A Report on the Inspection of the Care - Regulation and Quality ...

Joan
Background
Joan is a 15 year old female who has been known to social services in the
Southern HSC Trust throughout her life. Issues of concern at home involved
domestic violence, alcohol use and poor parenting. Joan had been on the
child protection register for two years and engaged in sexually active
behaviour when living in her local community. Joan had identified concerns
about her mental health and well being.
Pathway to Secure Accommodation
Joan was admitted to residential care and referred to the restriction of liberty
panel after six weeks. She was admitted to secure accommodation within two
days of the panel meeting.
Best Interests and the Decision to Admit to Residential Care
Joan had been the subject of ongoing safeguarding concerns and had moved
to live with her father. After an initial settled period the situation deteriorated
as Joan's underlying needs adversely impacted upon her behaviour. The
mental health services struggled to engage with Joan on a consistent basis
and it became more difficult to manage her behaviour when in the care of her
father, as she became increasingly vulnerable to sexual exploitation by local
adult males.
Given her mental health and vulnerability, the absence of a consistent
therapeutic service when she lived with her father is of concern. It is notable
that the UN Committee called for "Improved facilities" 5 to be employed to meet
the needs of children with mental health problems, with particular attention to
be paid to children deprived of parental care.
Decision to Refer to the Restriction of Liberty Panel
Joan was admitted to residential care but this admission further exacerbated
her behaviours when living in the children's home. Her needs were assessed
by a multi-disciplinary team but the subsequent intervention was not
sufficiently robust to address her identified needs. The helping services also
struggled to engage her on substantive personal issues although it is noted
that she engaged more positively with two professionals who worked with her
directly in the home.
Joan's social worker stated that, in her opinion, Joan had been "ready for
secure accommodation" by the time she was admitted to the children's home.
Given this statement and the short and difficult experience she had in the
children's home, the Southern Trust, as corporate parent, may wish to
5 The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. The UK report Concluding Observations
paragraph 57
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