Children who move from one authority’s area to another

Action to be taken by Children’s Social Care:

6.1 The general principle that underpins these arrangements is that information is only to be shared when this has been explicitly agreed with the parents/carers, and child where appropriate. The exceptions are:

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   • When the outcome is to move into section 47 enquiries – in which case the guidance detailed above should be followed.
   

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   • When a court requests a report in private law proceedings and the child moves before the assessment has started. All previous information held by the transferring authority will be made available to the receiving authority. Court timescales must be adhered to.
   

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   • Where it is in the best interests of the child to do so in order to prevent significant harm, or serious impairment of health and welfare. Section 5.18 and 5.33 of Working Together to Safeguarding Children 2010 is the guidance that informs those principles.
   

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   • When a child moves during the completion of an initial or core assessment the authority that commenced these assessments should complete them. There must be manager-to-manager discussions about the pragmatic arrangements for completing the core assessment. The completion of the assessment would trigger a formal referral to the receiving authority where appropriate. Good practice would be that the receiving authority is a partner in the completion of the assessment. When it is clear that further social care intervention will be required these should be jointly agreed between the authorities. The receiving authority will assume case responsibility on completion when further actions are identified.
   

6.2 Information to be shared:

• Any initial or core assessment where child protection concerns have been identified but there is no ongoing risk of significant harm, along with relevant and up to date chronology.
•Any assessment that identifies that a child has additional needs which require the intervention of social care.
• Previous child protection reports and minutes where a child has been deregistered within the last 6 months but continues to be a child in need
• Previous care plans where a child has been de-accommodated in the last three months.
•Any family support plan where a child has been in need of Social Care intervention and/or services i.e. sponsored child care, family support worker intervention, family centre attendance etc.
6.3 Children with disabilities are defined under section 17 as Children in Need. The Lead Professional involved with the child should identify what information should be shared.
6.4 Where children are in receipt of respite care but do not meet the ‘looked after’ children criteria, case responsibility will be with the receiving authority. Subject to appropriate consents all relevant information should be shared but the receiving authority may undertake a new child in need assessment.