Secure Accommodation (Criteria) Reviews

The Purpose of a Secure Accommodation Review is to consider the following:

• Whether the criteria for keeping a child in secure accommodation continue to apply, on the day of the review (see Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds Procedure, Secure Accommodation Criteria);
• Whether such a placement continues to be necessary; and
• Whether or not any other form of accommodation would be appropriate.

There are separate and different processes for reviewing a young person's case if they are remanded to secure accommodation by the courts or detained under the Mental Health Act.

Secure Accommodation Reviews must be convened within 28 days of a child being placed in secure accommodation, and then at intervals not exceeding three months.

Where it is determined by the social worker and their manager that a further application should be made to the Court to keep the child in secure accommodation beyond the expiry of the current Secure Accommodation Order, then the social worker must request that the Secure Accommodation Review Panel meets to consider the application.

The Secure Accommodation Panel should be chaired by a person independent of the care planning for the child, including line managers and the Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO). Given the need to focus on the Section 25, Children Act 1989 criteria issues, the chair should also be independent of any resource allocation, etc. but have sufficient experience and knowledge to carry out the task.

The Secure Accommodation Panel is responsible for listening to the views of those who attend/contribute, and coming to a decision about whether they believe the criteria for secure accommodation are still met. The Panel cannot come to a decision about whether the child should remain or leave secure accommodation; it can only make a recommendation on this to the Designated Manager (Secure Accommodation).

The Panel consists of the Chairperson and two other people, one of whom will be independent both of the local authority and the authority managing the secure unit. 

An IRO may sit as one of the other two Panel members (not as part of the IRO function), paragraph 4.14 IRO Handbook.

The composition of the Panel should seek to be sensitive to issues that may be relevant to the child, e.g. ethnic background and gender.

Secure Accommodation Reviews will be convened in the same way as Looked After Reviews. Notification will be sent to the child's social worker, Panel members and the relevant secure unit. An agenda and criteria to be considered at the review will be sent.

The Review Panel will meet at the relevant secure unit.

The Secure Accommodation Review is separate to a Looked After Review and is not a substitute for it. It must be held first, so the recommendations and subsequent decisions made can inform the Looked After Review.

Prior to the Secure Accommodation Review, the social worker will ensure the following are undertaken:

• A report for the Review is prepared, which has been endorsed by their manager and incorporates the views of all those consulted about the placement (see Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds Procedure, Consultation), the children's guardian and the provider of the secure accommodation;
• Written invitations are sent to the parent and those with parental responsibility, and any other persons whose attendance is agreed;
• The child and parent(s) are clear about the purpose of the Secure Accommodation Review. The social worker should go through the contents of the Report and proposed care plan with them;
• The parents and child are given adequate support to prepare for the Review, which may include arranging for an interpreter and/or advocate to assist them;
• The secure unit is aware of the Review date and arrangements have been made for the staff in the secure placement to prepare a report, taking account of the progress made with the child and stating their view as to whether the criteria for secure accommodation (see Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds Procedure, Secure Accommodation Criteria) still apply and whether any other description of accommodation would be appropriate rather than remaining in secure accommodation.

The social worker should ensure that their Report is circulated to the secure unit and to the Panel Chairperson and other Panel Members at least 1 week before the Review date.

The Secure Accommodation Review, and the Panel's members, must focus on the questions and issues around the criteria for secure accommodation (see Section 1, Purpose of Secure Accommodation Reviews) within the context of the child's specific circumstances.

In considering these matters, the Panel must have regard to the child's welfare.

Nevertheless, the Secure Accommodation Review does not take the place of a Looked After Review; it is distinctly different.

In all cases, the outcome of the Secure Accommodation Review must be reported to the Looked After Review.

The independent Panel member should see the young person before the Secure Accommodation Review.

The Criteria Review must be formally minuted.

The Secure Accommodation Review Panel will consider the social worker's report, the notes and decisions of the most recent Looked After Review and the views of the following:

1. The child, the parent(s) and those with Parental Responsibility;
2. The child's social worker and manager;
3. Those who previously have had or may have care of the child upon discharge;
4. The children's guardian;
5. The child's independent visitor and/or advocate;
6. The Link/Keyworker for the child from the Secure Unit together with other services provided by the Secure Accommodation, e.g. Education and Health and feedback with regard to the young person's mobility plan;
7. Any specialist assessments that may have been commissioned e.g.: psychological;
8. The local authority managing the secure accommodation in which the child is placed if different to the Placing Authority.

The Review Panel is responsible for listening to the views of those who contribute, and coming to a recommendation about whether they believe the criteria for secure accommodation (see Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds Procedure, Secure Accommodation Criteria) are met.

It is not sufficient, simply, to retain a child in secure accommodation to complete an assessment or treatment programme or whilst other accommodation is sought. Regard must be given to the fact that it is unlawful for the liberty of a child to be restricted unless the criteria are met, no matter how short the period of security.

Once the Panel has made a recommendation as to the child's continued placement in secure accommodation, it should be communicated to the young person and other participants at the Review. The recommendation may be accompanied by other recommendations on related issues, for example as to mobility and visiting arrangements.

Where relevant, a date for the next Review Panel should also be fixed.

Minutes will be prepared and sent to all those in attendance.

The recommendation of the Panel will be submitted immediately to the Designated Manager (Secure Accommodation) for consideration and decision as to the future placement of the child.

The IRO should be advised of the outcome of the Secure Accommodation Review.

The social worker will also inform all those whose views have been taken into account of the outcome of the Review, what action, if any, the local authority proposes to take in relation to the child in the light of the Review, and their reasons for taking or not taking such action.

The minutes of the Secure Criteria review should be completed as soon as possible and within 1 month of the Criteria review. They should detail the reasoning behind the decision.

It should be borne in mind that the Agency Decision Maker, the Children's Guardian and /or the court may need to have the minutes as evidence for decision - making.

If the Panel concludes that the criteria for restricted liberty no longer apply, the placement is no longer necessary or another type of placement would be more appropriate, the local authority must immediately review the child's placement (paragraph 4.14 IRO Handbook) and effect the 'exit' or contingent plan.