3.1.2 Decision to Look After and Care Planning

1. Decision to Look After a Child

In Lincolnshire there are a range of integrated services to support children within their own families including interventions under the Common Assessment Framework. Sometimes these strategies require additional support and a referral is made to Children's Services and a Child and Family Assessment.

Timely assessments will incorporate consideration of providing supports to the family and or extended family to bolster their abilities to continue safely caring for the child.

Research clearly indicates that the outcomes for those children who become Looked After are significantly poorer than those who remain in their family of origin. It is therefore important that all attempts to exhaust the Local Authority duties, under Section 17 Children Act 1989, to promote & safeguard the welfare of children within their family are made.

Whenever there is a serious risk of a family breakdown including a request for a child to come into public care, a Child and Family Assessment should be completed and it should consider:

Support available from within the extended family and social network;
Family arrangements for alternative Carers within their network;
Planned support available from other agencies;
Consideration of referral to other support agencies;
Support available from within Children's Services.

If placements are required, all efforts will be made to ensure joint agency planning with partner agencies to assist in efforts to help the child to remain within their own family network.

Who makes the decision to for a child to come into public care?

The Child's social worker must complete a Social Care Assessment of the child's needs and if their analysis identifies that the child must come into public care, their Team Manager must approve the placement. In an emergency within office hours, the authority for a placement remains the same.

Outside office hours, the Emergency Duty Team can make the decision to Look After a child. Any decision to place the child outside office hours must be supported by a Placement Plan which should be completed as fully as possible and communicated to the relevant team by the beginning of the next working day.

A decision to Look After a child may occur in the following circumstances:

All attempts or possibilities at intervention to maintain and support the child with his or her family have broken down; or
The child would be at risk of Significant Harm by remaining with the family.

The decision should only be made if appropriate consultation has taken place on the necessity, purpose and nature of the proposed placement.

Where the child is the subject of Care Proceedings, the Pre-proceedings checklist must be completed (see Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline Procedure).

If a Child and Family Assessment has not been completed or it is not up to date, a Child and Family Assessment must be completed.

The Social Care Assessment will:

Record the views of the child/young person in respect of the assessment, the plan to accommodate, and the proposals for contact. It should evidence that the child has been seen alone and if not the reason for this;
Record the views of the parent/carer in respect of the Assessment, the plan to accommodate, and the proposals for contact;
Identify, evidence any risks and within the analysis take into account the risks and identify the needs of the child, including those to evidence the need to accommodate;
It will incorporate and evidence the risks to the child and that concerns are substantiated and that the child is judged to be at continuing risk of significant harm. This will be evidenced within the analysis;
Evidence the type of placement and carer the child requires to assist with 'matching needs'. The conclusion will be evidenced within the analysis;
Evidence any risks that may be posed by the child in a placement and what measures may be required to minimise/manage those risks. The conclusion will be evidenced within the analysis;
Evidence contact requirements. The conclusion will be evidenced within the analysis;
Evidence the reason why the child/young person is unable to live with friends/extended family. The conclusion will be evidenced within the analysis;
Evidence why a Family Group Conference has not been held or if held, unsuccessful in identifying an alternative placement. The conclusion will be evidenced within the analysis;
Evidence when the kinship care assessment will commence and end when other carers have been identified. The conclusion will be evidenced within the analysis;
Evidence within the analysis the reason for the decision of the chosen method for providing the accommodation i.e. whether to progress the proposed objective of the Care Plan under Section 20 or via the Public Law Outline Legal Gateway/Planning Meeting.

In all circumstances the Head of Service will be contacted by the Team Manager (this cannot be delegated to the Practice Supervisor) to discuss the outcome of the assessment and the proposed request for a placement. Wherever possible the Child and Family Assessment (Emergency immediate safeguarding circumstances only) will be read by the Head of Service.

The Team Manager will verify to the Head of Service:

The Team Manager is satisfied that the quality of the Social Care Assessment;
That all other options for the child / young person to remain with birth family, significant others, Connected Person or friends have been fully explored;
That a Family Group Conference has been held, and if not provide the reason for this;
That the Genogram is complete and up to date and the Team Manager has seen it;
All resources have been explored and mobilised to support the child/young person to live with the birth family;
The proposed objective of the care plan and timescales;
That the child's current plan is up to date, the date it was last reviewed and the chairperson of the review, the date of the next review, which will incorporate the plans associated with the proposed objective for the care plan;
If the Care Plan is under Section 20 Children Act 1989, the reason for this instead of attendance at the Public Law Outline Legal Gateway/Planning Meeting.

Authorisation from the Head of Service must be sought to agree that a request can be made for a placement. The Head of Service must also agree if the child requires immediate safeguarding and placement prior to the Legal Gateway/Planning Meeting.

If approval is given, the Social Worker should notify the Placement Duty Desk regarding the needs of the child to assist in identifying a suitable placement.

In the event of an 'in house' placement not being available, the Head of Service Regulated Services should be contacted before arrangements can be entered into to identify an Out of County Placement (This includes placements with Independent Fostering Agencies).

1.2 Family Group Conference

A Family Group Conference must be considered, to attempt to identify family or friends who could look after the child/young person or assist in any other aspects of the plan including contact. The outcome or reason for not using the facility will be recorded within the Child and Family Assessment or Care Plan. If the decision changes at any time it will be recorded within case notes'-case discussion/decision'.

A Family Group Conference will be offered to the family when the assessment concludes that the child cannot live with the current carer/parent.

The birth family will be offered the opportunity to hold a family meeting with the purpose of:

Identifying who could look after the child to prevent the child from being placed in a local authority placement;
Identify who wishes to be assessed to look after the child if the child is unable to return to the birth parent(s) or those with Parental Responsibility;
Make proposals of how the family/friends can assist with the contact arrangements;
Make proposals of how the family/friends can assist with meeting the identified needs within the child's plan.

The family should be offered the facility of an independent chairperson. If this is their preference the Lead Social Worker will contact the Family Group Conference co-ordinator manager within one working day of being notified by the family.

1.3 Section 20 Accommodation

Note: Legal advice must be sought as appropriate when it is proposed to accommodate a child under Section 20 Children Act 1989.

13.1 Considerations

Recent developments have sought to move away from the idea that Section 20 accommodation should not be used for lengthy periods of time (as propounded by Munby LJ in Re N (Children) (Adoption: Jurisdiction) [2015] EWCA Civ 1112; [2016] 2 WLR 713). However, the courts have also been clear that use of Section 20 should not be used to delay the issue of care proceedings in appropriate cases – see Section 3.6, The use of Section 20 prior to Court Proceedings.

The PLWG Report stated at paragraph 234 that ‘there should be no imposition of time limits for the use of Section 20. There are no legal time limits in place. The imposition of time limits will be counterproductive. However, it is recommended that, where possible, the purpose and the duration of any Section 20 accommodation is agreed at the outset and regularly reviewed’.

King LJ in Re S (A Child) and Re W (A Child) (s 20 Accommodation) stated ‘I can see no inhibition on a Section 20 order being made in appropriate circumstances for a longer period of accommodation provided that proper consideration is given to the purpose of the accommodation and that the regular mandatory reviews are carried out’.

In that case the Court of Appeal allowed appeals against the making of care orders, with the result that the children would remain in long-term placements provided by the local authorities under Section 20. The children were settled in long-term placements which were meeting their respective needs in circumstances where both the placements and the accompanying care plans were supported by the parents.

Public Law Working Group (PLWG) Best Practice Guidance: Section 20/Section 76 Accommodation states that there are many scenarios in which Section 20 is used positively and these include situations of family support (e.g. Short Term Breaks) and where parents are unable to care for children, for whatever reason, and there are no agreed alternative family or friends to undertake this. In all cases the context and purpose for which Section 20 is being considered should be identified. This may be short-term accommodation during a period of assessment or respite; alternatively, it may be a longer period of accommodation, including the provision of education or medical treatment.

Particular regard must be paid to the child's age. Different considerations, including the purpose and duration, may be heavily influenced depending on the age group of the relevant child. The PLWG Best Practice Guidance advises considering the groups as follows (a) newborn and very young babies, (b) toddlers up to five years of age, (c) six years' old to preteens, (d) teens but under sixteen years' old, and (e) sixteen years' old or older when the child can consent to accommodation. The voice of the child must be clearly recorded and stated.

The Best Practice Guidance states that separation of a newborn or a young baby from their parents is scarcely appropriate under the provisions of Section 20. The circumstances in which this is appropriate are very rare. The (limited) appropriate use of Section 20 in this context may include circumstances where the parents need a very short period in a residential unit to prepare for the child to join them, or if a carer needs to undergo a short programme of detoxification or medical treatment. In appropriate pre-birth cases, discussions about the use of Section 20 can commence some time prior to birth so that those with parental responsibility have time to consider all the options and be assisted in making an informed decision. However, agreement to a child being accommodated can only be given once the child is born.

Any immigration issues concerning the children, the family and any adults who may be caring for the children must be established.

Within each local authority, the use of Section 20 should be monitored by senior management, although this may be delegated.

1.3.2 Parental Responsibility

In Accommodating a child under Section 20, it must always be borne in mind that the local authority does not have Parental Responsibility; only the parents / those carers with Parental Responsibility can make decisions for the child.

In providing for the accommodation of a child the local authority must be satisfied that it is in the child's best interest to do so. The parent/carer with Parental Responsibility can remove the child from Accommodation at any time (Section 20(8)) and any such request must be responded to promptly by the local authority, or it must otherwise take action through the court. A number of court cases have confirmed that a local authority failing to permit a parent to remove a child in circumstances within Section 20(8) acts unlawfully. (See Herefordshire Council v AB [2018] EWFC 10 rtf).

The parents/carers should be advised of any changes in the child's circumstances whilst the child is in local authority care.

It is therefore important to ensure that the parents/carers have full information about their continuing responsibilities as well as those of the local authority and that this is enshrined in the Care Plan and a written agreement.

1.3.3 Obtaining Parental Consent to Look After a Child

Obtaining parental consent as a matter of good practice remains an essential part of Accommodating a child under this part of the Children Act 1989. A number of court decisions have been particularly critical of local authorities' actions with regard to consent and great care needs to be undertaken to ensure parents have the appropriate capacity to do this.

Section 20 agreements are not valid unless the parent giving consent has legal capacity to do so, (in cases where the father also has Parental Responsibility, the consent of both parents should be sought). The consent needs to be properly informed and fairly obtained. Willingness to consent cannot be inferred from silence, submission or acquiescence - it is a positive action. The local authority should ensure that consent is not given under duress or compulsion to agree (whether disguised or otherwise). Consent may not be valid if given in the face of a threat to issue court proceedings. Where possible, the person with parental responsibility should have access to legal advice.

Where possible, the purpose and duration of any proposed accommodation should be agreed in advance of the child being accommodated. In case of emergencies, this should be addressed as soon as it is practicable to do so. The purpose and duration of accommodation may change and should be subject to review.

Detailed guidance on the obtaining of parental consent was given by the High Court in the case of Re CA (A Baby) (2012):

The social worker must first be satisfied that the parent giving consent does not lack the mental capacity to do so. Under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, a person is unable to make a decision if s/he is unable:
- To understand the information relevant to the decision;
- To retain that information;
- To use or weigh that information as part of the process of making the decision; or
- To communicate his/her decision.
  
  The High Court in Re S (Child as parent: Adoption: Consent) [2017] EWHC 2729 (Fam) set out the relevant information that a parent would need to be able to understand, retain and weigh up in order to have competency to consent to the accommodation of a child:
  1. That the child will be staying with someone chosen by the local authority, probably a foster carer;
  2. That the parent can change their mind about the arrangements, and request the child back from accommodation at any time;
  3. That the parent will be able to see the child.
If there is doubt about capacity, no further attempts to obtain consent should be made at that time, and advice should be sought from a manager;
If satisfied that the parent has capacity, the social worker must be satisfied that the consent is fully informed:
- Does the parent fully understand the consequences of giving such a consent?
- Does the parent fully appreciate the range of choice available and the consequences of refusal as well as giving consent?
- Is the parent in possession of all the facts and issues material to the giving of consent?
If not satisfied that the consent if fully informed, no further attempt should be made to obtain consent on that occasion and advice should be sought from a manager and legal advice sought if thought necessary;
If satisfied that the consent is fully informed, then it is necessary to be satisfied that the giving of such consent and the subsequent removal of the child from the parent is both fair and proportionate:
- What is the current physical and psychological state of the parent?
- If they have a solicitor, have they been encouraged to seek legal advice and/or advice from family or friends?
- Where the first language of a parent is not English, there remains an obligation on the Social Worker to ensure that there will be a translator present at any discussions. This is to ensure that accurate information is relayed and that forms for written consent are translated into the parent's first language;
- Is it necessary for the safety of the child for her to be removed at this time?
- Would it be fairer in this case for this matter to be the subject of a court order rather than an agreement?

In the case of siblings, wherever it is in the best interests of each individual child, they should be placed together. Where they cannot be placed together, they must be supported to understand why they cannot live together, and there should be robust plans for contact between them, so far as this is consistent with their welfare.

Whether a person has capacity can sometimes be difficult to determine, as some individuals have a learning disability or mental health problem but can present as being more 'able' than in fact they are. Equally, within the context of 'assessing capacity', social workers should approach with great care relying on Section 20 agreements from mothers after giving birth, (especially where there is no immediate danger to the child and where probably no order would be made). It may be necessary to put in place such support as is necessary to ensure that the mother in such circumstances can make an informed decision. This may include referral to adult or advocacy services, engaging the services of an intermediary or involving other reliable family members.

Where there is any concern about a parent / carer's capacity, the social worker should ensure they discuss this issue with their team manager, or that the parent has information from a legal adviser or professional advice (1). Note: In Coventry City Council v C, B, CA and CH (2012) EWHC2190 (Fam) it was identified that, 'every social worker obtaining consent is under a personal duty (the outcome of which may not be dictated to by others) to be satisfied that the person giving consent does not lack the capacity to do so'.

Note that the High Court in Re S (Child as parent: Adoption: Consent) made clear that parental capacity to consent to a child being accommodated under Section 20 Children Act 1989, does not equate to their capacity to consent to an adoption order in respect of the child - the capacity to consent is decision-specific.

(1) Note: Unless a parent is subject to Proceedings, or Letter Before Proceedings, they will be unable to qualify for Legal Aid.

1.3.4 Recording Parental Consent

Re N (Children) (Adoption: Jurisdiction) [2015] EWCA Civ 1112 set out good practice in the recording of parental consent to a Section 20 agreement:

Wherever possible the agreement of a parent to the accommodation of their child under Section 20 should be properly recorded in writing and evidenced by the parent's signature;
The written document should be clear and precise as to it terms, drafted in simple and straight-forward language that the particular parent can readily understand;
The written document should spell out, following the language of Section 20(8), that the parent can 'remove the child' from the local authority accommodation 'at any time' without giving notice to the local authority;
The written document should not seek to impose any fetters on the exercise of the parent's right under Section 20(8);
The document should make the consenting persons aware that by agreeing to accommodation they are delegating the exercise of that aspect of their parental responsibility to the local authority;
The document should be signed on behalf of the relevant local authority and by the persons consenting to accommodation;
Where the parent is not fluent in English, the written document should be translated into the parent's own language and the parent should sign the foreign language text, adding, in the parent's language, words to the effect that 'I have read this document and I agree to its terms';
Each local authority is encouraged to provide the parties to such agreement with a brief explanatory note or leaflet which is easily understandable and in an appropriate language.

Public Law Working Group Best Practice Guidance: Section 20/Section 76 Accommodation includes a Section 20 Agreement Template and Explanatory Note for Older Children.

The 'Consent or Child to be Accommodated under Section 20 of the Children Act Form' can be located on GEORGE, Children's Services Core Forms Ch-D.

1.3.5 Withdrawal of Consent to Accommodate

A person who has parental responsibility for a child can object to a child's continued accommodation at any time and there is no requirement on them to serve notice. If the local authority seeks to prevent the removal of a child from accommodation due to safeguarding concerns, the local authority must apply for an order from the court or request the police invoke their police protection powers.

1.3.6 The use of Section 20 prior to Court Proceedings

In Re S (A Child) and Re W (A Child) (s 20 Accommodation) the Court of Appeal made clear that despite the fact that the threshold for care proceedings under Section 31 Children Act 1989 was satisfied on the basis that the ‘harm or likelihood of harm’ was attributable to ‘the child’s being beyond parental control’, the children in that case could continue to be accommodated on a long-term basis under Section 20 with parental agreement, without care proceedings being issued.

However, in cases where there is a need for care proceedings to be issued, then the courts have made clear that Section 20 should not be used to delay the proper issue of care proceedings. Section 20 may, in an appropriate case, have a proper role to play as a short-term measure pending the commencement of care proceedings, but the courts have strongly advised that this should not lead to an unnecessary delay in the issuing of proceedings and cases must not be allowed to drift, (including those cases when children are placed with relatives under a Section 20 agreement). Proceedings still need to be issued in a timely fashion.

The Supreme Court in Williams – v- London Borough of Hackney stated that, although the object of Section 20 accommodation is partnership with the parents, the local authority have also to be thinking of the longer term. There are bound to be cases where that should include consideration of whether or not the authority should seek to take parental responsibility for an accommodated child by applying for a care order.

The Court stated that care proceedings have obvious advantages for the child. They involve a rigorous scrutiny of the risk of harm to the child’s health and development if an order is not made, of the assessment of their needs and of the plans for their future. Their interests are safeguarded by an expert children’s guardian. If an order is made, it means that the local authority have parental responsibility for the child and can put their plans into effect. There are also advantages for the parents and for the wider family. The parents are entitled to legal aid. Their rights are safeguarded in the proceedings. Even if a care order is made, the court may make orders about their continued contact with the child.

Even where a parent/carer's legal adviser has established an agreement regarding the use of Section 20 prior to either issuing Proceedings or progressing a timely plan and timetable of work for further assessment, these should be carefully adhered to by all parties. Any plan should be based on the child's welfare needs and avoid delay.

All such agreements should be undertaken in conjunction with the local authority's Legal Services and include a clear (written) agreement and Care Plan with the outcome considered at a Looked After Children's Review to which the parents have been invited.

1.3.7 Reviews of Section 20 Accommodation

The purpose and duration of any accommodation should be regularly reviewed whilst the child is accommodated. This may change with the changing circumstances of children. The frequency of such reviews should be agreed at the time that the agreement is signed and recorded in that document. The appropriate frequency will depend on the facts of each case. Generally longer-term provision of accommodation can be reviewed in line with Looked-After child reviews; short-term provision of accommodation may require more frequent reviews. The accommodation should be reviewed as soon as it is practicable when there has been a material change in the circumstances.

It must be made clear that those agreeing to the accommodation may ask for a review at any time. The IRO should ensure that the accommodation is reviewed at a frequency in line with the individual needs of the child. The review should involve all persons capable of continuing to give informed consent to accommodation. Each review must have a clearly identifiable statement of the voice of the relevant child.

During the period of accommodation, the local authority should continually assess the needs of the accommodated child and provide for those identified needs. This includes educational, psychological and therapeutic needs.

2. The Care Plan

2.1 The Care Plan - Contents

Where a decision is made to look after a child, the child must have a Care Plan, the contents of which include:

The child's Placement Plan (setting out why the placement was chosen and how the placement will contribute to meeting the child's needs);
The child's Permanence Plan (setting out the long term plans for the child's upbringing including timescales);
The Pathway Plan (where appropriate, for young people leaving care);
The child's Health Plan;
The child's Personal Education Plan;
The contingency plan;
The date of the child's first Looked After Review (within 20 working days);
The name of the Independent Reviewing Officer.

Note: The Care Plan must identify if there is reason to believe that the child is a victim of trafficking, or is an unaccompanied asylum seeker and has applied for, or intends to apply for, asylum.

2.1.1 The Care Plan Where the Matter is Before the Court

In addition to the above, a Care Plan should reflect that the court is required under Section 8 Children and Social Work Act 2017 amends Section 31(3B) Children Act 1989 to consider the 'permanence provisions' of the Care Plan for the child:

The provisions setting out the long-term plan for the upbringing of the child - to live with a parent/family member/family friend; adoption; or other long-term care; and
The plan's provisions in relation to any of the following:
1. The impact on the child concerned of any harm that he or she suffered or was likely to suffer;
2. The current and future needs of the child (including needs arising out of that impact);
3. The way in which the long-term plan for the upbringing of the child would meet those current and future needs.

2.2 The Care Plan - Process

The child's Social Worker is responsible for drawing up and updating the Care Plan in consultation with:

The child;
The child's Parents and those with Parental Responsibility;
Anyone who is not a Parent but has been caring for or looking after the child;
Other members of the child's family network who are significant to the child;
The child's school or education authority;
The relevant health trust;
The Youth Offending Service, if the child is known to them;
Any other agency involved with the child's care.

One of the key functions of the Care Plan is to ensure that each child has a Permanence Plan by the time of the second Looked After Review. The Care Plan is subject to scrutiny at each Looked After Review. See The Review of the Child's Plan for Children in Care Procedure.

The Care Plan should include the arrangements made to meet the child's needs in relation to his or her:

Emotional and behavioural development;
The child's identity in relation to religious persuasion, racial origin and cultural and linguistic background;
Family and social relationships; arrangements for contact with sibling(s) accommodated by the authority or another local authority; details of any Section 8 Order, in relation to a Child in Care; details of any order in relation to contact with a child in care; arrangements for contact with parents/anyone with Parental Responsibility / any other Connected Person; arrangements for the appointment of an Independent Visitor for a Child in Care;
Social presentation;
Self-care skills.

2.3 Timescales for Completion of the Care Plan

A Care Plan must be prepared prior to a child's first placement, in accordance with the outcome of the Planning Meeting referred to in Section 1, Decision to Look After a Child.

If there are exceptional reasons that prevent the Care Plan from being drawn up prior to the child's placement, the key objectives of the child's proposed placement must still be identified and recorded. If satisfied, the Manager can then approve that the Care Plan is drawn up within a maximum of 5 working days of the placement.

2.4 Approval of the Care Plan

A child must not be removed from parents without:

Parental Consent;
Police Protection;
Emergency Protection Order; or
Interim Care Order/Care Order.

Any Care Plan taken before the Court within Care Proceedings must be endorsed and signed by the Head of Service and endorsed at the Legal Gateway/Planning Meeting if it is the first application and in the case of a final care plan when the child is not returning to their birth family, to the Permanence Panel.

All other Care Plans must be endorsed and signed by the Team Manager.

The Care Plan can be updated by the Social Worker, with the Manager's approval, at any time.

The Care Plan is subject to scrutiny at each Looked After Review.

2.5 Circulation of the Care Plan

The Care Plan must be circulated to the following people:

The child;
The Parent(s);
Providers/Carers - if no Care Plan has been drawn up prior to the child's placement, the Social Worker must ensure that the providers/Carers understand the key objectives of the plan, and how the placement will help achieve these objectives;
The child's Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO).

3. Other Plans and Arrangements

This summarises the other plans that must be drafted.

A Placement Plan (recorded on the Placement Information Record) must be drawn up outlining the arrangements for Looking After the child before the child is placed or, if not reasonably practicable, within 5 working days of the start of the placement.

The information to be included in the Placement Plan will include:

How on a day-to-day basis the child will be cared for and the child's welfare will be safeguarded and promoted by the appropriate person;
Any arrangements for contact between the child and parents/anyone with Parental Responsibility/any other connected person, including, if appropriate, reasons why contact is not reasonably practicable or not consistent with the child's welfare; details of any Child Arrangements Order or Contact Order (under Section 8 or 34 of the Children Act 1989 respectively); the arrangements for notifying any changes in contact arrangements;
Arrangements for the child's health (physical, emotional and mental) and dental care, including the name and address of registered medical and dental practitioners; arrangements for giving/withholding consent to medical/dental examination/treatment;
Arrangements for the child's education and training, including the name and address of the child's school/other educational institution/provider and designated teacher; the Local Authority maintaining any Education, Health and Care Plans;
The arrangements for and frequency of visits by the child's social worker; and for advice, support and assistance between visits;
If an Independent Visitor is appointed, the arrangements for them to visit the child;
The circumstances in which the placement may be terminated;
The name and contact details of the Independent Reviewing Officer, the Independent Visitor if one is appointed, the social worker who will be visiting the child, and the Personal Adviser for an Eligible Young Person.

If the child is placed out of hours or on an unplanned basis, it may not be possible to fully complete the plan/record. In these circumstances, as much of this plan/record should be completed as possible. As a minimum, the following should be recorded:

Healthcare/medical needs, including Consent to urgent medical treatment;
Contact arrangements;
Arrangements for school, including transport;
Financial arrangements including the need to purchase any clothing or urgent equipment;
Support that may be required by the Carer/Home or child.

Suitable luggage should be used and a child's belongings should never be transported in bin-bags or other inappropriate containers (see NYAS, My Things Matter Report).

Lincolnshire County Council will support the five pledges of the NYAS Campaign as listed below:

We will help you to keep your most precious belongings with you safely during your move and promise they will not be moved in bin bags;
We will provide written guidance for you and anyone helping you to move, which we will publish on our website;
We will never move or throw away your belongings without your consent and will always respect your personal property;
We will support you to make a complaint if any of your belongings have been lost or damaged during your move;
We will communicate with you about your move and ask you how the move went.

3.1 Other Plans/Records

The Social Worker should additionally complete or update the following records immediately or within specified timescales:

The child's Chronology;
A Personal Education Plan (PEP): in time for the first Looked After Review;
A Health Care Plan: in time for the first Looked After Review.