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

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Lisa Background Lisa is a 14 year old female who had brief involvement with social services in her childhood. Her case then re-emerged during adolescence with concerns regarding her sexual vulnerability in the community. She was admitted to a short term children's home in the Southern HSC Trust for six months before being moved to a specialist foster placement. Pathway to the Restriction of Liberty Panel Lisa was in the children's home for six months, she was presented to the panel after four months but there were no places available. She was subsequently transferred out of residential care. Best Interests and the Decision to Admit to Residential Care Lisa had been the subject of ongoing safeguarding concerns and had moved to live with her father prior to being admitted to care. She was the subject of regional child protection procedures. However, the trust's interventions were unable to reduce her level of sexual activity and it was considered to be in her best interests to admit her to residential care. Decision to Refer to the Restriction of Liberty Panel Lisa initially settled well in the home, however, the situation deteriorated after an admission of another young person with similar vulnerabilities. This had a negative effect upon her and her high risk sexual behaviour re-emerged. Given Lisa's background the admission of the second young person to the home does not appear to have been in her best interests. The UN Committee refers to the need for the formulation of specific strategies and policies to address sexual abuse that specifically affects this age group. In its recent report the committee called upon the UK government to "intensify its efforts to collect data on the extent of sexual exploitation ... of children." 12 Placing young people in the same children's home with these identified risk patterns can have the effect of intensifying the risky behaviour patterns. Research also shows that within this context, the mix of young people placed in children's homes was a significant risk factor. 13 Lisa's assessment recommended counselling however a specialist psychotherapist was not available within CAMHS to complete therapeutic work with her during this placement. The other helping services struggled to meaningfully engage with her either. The absence of these services left Lisa 12 The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. The 2008 Examination of the UK, Concluding Observations paragraph 74 13 Farmer, E (2004). Patterns of placement, management and outcomes for sexually abused and/or abusing children in substitute care, British Journal of Social Work, 34. 38
exposed to her established behaviour patterns. Lisa's case was presented to the restriction of liberty panel however there were no available places in secure care. The level of concern about her behaviour was so high that she was discharged from the home into foster care on a permanent basis. Given this outcome the Southern Trust, as corporate parent, may wish to consider her needs assessment prior to residential care and the apparent benefits provided by this foster placement as an alternative option to residential care. Outcome of Restriction of Liberty Panel Lisa was not admitted into secure care and was transferred to a foster placement. Secure Accommodation Order An order was not made during the timeframe under examination in this report. 39
Page 2 and 3: Contents Page Acknowledgements 3 Ba
Page 4 and 5: Background Every year in Northern I
Page 6 and 7: Section One 1.0 The Regulation and
Page 8 and 9: trust, as corporate parent, provide
Page 10 and 11: Detention as a Last Resort The Conv
Page 12 and 13: Records Audit • Statutory case re
Page 14 and 15: Table 1. Analysis of Trust Restrict
Page 16 and 17: HSC Trust Northern Chairperson Head
Page 18 and 19: HSC Trust Western Chairperson Not d
Page 20 and 21: epresentation from the secure accom
Page 22 and 23: Section Three A Description of the
Page 24 and 25: Susan Background Susan is a 15 year
Page 26 and 27: Kevin Background Kevin is a 14 year
Page 28 and 29: Joan Background Joan is a 15 year o
Page 30 and 31: Hannah Background Hannah is a 13 ye
Page 32 and 33: Section Four A Description of the F
Page 34 and 35: Mary Background Mary is a 15 year o
Page 36 and 37: Peter Background Peter is a 14 year
Page 40 and 41: Lynda Background Lynda is a 16 year
Page 42 and 43: Section Five Analysis of the Pathwa
Page 44 and 45: Right to be Heard As corporate pare
Page 46 and 47: about the level of integrated inter
Page 48: Recommendations DHSSPS and HSCB 1.

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