3.1.1 Child in Need Plans and Reviews |
SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER
This chapter identifies the procedure for making and reviewing plans for children who have been assessed as being a Child in Need. Children in Need who are the subject of Supervision Orders will be treated in the same way as Looked After children and will have Looked After Reviews at the same intervals.
Contents
1. Child in Need Plans
A Child in Need Plan is a plan setting out the services provided to a Child in Need, who is not Looked After; for example, family support or day care.
In relation to financial assistance provided to families of children in need, as part of a Child in Need Plan, the the appropriate manager can agree payments up to the financial limits agreed from time to time. See Financial Assistance to Children in Need Procedure.
Child in Need Plans are normally drawn up at the conclusion of an Initial Assessment or Core Assessment by the social worker undertaking the assessment and/or allocated to the child’s case or responsible for making the arrangements for a child to receive services. Children in Need Plans may also be drawn up by family centre workers so long as an Initial or Core Assessment has already been completed.
Child In Need Plans may be drawn up at Family Support Meetings.
The Child in Need Plan must identify who is responsible for which action and the time-scale involved.
A copy of the Child in Need Plan should be provided to the parents, child (if old enough) and the agencies or other professionals involved in the provision of services under the Plan. The Child in Need Plan may be devised at a Family Support Meeting.
It may be necessary to make minor adjustments to the plan and services provided. Any changes to the plan must be made in consultation with the parents and the child (where appropriate) and key professionals from other agencies. If there are significant changes in the family circumstances, a formal review should take place.
2. Child in Need Plan Reviews
Child in Need Plan Reviews will be conducted at intervals agreed with the manager, but at least every six months, by the child’s social worker, who should invite or seek the views of the child, parents and any service providers.
The Review will generally take place within a meeting, unless the manager agrees otherwise. The social worker or manager will chair the meeting. If the case is not allocated, the manager must undertake the review or arrange for it to be undertaken on his/her behalf.
Reviews of cases that are held at family centres, will be chaired by a manager or a level 3 community resource worker. If the outcome of such a review is that the child has, or is likely to suffer Significant Harm the case will be re-referred within 24 hours to the Area Office where the family live.
The purpose of the Review is to ensure that the services provided are contributing to the achievement of the objectives within the time-scales set.
The outcome of a Review will determine:
- Whether the child is no longer a Child in Need, resulting in a recommendation to the manager that the case be closed.
- Whether the child continues to be a Child in Need, resulting in the continuing provision of services and amendment, as necessary, of the Plan; which must be circulated to the child, parent(s) and all other relevant people
- In the case of a Child in Need Plan drawn up following an Initial Assessment, whether a Core Assessment is required
The outcome of the Review should be recorded and a copy of the record sent to the child (if old enough), parent and all other participants in the Review process.
Where the outcome of the Review is the closure of the case, this should be recorded on the electronic database.
Where the outcome of the Review is an amendment to the Plan, the social worker should circulate a copy of the amended Plan to the child, parents, and other agencies/professionals involved in providing the services set out in the amended Plan, including any new services to be provided.
End