clear plans for each child. Specific attention has to be paid to children’s developmental, emotional and behavioural needs. They must have regular medicals and each child of school age must have a personal educational plan.
• It is important for the local authority to support the child at home or within the child’s extended family wherever possible, if it is in the child’s best interests. This may involve for example, assessing extended family members or friends as carers for a child.
• The services for looked after children should reflect an assessment of the individual child’s needs and the agreed care plan. This will reflect the child’s age, development,  and cultural and religious needs,  as well as behavioural and emotional issues. The child's and the parents' views are important in defining the service provided.
• Where possible the local authority will try and place the child with foster carers as near as possible to the child’s home environment so that their network of school, friends and family contacts remains as consistent as possible. 
• For older children there are fewer foster carers available and for some children a family environment may not be appropriate. In these situations the local authority will consider residential care. We have  two homes within the Borough, which will provide care for older children. In certain cases children and young people may be placed outside the Borough boundaries.
• In providing care for children away from home, we work closely with a specialist Looked After Education Team, a specialist nurse for Looked After Children and the local Child Adolescent Mental Health Team as well as other professional staff.
• The local authority is responsible for acting as  the best possible parent by helping children achieve the  best available education as well as ensuring they are as healthy, fit and happy as possible.
  

Next Steps

A number of teams are involved in providing services to Looked After Children but in the first instance please contact your local Referral and Assessment Team or the Children’s Disability Team for advice or information.
If the child concerned is already looked after by social services please contact the Looked After Children Team directly.

Contact Details 

Children and Families Referral and Assessment Teams

Children’s Disability Team

If this is your first contact with Social Services Or you  already receive services and your circumstances change OR there is an emergency then your first point of contact will be through the front-line contact service ( Bromley Social Services ) on 020 8461 7777. Minicom: 020 8464 7350.
Assistance is available on this number from 8.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday.

Looked After Children Team

Telephone: 020 8313 4148
Fax: 020 8313 4400
Address: Joseph Lancaster Hall, Rafford Way, Bromley, Kent. BR1 3UH.
Opening Times: 8.45am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday