“You have returned from visiting a family on a local housing estate where there are no facilities for children and young people outside school. The neighbours have been complaining to your department and to the police about children playing football in the street until late in the evening.”

“You have been working with the Jones family for some months. However, the police have complained that they cannot see any improvement in the situation. The children routinely truant and the number of complaints to the police station from neighbours about the children playing football in the street until all hours is increasing. The police believe that they should apply for anti-social behaviour orders.”

Now you need to decide what to do in this situation, select from the options below:

  1. Do you follow what the local authority advises about co-operation with police officers and about applications for anti-social behaviour orders?
  2. Do you argue that section 17, Children Act 1989 is the appropriate way to intervene with this family?
  3. Do you discuss whether sufficient evidence exists for an application for anti-social behaviour orders?
  4. Do you suggest that anti-social behaviour orders in this situation are not a proportional intervention?

A. This answer shows that you have a tendency toward procedural orientation

B. This answer shows that you have a tendency toward needs orientation

C. This answer shows that you have a tendency toward technical orientation

D. This answer shows that you have a tendency toward rights orientation

Before you move on to the next situation, test your knowledge of key aspects of law that are relevant to this situation by answering the question below.

When conducting an assessment of children in need and their families, the local authority cannot consider housing need.

The Correct answer is False

s.116, Adoption & Children Act 2002; R (G) v Barnett LBC, R(W) v Lambeth LBC, R(A) v same [2003] HL The Times 24 Oct – The 2002 Act and the subsequent House of Lords judgement clarify that section 17, Children Act 1989 includes the power to provide accommodation in order to meet a child’s assessed needs.