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Contents

1. Purpose of Placement Plan Reviews
2. Frequency of Placement Plan Reviews
3. Who Should Convene Placement Plan Reviews?
4. Chairing Placement Plan Reviews
5. Who Should Attend or Contribute to the Review?
6. Preparation and Conducting the Review
7. Recording of Review Outcomes
8. Progress Chasing Review Outcomes

1. Purpose of Placement Plan Reviews

The purpose of  Placement Planning Reviews is to ensure the Placement Plan/Placement Information Record for  each Child in Care continues to be kept up to date in order to meet their needs, as set out in a Care Plan or Pathway Plan.

This does not prevent the child's social worker or manager of the home (in relation to a child placed in residential care) from amending or making modifications to the Placement Plan between Placement Plan Reviews so long as this has been agreed between the social worker and carer as well as with the child, parents and others affected. 

2. Frequency of Placement Plan Reviews

Placement Plan Reviews should be held at the following intervals:

1. Within 72 hours of the child's placement in foster care or residential care if a Placement Plan/Placement Information Record was not completed prior to the placement, sufficient to sustain the child until the first Looked After Review - see: Placement in Foster Care Procedure
2. As part of a Looked After Review or if this is not possible, a Placement Plan Review should be conducted as soon as possible after each Looked After Review
3. After serious Incidents or in the light of significant changes in the child's circumstances that suggest it is necessary to review the arrangements set out in the Placement Plan/Placement Information Record
4. At other times agreed between the social worker and provider/carer
5. Where the Statement of Purpose for a children's home determines that such reviews should occur

3. Who Should Convene Placement Plan Reviews?

In children's homes, the manager of the home or a person delegated to act on the manager's behalf will usually convene Placement Plan Reviews.

In other placements, the social worker should convene the review.

4. Chairing Placement Plan Reviews

• In children's homes, the manager of the home, or a person delegated to act on the manager's behalf such as the Link Worker, will chair Placement Plan Reviews
• In other placements, the social worker will chair the Review

5. Who Should Attend or Contribute to the Review?

The people who should contribute are:

1. The child's social worker
2. The child
3. The child's parents
4. The foster carer and foster carer's supervising social worker or a representative from the children's home

Other significant people should be invited, including the Commissioning Manager (where the placement is with an external provider) and any providers/carers who have been looking after the child immediately prior to the placement.

6. Preparation and Conducting the Review

Additional detailed guidance on preparation and chairing of reviews is contained in Children's Reviews Guidance. 

Before the Review the chairperson should obtain or be up dated on the following:

• The child's Placement Plan/Placement Information Record
• Any work which has been undertaken by key professionals involved in supporting the child's placement
• The child's Care Plan and/or Pathway Plan

The chairperson should also ensure that the child, parent(s) and others who have been asked to contribute, understand the purpose of the review, how it will be conducted and are given the opportunity to put their views and suggestions.

During the Review, the chairperson should ensure the following:

• That consideration is given to the continuing appropriateness of the placement within the context of the child's Care Plan and/or Pathway Plan and the need for the Placement Plan to be amended as appropriate
• That the child's Placement Plan/Placement Information Record is updated if appropriate, and new or updated copies are circulated to those who were invited or contributed

This does not mean that amendments or modifications to Placement Plans may only be made at Placement Plan Reviews. When Placement Plans are formulated and at each Placement Plan Review, the social worker and foster carer/fostering social worker or home manager should agree the extent to which they can be amended or modified between Placement Plan Reviews or without consultation. 

If there are concerns about the suitability of the placement, consideration should be given to the following:

• Whether it is possible to sustain the placement until the next Looked After Review by, for example, providing additional support to the placement
• Bringing forward the date of the next Looked After Review

7. Recording of Review Outcomes

The chairperson must ensure the following is recorded at the end of the Placement Plan Review:

• The updating or amendment of the child's Placement Plan/Placement Information Record
• If it seems appropriate, additional minutes

Copies of these records should be circulated to those who attended or were invited to contribute, including the Commissioning Manager (where the placement is with an external provider) and the child’s Independent Reviewing Officer.

If there is any change of placement as a result of the Placement Plan Review, the Independent Reviewing Officer must be included on the list of people to whom the social worker must give notification of any change in placement. The notifications should be before the start of the placement or within 5 working days

8. Progress Chasing Review Outcomes

Where the chairperson is concerned about delay in implementation of any aspects of the Placement Plan/Placement Information Record or Care Plan, he or she should take matters up with those responsible and, if necessary, relevant managers.

End