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Why Children Are Looked After Children

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Discuss why children are Looked After by the Local Authority and how their early experiences impact on their well-being. Consider how those working with them can ensure that their health and educational needs are met.

Within UK law children in care are defined as ‘looked after children’, this is a child that has been in the care of the local authority for more than 24 hours (NSPCC, 0000). The Department of education (2016) released figures stating that there was 70, 440 looked after children at the end of March 2016. This was an increase of 1% on the previous year, the increase of 1470 is stated to be the increase of asylum seeking children coming to find refuge in the UK. The unaccompanied asylum seeking children has impacted on the number of children with, absent parenting this has risen from 5% in 2014 to 7% in 2016 (Department of Education, 2016).* …show more content…

However there has been a 1 percent fall from 62% to 61% between 2015 and 2016. In the cases of abuse this can result in an emergency legal order being served for the removal of a child from immediate harm. The removal of a child into public care can be completed by the authority of the police with regards section 46 of the children’s act 1989. *After this an interim or full care order is put in place. Enabling children to be placed in a secure children’s home or in some case parental agreement is given to put their children in accommodation run by the local authority. Looked after children can stay with foster parents, or in the family home with supervision of social services, or residential children’s homes and residential settings like schools or secure units. (NSPCC, 0000). Primarily children are looked after by the local authority as a result of concerns regarding Safeguarding a

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