| Information type | Keep for | Keep from | Legislation or business reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local Authority Designated Officer allegations which an investigation has found to be substantiated | 100 years | Date of birth of the alleged perpetrator | Substantiated cases should not be deleted or removed sooner than this time as the outcome identifies the person poses a risk of harm to children and young people |
| Local Authority Designated Officer allegations which an investigation has found to be unsubstantiated | 100 Years | Date of birth of the alleged perpetrator | For cases that are deemed unsubstantiated there is neither evidence to confirm or deny the alleged incident happened and therefore the risk in deleting this information sooner is too high. The decision made to retain records whereby the outcome is unsubstantiated is informed by the Bichard Inquiry regarding Ian Huntley who had a series of unsubstantiated allegations against him that presented a pattern of concern. |
| Local Authority Designated Officer allegation where investigation has found to be unfounded or malicious | 10 years | From date record is closed | A decision to retain information beyond 10 years may be taken by the LADO if patterns or behaviour are emerging that suggest the person could continue to pose risk of harm. The reason for this decision must be recorded on the individual’s record. |
| Local Authority Designated Officer Advice Consultation | 6 years | From date of last contact | Limitation Act 1980 |
| Y Smart Drug and Alcohol service user records | 7 years | Date of last contact or date of death | |
| Adoption records for a child who is not a Looked After Child where adoption order is not granted | Destroy when no further action is necessary | Birth of child | Professional decision |
| Adoption records for looked after children where adoption order is not granted | Until 75 anniversary of childs birth | Birth of child | Records to be transferred to the Looked After Child case records and retained in accordance with Section 50 of the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 |
| Looked after child records | Until 75 anniversary of childs birth | Birth of child | Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 |
| Prospective adopters – withdrawn from process | 2 years | Date of last contact | Professional decision |
| Foster care – private with disabilities | Eighteen years | Date of birth | Professional decision |
| Employees working with vulnerable groups | Seventy five years | Date of birth | Business need |
| Adoption order not made – prospective adopter | Destroy when no further action is necessary | Date adoption order refused | Professional decision |
| Adoption order not granted – child record | Seventy five years or fifteen years if deceased before the age of fifteen | Date of birth or date of death | Adoption Agencies Regulations 2005
|
| Adoption order granted and case remains in Devon | One hundred years | Date of adoption order | Disclosure of Adoption Information (Post Commencement Adoptions) Regulations 2005
|
| Care leavers | Seventy five years or fifteen years after death | Date of birth |
Children’s Homes Regulations 2001
|
| Residential homes – non child | Fifteen years | Creation | |
| Residential homes – children | Seventy five years or fifteen years if deceased before the age of eighteen | Date of birth or date of death | |
| Fostering employees | Fifteen years | Creation | |
| Fostering – home adaptations | Current year plus six | Creation | |
| Fostering – unapproved assessments | Five years | Closure | Professional decision |
| Fostering – initial enquiries | Two years | Closure | Professional decision |
| Foster child | Fifteen years | Creation | |
| Foster care – private with disabilities | Age eighteen years | Date of birth | Professional decision |
| Children in care subject to supervision orders | Age eighteen plus three years inactivity | Date of birth | Professional decision |
| Safeguarding conferences draft minutes | Until approved at next review | Creation | Professional decision |
| Missing children | Seventy five years | Date of birth | |
| Independent reviewing conferences | Age eighteen plus three years inactivity (youngest sibling must be over eighteen) | Date of birth | Professional decision |
| Independent reviewing 16 – 18 | Age eighteen plus three years inactivity (youngest sibling must be eighteen) | Date of birth | |
| Independent reviewing 0 -16 | Age eighteen plus three years inactivity (youngest sibling 18) | Date of birth | Professional decision |
| Child sexual exploitation | Seventy five years | Date of birth | |
| Child protection case summaries – home registers, orders | Permanent | Creation | Professional decision |
| Child protection (section 47) | Seventy five years | Date of birth | |
| Social work diaries | Current year plus six | Creation | |
| Complaints – Stage 3 – Review | Five years | Final response from head of service deemed resolution - no further action required | Professional decision |
| Complaints – Stage 2 Formal | Five years | Closure, resolution and final responses - no further action | Professional decision |
| Complaints – Stage 1 – informal, single, multiple, persistent | Same as relevant case record | No contact for two years from date of last complaint - no further action | Professional decision |
| Children in need | Until child reaches the age of eighteen plus three years case inactivity | Date of birth | Professional decision |