Focuses on strategies and legal measures to ensure the safety and well-being of vulnerable children.
Whistleblowing is the professional and ethical obligation to report serious concerns regarding wrongdoing, risk, or malpractice within a care setting to protect the safety and well-being of children. It is a vital safeguarding mechanism, protected under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998,...
Social services departments have a statutory duty to conduct thorough assessments, which often includes speaking with neighbours to gain a holistic view of a child’s living environment. This practice is not an attempt to intrude on your private life, but a professional requirement to triangulate...
Introduction: What are Looked After Children? Looked After Children, also known as children in care, are individuals who are placed under the care and supervision of the local authority. This can occur for a variety of reasons, including neglect, abuse, or the inability of parents or guardians to...
```html Looked After Child (LAC) Health Assessments are statutory clinical evaluations designed to ensure that children in care receive the same standard of healthcare as their peers, with specific attention to the unique health needs arising from their life experiences. These assessments are a...
```html The primary difference between foster care and residential care lies in the environmental structure and the framework of therapeutic support. Foster care places a child within a family home environment with approved foster carers, offering a highly personalized, family-dynamic setting....
Section 20 of the Children Act 1989 is a voluntary legal provision where a local authority provides temporary accommodation for a child when their parents are temporarily unable to care for them, or when there is no one with parental responsibility. Crucially, this arrangement does not involve a...
```html As the Director of Looked After Child Limited, I have spent over seven years on the frontline—from NVQ Level 4 leadership to the daily realities of managing a residential home. I have seen the "paper trail" of a child's life fail them repeatedly during transitions. In 2026, we are finally...
If you are reading this, you might have just heard the term "Interim Care Order" in a Family Court, a solicitor's office, or a meeting with social services. I know the feeling—the sudden drop in your stomach when legal terms start flying around. It feels overwhelming. But let’s pause and take a...
If you are caring for a looked-after child, or you are a professional new to the sector, the acronyms can feel endless. But the Personal Education Plan (PEP) is one of the most vital tools we have. In my years of experience, both living through the care system and working within it, I’ve seen PEP...
An unauthorised absence is any instance when a child is not where she/he should be. This includes the foster home, school, an authorised activity venue, etc. The police do not need to be informed of an unauthorised absence unless their wearabouts / reason is unknown or their is an risk of harm at the known location.
Hearing the words "Emergency Protection Order" can be one of the most terrifying moments in a parent's life. Everything moves fast—social workers, police, courts—and it can feel like you have absolutely no control. At Looked After Child, we believe that even in the scariest moments, knowledge is...
Whether you are a foster carer, a residential childcare worker, or a connected person, understanding the statutory review process is vital. These meetings are not just administrative checkpoints; they are the moments where we ensure a child is safe, happy, and thriving. Here are the most...
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