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Contents

1. Placements to which this Procedure Applies
2. Approval of Placement by Nominated Officer/Director of Children’s Services
3. Notification of Placements
4. Emergency Placements

1. Placements to which this Procedure Applies/Director of Children’s Services

This procedure applies to any placement of a Looked After child outside the area of the local authority, EXCEPT WHERE the placement is with a Connected Person, or a local authority foster carer approved by the placing authority.

2. Approval of Placement by Nominated Officer

The decision to place the child out of area must be approved by the Nominated Officer, unless it is a Placement at a Distance, (i.e. outside the area of the local authority and not within the area of any adjoining local authority), in which case the approval of the Director of Children’s Services is required. 

The Nominated Officer/ Director of Children’s Services must be satisfied of the following:

• That the child's wishes and feelings have been ascertained and given due consideration;
• That the placement is the most appropriate placement available for the child and consistent with the Care Plan;
• That relatives have been consulted where appropriate;
• That the area authority has been notified or, for a Placement at a Distance, the area authority have been consulted and have been provided with a copy of the child’s Care Plan (see Section 3, Notification of Placements);
• That the Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) has been consulted (usually the IRO will discuss with the child after the child has visited the proposed placement).

3. Notification of Placements

Written notification must be given to the area authority of the arrangements for the placement before the placement is made or, if the placement is made in an emergency, within five working days of the start of the placement unless it is not reasonably practicable to do so. 

The  notification must include:

1. Details of the assessment of the child’s needs and the reasons why the placement is the most suitable for responding to these; and
2. A copy of the child’s care plan (unless already provided in the case of a Placement at a Distance).

4. Emergency Placements

In the case of a placement made in an emergency, the approval of the Nominated Officer is still required and (s)he must be satisfied that the child's wishes and feelings have been ascertained and given due consideration, and must take steps to ensure that within 5 working days: the IRO has been informed; relatives have been consulted (where appropriate) and the area authority notified.

End