Member

Deprivation of liberty must be a method of last resort, used where required to keep children safe. This is an accepted principle in the courts, so setting this out in primary legislation would be disproportionate. It is of paramount importance that any restrictions placed on a child are appropriate and are applied for no longer than is necessary, with robust plans to ensure that children are not stuck in the cycle of crisis. In relation to children’s recovery plans, there are a number of existing duties on local authorities, including the duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of any child looked after by them, and for placement decisions to be informed by a care plan, including a therapeutic model of care.