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Contents

1. Normal Frequency
2. Exceptions
3. Who should be Seen
4. Purpose
5. Recording

1. Normal Frequency

Wherever a Looked After Child is placed, the child’s social worker must visit the child in the placement at the following intervals, subject to the conditions in Section 2, Exceptions.

• On the day the child is placed, to assist in the placement process;
• Within one week of the placement;
• Then at intervals of no more than six weeks during the first year of the placement;
• Thereafter, at intervals of not more than 6 weeks (or 3 months if the placement is intended to last until the child is 18).

NB These are minimum requirements and the Looked After Review may recommend more frequent visits.

The child's social worker should also visit the child immediately a complaint is received from the child or from another person relating to the child concerning the standard of care they are receiving.

This applies to all new placements where, for example, a child moves from one placement to another.

Some visits should be unannounced. (The foster carers, parent or residential unit should be informed by the child's social worker at the time of placing that there will be occasional unannounced visits and the reason for this explained).

Meetings involving a child i.e. Looked After Reviews, do not in themselves constitute a Visit, unless time is taken outside of the meeting to talk with and spend time with the child.

Visits held away from the placement are considered important as it can strengthen the relationship between the child and social worker and is also in the interests of child protection.

2. Exceptions

1. If the child is placed with parents pending assessment, social work visits must take place at least once a week until the first Looked After Review, thereafter at intervals of not more than 6 weeks;
2. If the child is living with the parents under an Interim Care Order, visits must take place at least once a week until the first Looked After Review, thereafter at intervals of not more than 4 weeks;
3. If the child is placed with parents under a Care Order, within one week of the Care Order, thereafter at intervals of not more than 6 weeks;
4. If the child is placed with a Connected Person with temporary approval, visits must take place at least once a week until the first Looked After Review, thereafter at intervals of not more than 4 weeks;
5. If the child is in the care of the Local Authority but another person is responsible for the child's living arrangements (for example where a child is placed in a Youth Offenders' Institution or a health care setting), within a week of the start/any change of living arrangements, at intervals of not more than 6 weeks for the first year; at intervals of not more than 3 months in any subsequent year.

3. Who should be Seen

Wherever possible, the child must be seen alone (unless the child of sufficient age and maturity and refuses). If this is not possible, a further visit must be made at short notice in order that the child can be seen alone and observed with the staff/carer.

The social worker should be aware of who else lives in the placement and they should know about changes in structure and composition as well as the relationships within the household or unit.

For children who are not able to verbally communicate their views, the social worker should ensure that observations of the child are made in their placement and also in other settings, for example, school. Information and opinion should also be gathered from other professionals about their presentation.

On some occasions, the social worker should also arrange to visit at times when all members of a household can be seen; or for children’s homes, a significant number of adults and children.

Social workers must consider the balance of time spent with staff/carers and with children during a statutory visit. The social worker must prioritise their time with the child as opposed to the staff/carer. Issues raised by staff/carers can be discussed when a child is not present for example when they are at school.

Social workers should provide feedback to staff/carers regarding their visit.

4. Purpose

The purpose of the visit is to ensure the placement continues to promote the child’s welfare and in particular:

1. To give the child the opportunity to express his or her wishes, feelings and views;
2. To advise, assist and befriend the child and to ascertain who they would turn to at times of difficulty;
3. To promote an effective relationship between the child and social worker with particular reference to the role of the social worker as a link with the child's history and birth family;
4. To identify daily routines including getting up and going to bed, meal times (including whether the children in the placement all eat together), the arrangements for washing and whether the child is provided with privacy and support that is relevant to his or her stage of development;
5. To identify arrangements for holiday and leisure time including playing games, access to clubs, cultural and sporting activities;
6. To identify what special arrangements are made to meet any needs that arise from their culture, religious or heritage including communication, diet and skin/hair care;
7. To observe the child with the staff/foster carer/parent and to analyse parenting styles and the promotion of the child’s self esteem;
8. To monitor the standard of care offered by the placement  including the physical standards, house rules and behaviour management strategies;
9. To evaluate the availability of quality educational games, and the capacity of the placement to provide an appropriately stimulating environment where education is valued and promoted;
10. To confirm that there is a computer available in a shared space to which the young person has full access to support their school work;
11. To monitor how the contact arrangements with family members and friends are working and to discover whether these are promoted within the home;
12. To consider  the child's sleeping arrangements  such as room sharing, display of personal belongings and the physical state of the room. Has the child got clean clothes that are stored appropriately;
13. To provide support to the placement  and identify any areas where additional support is required.To evaluate whether the placement is helping to achieve the objectives of the child’s Care Plan with particular reference to whether the placement is meeting the educational, health and social development needs of the child.  Where it is a long-term/permanent placement, the social worker should observe whether there are signs that the child is an integral part of the family such as whether they are included in photographs on display;
14. To identify whether older children are encouraged to play an increasing part in their own care such as laundry, food preparation and the purchase of food, clothes and budgeting;
15. To identify the arrangements for the child to get support with school work, do homework (including where appropriate, access to a computer)and visit a library. Do the carers attend parent's evenings?
16. To identify whether the child knows about the complaints procedure and the availability of advocacy services;
17. To monitor that the Child Health Record is stored safely, is up to date and is accessible to the child as appropriate to the child's age and understanding.

Social workers visiting children with disabilities and/or complex health needs should also consider the following:

• Whether practices that are being employed are appropriate and do not compromise the child's safety e.g. the method of lifting a disabled child;
• Does the carer have sufficient equipment i.e. bath chair / hoist etc.?
• Who arranges the child's health appointments and who attends? For children in residential placements in particular, is there consistency of worker?
• Is there clear written information re the administration of medication?

It may not be possible for a social worker to gain all the information listed in one visit but they must try to obtain a holistic view of the placement.

When visiting children in residential settings the social worker should read the running sheets to gain an understanding of  recent events and also to identify any themes  highlighted in the recording  for example, behaviour and staff strategies for managing situations.

Placement Planning Meetings can be undertaken during social workers visits.

5. Recording

A written report on each visit must be made by the social worker and kept in the child’s file stating clearly:

1. Who was seen;
2. Whether the child was seen and if not why not;
3. Whether the child was seen alone;
4. Any comments made by the child or the staff/carers/parents;
5. Any matters of concern or difficulties;
6. Any observations on the child’s welfare and the success of the placement;
7. Any requirements for action.

End