11.11 Children on Child Protection Plans who Move Abroad

SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER

This chapter should be read in conjunction with Children Missing from Care and Home Procedure and the Child Protection Review Conference procedure

AMENDMENT

Local agencies and professionals should bear in mind when working with children and families where there are outstanding concerns about the children's safety and welfare (including where the concerns are about an unborn child who may be at future risk of Significant Harm), that a series of missed appointments may indicate that the family has moved out of the area or overseas. Surrey Children's Services and the police should be informed immediately when such concerns arise.

Where the parents or carers of a child who is the subject of a child protection plan are planning to move abroad, a review child protection conference should be convened to determine whether or not the planned move will increase the risk to the child and, if so, whether legal proceedings should be commenced.

Where a child who is the subject of a protection plan moves abroad unexpectedly, then a strategy meeting should be convened to consider whether legal proceedings should be commenced. The review conference or strategy meeting should consider whether or not the relevant local authorities in the country to which the child has (or intends to) move to should be informed of any concerns, taking into account the potential impact on the child / family in that country.

Consideration needs to be given to appropriate legal interventions also when a child, who is subject to a care order and therefore looked after by the local authority, has been removed from the UK. Surrey Children's Services, the Police Child Abuse Team and the Child Abduction Unit at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office should be informed immediately.

It is vital that early contact is made with the relevant PPIU where suspicion exists that the child may be taken from the UK.  In some instances, early checks may indicate the presence of a child on outbound flight and immediate steps may be required to ensure their safe return where the power exists to do so.

In the case of children taken overseas it may be appropriate to contact the Consular Directorate at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office which offers assistance to British nationals in distress overseas (020 7008 1500). They may be able to follow up a case through their consular post(s) in the country concerned.