Member

Amendment 54 seeks to impose a requirement on directors of children’s services to review deprivation of liberty orders every four weeks. As I said in Committee, the Bill gives powers to the Secretary of State to set a maximum period after which a deprivation of liberty cannot continue without court authorisation. The court is absolutely the right level to be making that kind of decision. Senior officers in the placing authority who are responsible for and familiar with the child’s needs must already regularly review whether the restrictions are still necessary or appropriate, doing so in partnership with health and other professionals involved in the child’s care. A fixed four-week review requirement on the placing authority risks creating an arbitrary deadline. Providers, in conjunction with placing authorities and other agencies, should be continually ensuring that minimum appropriate restrictions are used to keep that child safe.