Unit 21, Task 1
Laura Palmer
Stacey Tanner
Unit 21- Looked after children and young people
Learning Outcome 1- Understand what is meant by looked after children and young people in the
context of the health and social care sector
P1- Explain what is meant by looked-after children and young people in the context of the health
and social care sector
, In this assignment I am going to explain what is meant by looked-after children and young people in
the context of the health and social care sector.
P1- Explain what is meant by looked-after children and young people in the context of the health
and social care sector.
The legal definition of ‘looked after children’ and include notes from class discussion to further
explain the legal definition.
I am now going to explain what the legal definition of a looked after child is. “A child who has been in
care of their local authority for more than 24 hours is known as a looked after child.” (Looked after
children | NSPCC Learning, 2021) A child is a looked-after child also if they are in a residential care
setting, such as New College Worcester, for blind or visually impaired children. The legal definition of
a looked after children in section 22 of the Children Act is ‘In this Act any reference to a child who is
looked after by the local authority is a reference to a child who is in their care; or provided with
accommodation by the authority in the exercise of any functions which are social services functions.’
(Tanner.S, Class notes, 2022)
The pathways for children entering the care system
There are a variety of reasons why children and young people enter care. Not all children that are
looked after having been maltreated or abused, and not all of them will be in care permanently.
The first reason is that the child’s parents might have agreed to this, for example, if they are too
unwell to look after their child or if their child has a disability and need respite care. This occurs
when parents agree, or the child may choose to be taken into care. A child is also looked after if they
go to a respite centre, such as Acorn’s children hospice. (Tanner.S, Class notes, 2022) Parents whose
children having learning difficulties are more likely to put their children into the care system, as it
may be more difficult for the parents to manage with looking after their children.
Another reason why a child might enter the care system is that the child could be an unaccompanied
asylum seeker, with no responsible adult to care for them. (Tanner.S, Class notes, 2022) If a child has
no one to look after them they will immediately become the responsibility of the local authority. It
will then be the local authority’s responsibility to care for them.
Another reason why a child might enter the care system is that children’s services may have
intervened because they felt the child was at significant risk of harm. If this is the case the child is
usually the subject of a court-made legal order. (Tanner.S, Class notes, 2022) This is when social
services go in to take a child away from their family as they have reason to believe that the child has
been harmed or is at risk of being harmed. A child may also be taken into care if they are in a
household where domestic violence is occurring. Children may be at risk of experiencing domestic
abuse if they try to interfere and prevent their parent from being abused. Therefore, the child and
the non-violent parent need protecting.
Another reason why a child might enter the care system is that parents are unable to care for or
ensure that their child is safe. (Tanner.S, Class notes, 2022) It may be that the child loses a parent
and they do not have any other family members who are able to care for them. If a child becomes an
orphan, they either need to be cared for by extended family, or if this is not possible they will go into
the care system.
Another reason why a child may enter the care system is that they are suffering a crisis in their lives,
and some may be suffering for a long time. (Tanner.S, Class notes, 2022) If a child is struggling with
Laura Palmer
Stacey Tanner
Unit 21- Looked after children and young people
Learning Outcome 1- Understand what is meant by looked after children and young people in the
context of the health and social care sector
P1- Explain what is meant by looked-after children and young people in the context of the health
and social care sector
, In this assignment I am going to explain what is meant by looked-after children and young people in
the context of the health and social care sector.
P1- Explain what is meant by looked-after children and young people in the context of the health
and social care sector.
The legal definition of ‘looked after children’ and include notes from class discussion to further
explain the legal definition.
I am now going to explain what the legal definition of a looked after child is. “A child who has been in
care of their local authority for more than 24 hours is known as a looked after child.” (Looked after
children | NSPCC Learning, 2021) A child is a looked-after child also if they are in a residential care
setting, such as New College Worcester, for blind or visually impaired children. The legal definition of
a looked after children in section 22 of the Children Act is ‘In this Act any reference to a child who is
looked after by the local authority is a reference to a child who is in their care; or provided with
accommodation by the authority in the exercise of any functions which are social services functions.’
(Tanner.S, Class notes, 2022)
The pathways for children entering the care system
There are a variety of reasons why children and young people enter care. Not all children that are
looked after having been maltreated or abused, and not all of them will be in care permanently.
The first reason is that the child’s parents might have agreed to this, for example, if they are too
unwell to look after their child or if their child has a disability and need respite care. This occurs
when parents agree, or the child may choose to be taken into care. A child is also looked after if they
go to a respite centre, such as Acorn’s children hospice. (Tanner.S, Class notes, 2022) Parents whose
children having learning difficulties are more likely to put their children into the care system, as it
may be more difficult for the parents to manage with looking after their children.
Another reason why a child might enter the care system is that the child could be an unaccompanied
asylum seeker, with no responsible adult to care for them. (Tanner.S, Class notes, 2022) If a child has
no one to look after them they will immediately become the responsibility of the local authority. It
will then be the local authority’s responsibility to care for them.
Another reason why a child might enter the care system is that children’s services may have
intervened because they felt the child was at significant risk of harm. If this is the case the child is
usually the subject of a court-made legal order. (Tanner.S, Class notes, 2022) This is when social
services go in to take a child away from their family as they have reason to believe that the child has
been harmed or is at risk of being harmed. A child may also be taken into care if they are in a
household where domestic violence is occurring. Children may be at risk of experiencing domestic
abuse if they try to interfere and prevent their parent from being abused. Therefore, the child and
the non-violent parent need protecting.
Another reason why a child might enter the care system is that parents are unable to care for or
ensure that their child is safe. (Tanner.S, Class notes, 2022) It may be that the child loses a parent
and they do not have any other family members who are able to care for them. If a child becomes an
orphan, they either need to be cared for by extended family, or if this is not possible they will go into
the care system.
Another reason why a child may enter the care system is that they are suffering a crisis in their lives,
and some may be suffering for a long time. (Tanner.S, Class notes, 2022) If a child is struggling with
