4.9.2 Correspondence and Communication |
SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER
This chapter applies to all forms of communication, including telephone, mobile ‘phones, letters and electronic communication including e-mails, instant messaging, ‘chat’, texting
Contents
1. Telephones
This applies to all phones including mobiles
Consideration should be given during the placement planning as to whether the child will be allowed a mobile, its safe use etc. Arrangements for the access to and use of telephones (including mobile ‘phones) by children should be set out in writing, for example, in a Children’s Guide or a Placement Plan/Placement Information Record for an individual child.
This should be reviewed regularly and at least at every LAC review. Guidance for residential workers regarding the use of phones during school time will be set out in the residential unit's young peoples guide. If a young person should be in school the office phones for personal and contacting Social Workers can only be used outside normal school hours.
In certain circumstance, children may have their access to telephones reduced or stopped where it is necessary to do so to protect the child or another person from injury, to protect property from being damaged or an offence from being committed. In such cases this issue should be recorded on a risk assessment.
Unless there are exceptional circumstances (see next paragraph), a decision to provide/reduce access or stop a child from using a telephone should be taken by the social worker in consultation with the carers and Supervising Social Worker (where the child is placed in foster care) or the residential worker and unit manager in children's homes. Before taking such a decision, the social worker should be mindful of the list of Non Approved Sanctions.
The exceptional circumstances are that there is a risk of Injury, Damage to property or an offence being committed and that staff/carers believe it is necessary to immediately confiscate or reduce a child’s access to a ‘phone to prevent the Injury, damage to property or offence from occurring.
If such exceptional action is taken, the child’s social worker (and Supervising Social Worker is the child is in foster care) must be notified in writing within 24 hours.
If a child is prevented from having access to a telephone, or access is reduced, it is deemed to be a Sanction, and must be recorded as such.
See Sanctions in Children’s Homes Procedure.
2. Sending and Receiving Letters
Children must be supported and encouraged to send and receive letters to family members and friends.
Restrictions may only be placed upon the sending or receipt of letters with the authorisation of the social worker in consultation with unit managers, staff and carers (and Supervising Social Workers where children are placed in foster care). Such restrictions can only be placed upon a child where it is necessary to do so to safeguard or promote the child’s welfare, to protect another person from harm, injury or to protect property from being damaged.
If restrictions are placed upon a child sending or receiving letters, it is a Sanction and must be recorded as such. It should be noted in the child's risk assessment as a safeguarding issue.
See Sanctions in Children’s Homes Procedure.
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