A second reason for an individual to enter into the looked after system is they have travelled to this country unaccompanied in search of asylum. Under The there is a legal requirement o f the local authority if there is a connection between the individual and the local authority, for example their parents’ who lived in the area died and the child has no remaining carer the local authority would be required take responsibility for the minor. In other cases the UK Border Agency has the powers to offer leave to remain to minors under the age of 17 ½ on a refugee, humanitarian or discretionary basis. This leave of remain will last between 30 months or 5 years or until they are 17 ½, which ever is shorter.
A third reason for an individual to enter into the looked after system is they have repeatedly committed offences and have been place into a young offender’s institution. These institutions are essentially secure care homes that exist to place individuals that pose a risk to either themselves or others, this can be due to self-harm, mental instability, aggression or committing criminal acts. These placements only encompass 2% of those in the looked after system.
A fourth reason for an individual to enter into the looked after system is they have a parent that is unable to continue the care of the individual this can be due to many issues such as; a single parent becoming ill and requiring hospitalisation or the individual having a condition that requires constant specialist care that the parent is unable to provide.
A fifth reason for an individual to enter into the looked after system is they have a parent that is unwilling to continue the care of the individual due to a complete family breakdown. This can often happen due to factors such as the parent’s mental health, Addiction, domestic abuse, behavioural issues or learning difficulties. Most family breakdowns can be mitigated by use of alternative services such as respite and counselling and do not require the individual to be permanently looked after.
A sixth reason for an individual to enter into the looked after system is they are suffering from mental health issues causing secondary issues such as malnourishment, due to self fasting, anorexia and bulimia, Addiction to drugs or alcohol or constantly causing harm to their bodies. These issues would be dealt with by specialist clinics such as residential rehabilitation centres, residential eating disorder clinics or in patient hospitalisation in a secure mental health clinic.
References for this part
Children Act 1989 - - accessed 05/10/12
- accessed 05/10/12
- accessed 05/10/12
Liam Dolman – 236687