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CHAPTER 33: Children Moving Abroad

This procedure was added to the manual in August 2011, having previously been included in the manual for a period of consultation.


Contents

  1. Children who are Subject to a Child Protection Plan whose Carers are Planning to take them on a Holiday Abroad
  2. Children going Abroad for a temporary stay with Friends/Family
  3. Children Moving Abroad Permanently
  4. Review Child Protection Conference
  5. Children who are taken Abroad when Section 47 Enquiries are Continuing
  6. Children going Abroad where it is Assessed that he/she will be at increased Risk of Harm


1. CHILDREN WHO ARE SUBJECT TO A CHILD PROTECTION PLAN WHOSE CARERS ARE PLANNING TO TAKE THEM ON A HOLIDAY ABROAD

If the family is planning to go on holiday and the Lead Social Worker, in consultation with the Core Group, assesses that the child will not be at increased risk of Significant Harm, the Lead Social Worker must:

  • Ascertain the address where the child will be staying
  • Ascertain the exact dates of travel
  • Notify the relevant safeguarding service manager and the Chair of the Child Protection Conference
  • If possible, agree with the parents how they can be contacted e.g. mobile phone number, contact numbers of travel agents
  • Attempt to contact the family once every 10 working days
  • Arrange to see the family and child within two days of them returning home


2. CHILDREN GOING ABROAD FOR A TEMPORARY STAY WITH FRIENDS/FAMILY

If it is planned that a child subject to a Child Protection Plan goes abroad to stay with friends or family, and the Lead Social Worker, in consultation with the Core Group, assess that the child will not be at increased risk of Significant Harm:

  • The Lead Social Worker must undertake all of the points listed in Point 1 above.
  • All professionals in the Core Group must inform their respective counterpart agencies abroad
  • The Lead Social Worker must inform the national embassies and consulates in London for the country concerned.  Details are available from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website.
  • The Lead Social Worker must consider requesting an assessment of family or friends from CFAB (Children and Families Across Borders) (formerly International Social Services) Tel: 0207 773 8941

The Lead Social Worker and Core Group remain responsible for implementing the Child Protection Plan until the above actions have been completed.  They resume responsibility for implementing the Child Protection Plan when notified of the child's return.


3. CHILDREN MOVING ABROAD PERMANENTLY

The Core Group and Lead Social Worker must undertake all points listed in Points 1 and 2 above.

Having received any assessment information from CFAB and other relevant agencies, the Core Group should form a view regarding the continuing risk of Significant Harm for the child and convene a Review Child Protection Conference. All those notified in section 2 above should be notified by the relevant Core Group member of the outcome of the Child Protection Conference and of any recommendations for further action.


4. REVIEW CHILD PROTECTION CONFERENCE

If the move is temporary a Review Child Protection Conference should be held at the scheduled time.  Consideration should be given for bring forward the date of this conference according to the criteria set out in Child Protection Conferences Procedure, Paragraph 2.15.

If the child does not return before the time the Review Child Protection Conference is due, it must go ahead with information gathered from agencies abroad, as detailed in Section 3, Children Moving Abroad Permanently above. A decision whether the child should remain subject to a Child Protection Plan will be made and, if so, a revised Child Protection Plan must be formulated.

On the rare occasion where the child has moved abroad permanently, all relevant agencies abroad have been notified and it is the view of the Core Group that no further work can be undertaken, the Chair of the Child Protection Conference will write a brief report to the Head of Safeguarding in Children's Social Care requesting that the child stop being the subject of a Child Protection Plan.


5. CHILDREN WHO ARE TAKEN ABROAD WHEN SECTION 47 ENQUIRIES ARE CONTINUING

If a child is taken abroad when Section 47 enquiries have commenced, but are not yet completed, the investigating social worker should inform the relevant authorities in the country of destination, seeking advice from CFAB as necessary.

If the Section 47 enquiry is accompanied by a criminal investigation, police should inform the relevant police force abroad.

Strategies discussion should be held and legal advice sought to determine known or likely risk of harm and what action should ensue.


6. CHILDREN GOING ABROAD WHERE IT IS ASSESSED THAT HE/SHE WILL BE AT INCREASED RISK OF HARM

If it is assessed that a child moving abroad will increase their risk of harm, urgent Strategy Discussions, with legal advice, must be held to determine any necessary protective actions.

Please also refer to the sections below for procedures in specific circumstances.

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