Telephones, Mobile Phones and Letters
Scope of this chapter
This procedure applies to children placed in children’s homes and foster homes managed by the authority, but the principles apply to the placement of all Looked After children. Therefore, where such children are placed with parents, relatives or friends or in placements not managed by the authority, the social worker must ensure these or other adequate procedures are applied.
Related guidance
Suitable arrangements should exist in all children’s homes and foster homes for matters relating the use of mobile and landline telephones and for receiving or sending letters by children.
In the absence of specific arrangements, the following must be adhered to.
Children may have mobile phones if they can be afforded and they are capable of using them without posing risks to themselves or others.
Mobile phones may be confiscated from a child to protect the child or another person from harm, injury or to protect property from being damaged.
A decision to confiscate a mobile phone should normally be taken in consultation with the child’s social worker.
However, in exceptional circumstance, a mobile phone may be confiscated without consulting a social worker. The exceptional circumstances are that there is an immediate risk of injury, damage to property or of an offence being committed if the phone were not confiscated.
If a mobile phone is confiscated without consulting the child’s social worker, the social worker must be notified within 24 hours.
If a mobile phone is confiscated it is a sanction, and must be recorded as such.
See Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management Procedure.
Children may be expected to contribute to the cost of telephone calls; they may also be given an allowance or ‘phone cards. However, children should not be expected to pay for calls made by them to their social workers, parents or close family members so long as the frequency and length of calls are not excessive.
A decision to withdraw or prevent a child from using a telephone can be taken if doing so may protect a child or another person from harm, injury or to protect property from being damaged.
A decision to withdraw a telephone should normally be taken in consultation with the child’s social worker.
However, in exceptional circumstances, a telephone may be withdrawn without consulting a social worker. The exceptional circumstances are that there is an immediate risk of injury, damage to property or of an offence being committed if the use of the telephone were not withdrawn.
If a telephone is withdrawn without consulting the child’s social worker, the social worker must be notified within 24 hours.
If a telephone is withdrawn it is a sanction, and must be recorded as such. See Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management Procedure.
Children must be supported and encouraged to send and receive letters.
Restrictions may only be placed upon the sending or receipt of letters with the agreement of the child’s social worker.
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. See Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management Procedure.
Last Updated: January 9, 2024
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