Placement Agreement

a) Howestead Lodge will give a commitment to keep all parties informed of all the relevant events in the child or young person’s progress and where appropriate, this will be in writing this includes a regular monthly report to the child’s Social Worker and the person with parental responsibility.

b) We will ensure that the Placing Authority’s child protection and complaints procedures are carried out.

c) We will give you a clear statement of the services we provide and at what cost.

d) Social Workers, the children or young people and parents, are encouraged to make an informal visit to Howestead Lodge prior to the placement.  Overnight stays or weekend trials are encouraged but must be by prior arrangement.

e) If Howestead Lodge is considered suitable, a formal planning meeting will be set up which the Individual Care Plan will be drawn up. The Social Worker will be responsible for drawing up and distributing the Placement Plan to the relevant parties.  At this meeting roles and responsibilities will be discussed and a date will be set for admission.

f) Prior to the time of admission the Social Worker will ensure that Howestead Lodge Ltd has received copies of all relevant information and a copy of any Court Order(s).

g) The placement will be reviewed after 28 days and if necessary amendments and updating will be made to the Individual Care Plan.

h) Thereafter, the Placement Plan will be reviewed after 3 months.

i) Thereafter, the placement will be reviewed at intervals of no longer than 6 months.

j) On admission a clothing inventory will be taken and recorded.  Both the child or young person and Duty Staff should sign this inventory.

k) On admission or as soon as practically possible basic age appropriate information on fire drills, telephones, basic house rules etc. will be given to the child or young person.

l) Children or young people may wish to bring personal items such as T.V, Hi Fi and Walkmans etc.  Howestead Lodge Ltd cannot accept responsibility for the loss or damage to these items.  Howestead Lodge Ltd provides TV and Hi FI equipment in each bedroom reducing the need for children or young people to bring their own equipment.  However, Howestead Lodge Ltd will accept responsibility for items that can be safely stored i.e. jewellery and documents, provided these items have been inventoried and signed for by staff.

m) Howestead Lodge Ltd strongly recommend that children or young people do not lend or borrow personal items such as clothing, jewellery, money or Walkmans etc.  These items are often not returned or returned in an unserviceable condition. 

Residents who lend any personal items do so at their own risk as Howestead Lodge Ltd will not be responsible under any circumstances.