Placement and Admissions

Effective placement planning and the arrangement of suitable accommodation depends on strong working relationships between providers and the accommodating authority for the success of placements and arranged accommodation.

For looked after young people and care leavers aged 16 and 17, these planning duties fall to the accommodating authority. The registered person should ensure that they and their staff engage proactively with the accommodating authority to contribute fully to the relevant plans for the young person on an ongoing basis.

There is a wide range of diverse types of settings within supported accommodation, which differ in size, structure, purpose and which offer varying degrees of supervision and support, for young people with varying needs. The registered person should accept placements for young people only where they are satisfied that the setting can respond effectively to the young person’s assessed needs as set out in the young person’s relevant plans. When making decisions about a young person’s placement, the registered person and the accommodating authority should have regard to the Equality Act 2010 and jointly endeavour to ensure the cultural heritage of a young person is respected and that no young person is unfairly treated or stigmatised. In addition, the registered person should fully consider the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of young people in that setting and vice versa. The registered person should assess if there may be an impact on the young person entering the provision as a result of the needs or personal histories of any young person in the existing group, including adults aged 18 or over who are supported at the setting. It is the responsibility of both the accommodating authority and the registered person to assess the previous experiences and any trauma of the young person when determining if a placement is appropriate. 

The registered person should challenge any accommodating authority that asks them to accept a young person in the absence of complete and current information about the young person and their needs in the form of relevant plans, as it would not normally be acceptable to expect that a placement/accommodation arrangement of a young person without the necessary information would go ahead in circumstances other than an emergency, whereby this information should be shared with urgency.

At the point when it is determined that a Service may be required, and throughout the subsequent process of identification, planning and placement, the social worker must consult and take account of the views of the following people:

1. The young person;
2. The parents, if relevant or appropriate;
3. The Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO), if the young person is moving from another Looked After Placement;
4. Anyone who is not a parent but has been caring for or looking after the young person;
5. Other members of the family who are significant;
6. The school/education establishment or education authority;
7. The Youth Offending Service, if the young person is known to them.

The social worker should ensure that the proposed placement is in keeping with the overall Care Plan for the young person.

The Care Plan should demonstrate that the young person’s needs will be met by the proposed Service.

The Care Plan should be completed before the young person becomes Looked After, or within 10 working days of the young person moving into the property.

If a placement is approved, the social worker should ensure that a Placement Information Record is drawn up before the placement starts, or within 5 working days of the placement.