9.8.5 Children and Young People's Individual Files |
AMENDMENT
This chapter has been amended in relation to the Children's Homes (Amendment) Regulations 2011, Associated Guidance (Volume 5) and National Minimum Standards (NMS). Changes have been highlighted below.
Contents
1. Context
The Children Act 1989, Volume 4, Regulation and Guidance give clear direction about children and young people's files. The Children's Homes Regulations, 2011 give further emphasis to the importance for children and young people to have individual case files that record their individual needs, developments and progress.
2. Scope
The following procedure covers the need for each child or young person Looked After in residential care to have a permanent, private and secure record of their history and progress.
The following procedure should be read in conjunction with the Procedures: Policies, Values and Principles (Values).
3. Procedure
| 1.0 | Each child or young person’s permanent case file should be held by the social worker carrying case responsibility. All children and young people’s residential files should be passed back to the social worker once the child or young person leaves the home and this should be incorporated into the main and permanent case file. |
| 1.1 | The information that should be included on the Residential Case file for the child or young person is detailed in Schedule 3, Regulation 27 and these should be followed for all case records. |
| 2.0 | Children and young people should be made aware that case records exist and that they may read their files if they wish, confidential or third party information excepted. Children and young people should be supported and facilitated to read their files and to correct any errors and add any personal statements. It is not necessary to record the date and circumstances of incidents when a child has been absent from the home or whether the absence was authorised. However it is necessary to record when a child is missing It is not necessary to record the date and reason for any visit to the child whilst in the home. The record should include the name, address and telephone number of any school or college attended by the child, and of any employer of the child and where the child has a designated teacher, the name and phone number of that designated teacher. |
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