4.1 Route Map for Looked After Children

Route Map for Looked After Children

Referral Decision on outcome of Referral within 1 working day	Information received that child may be a Child in Need of services. This may be in a number of forms including a CAF See Initial Contacts and Referral Procedure Referral and Information Record to be completed

Initial Assessment Within 10 working days	Child seen by social worker. Assessment identifies one of following: Child in Need requiring Core Assessment Possible Significant Harm; leading to Strategy Discussion and possible Core Assessment with Child Protection Assessment Child in Need with service provided and no Core Assessment Child not in need, sign post to other agencies and/or NFA If the child is at risk of Significant Harm, there may be a need to take steps to protect the child, including obtaining an Emergency Protection Order. Child's Chronology to be commenced See Initial Assessments Procedure and Core Assessments Procedure.

Core Assessment Within 35 working days	Core Assessment identifies child's needs and services required. Possible Initial Child Protection Conference - may lead to child being made subject to Child Protection Plan. See Initial Assessments Procedure Core Assessments Procedure.

Conclusion reached that parent(s) are not meeting child's needs.

Consider additional support to maintain placement at home.	Referral for services to maintain child within the home. Consider referral to the Care Management Panel.

Consider other Family Options	Consider supporting arrangements for child to live with other family members, with support if necessary, which would avoid need for child to be Looked After. See Relative Carers Guidance.

Conclusion reached that child should be Looked After.

Decide to Look After Child	Child meets criteria for Looked After Service. Decision to Look After child approved by Service Manager See Decision to Look After Procedure.

Seek parents' agreement	Where possible, parents' agreement sought to child's admission to Looked After Service. This should take the form of a meeting but the parents must receive a letter as outlined in the Public Law Outline

Consider Looked After Placement Options	Consider Looked After Placement with relative/friend, with support if necessary. If suitable relative/friend available, assessment as foster carer required. If no family member available or suitable to care for child, consider other placement options. Legal advice and decision required as to whether child should be looked after by being accommodated or via Care Proceedings Placement Plan/Placement Information Record to be commenced See: Placement with Parents Procedure Placement with Relatives and Friends Procedure Care Plans Guidance

Draft Care Plan	Care Plan drafted in outline, identifying purpose of admission to Looked After Service, how the local authority will exercise its responsibilities for the child including type of placement and contact with parents. See Care Plans Guidance.

Seek Manager approval for Care Plan	Care Plan relating to Accommodated children should be approved by the social worker's manager. Care Plan taken before the Court in relation to Care Proceedings must be endorsed and signed by the Team Manager. If a Care Plan is not completed at this stage, the manager may authorise that it is completed within 7 days of the child's placement.

Initiate Court action	Where Court action considered necessary, Care Proceedings initiated or other appropriate Court application, evidence prepared and hearing date arranged. Parents and their legal representatives must be involved in this process as defined by the Public Law Outline For secure placement, Designated Manager (Secure Accommodation Reviews) can authorise up to 72 hours in Secure Accommodation without Court Order. Placements in Secure Accommodation Procedure.

Seek Placement	Seek placements as required in relevant chapters: Post Placement Arrangements Procedure Placements in Foster Care Procedure Placements in Residential Care Procedure Placements in Secure Accommodation Procedure

First Court hearing	Unless parents consent to child being Accommodated, Court hearing will occur before placement unless child on Police Protection or, for a Secure Accommodation placement, 72 hours after placement has been authorised by Designated Manager. Emergency Protection Order/Interim Care Order /Secure Accommodation Order obtained. Placements in Secure Accommodation Procedure

Place child and complete Placement Plan before or on day of child's placement	Placement Plan/Placement Information Record completed before or on the day of the placement. If this cannot be fully completed before or on the day of the placement, a Placement Planning Meeting must be convened within 7 working days. Update the child's Chronology

Emergency Placement Planning Meeting within 72 hours of placement	If child placed in an emergency, an Emergency Placement Planning Meeting held within 72 hours of the placement to ensure placement is suitable. Update Placement Plan/Placement Information Record and arrange Placement Agreement Meetings, if necessary. See Emergency Placements Procedure

Arrange first Looked After Review Arrange first Looked After Review within 28 days of placement	See Looked After Reviews Procedure.

Notifications	Health and Education notified that the placement has started. If the child is transferring from one placement to another or the child's legal status changes, the relevant Business Support Officer must be notified. Placements in Foster Care Procedure Placements in Residential Care Procedure Placements in Secure Accommodation Procedure

Social worker visits The first visit should occur within one week of placement.	Social worker visits to child made within one week of placement and then weekly for first 6 weeks if child placed with relative or friend, or otherwise at minimum of six weekly intervals in first year for the purposes of monitoring and supporting the placement. See Social Worker Visits Procedure.

Health Care Assessment	The Health Care Assessment should contribute to the child's Health Care Plan, which should be incorporated into the child's Care Plan with detail in the Placement Plan/Placement Information Record and should be completed in time for the first Looked After Review. See Health Care Assessments and Health Care Plans Procedure.

Promote Family Contact	Detailed contact arrangements made and included within the Placement Plan/Placement Information Record in the context of the overall Care Plan. Contact with Parents and Siblings Procedure Contact with Relatives, Friends and Visitors Procedure (including overnight stays)

Final date for completion of Care Plan. 7 days after Placement.	If Care Plan was not completed before the placement, and the manager authorised it, the social worker may complete and circulate it within 7 days of the placement. All parties should be invited to sign the Care Plan. Care Plans Guidance.

Complete Personal Education Plan (PEP) In time for first Looked After Review, 28 days after the placement starts	Social Worker to liaise with child's school and/or the Education Department and formulate a Personal Education Plan (PEP). Education of Looked After Children Procedure Looked After Reviews Procedure

Implement Care Plan	As required by Care Plan and/or Placement Plan/Placement Information Record, strategies implemented, further assessments organised (with Court's permission if within care proceedings) and time-scales set to explore possibility of rehabilitation and/or other Permanence options, including need for Parallel Plan. Permanence Plan for Looked After Children Procedure

Assess carers, where placement is with relative or friend. Within 6 weeks of the placement starting	Assessment of relative/friend as foster carer initiated and presented to Fostering Panel within 6 weeks. Placement with Relatives and Friends Procedure

Convene first Looked After Review. Within 28 Days of the Placement	Progress in implementing aims of Care Plan considered at first Looked After Review, with a view to incorporating timescales for achieving Permanence for child by second Looked After Review at latest, and including Contingency Plan if Permanence not achieved by third Looked After Review. Consideration of Parallel Planning required. Looked After Review Procedure

Where plan is for Adoption, either as preferred plan or Parallel Plan, Adoption Procedures to be followed and the Chronology updated See Placement for Adoption Procedure.

Where plan is for placement within extended family, either as preferred plan or Parallel Plan, possible placements with family to be explored and assessed as appropriate. See Placement with Parents Procedure or Placement with Relatives and Friends Procedure.

Ongoing Health Care Assessment	Depending on the age of the child, further Health Care Assessments must be conducted at between 6 and 12 month intervals. Health Care Assessments and Health Care Plans Procedure.

Interim/final Court hearings	Detailed Care Plan with recommendations for Court Order approved by Designated Manager (Care Proceedings) and presented to Court

Rehabilitation plan implemented	Where Interim Care Order or Care Order in force, Placement with Parents Procedure followed. Subsequent Looked After Reviews consider need for Care Order to continue. Where no Care Order, child discharged from Looked After Service with Child's Plan of support and monitoring.

Permanence Plan agreed By second Looked After Review	As soon as possible, and before second Looked After Review at the latest, Permanence Plan to be implemented for child. Consult with the Adoption Team. Contingency Plan (if Permanence Plan not achieved by third Looked After Review) and, where appropriate, Parallel Planning. Looked After Reviews Procedure Permanence Planning for Looked After Children Procedure

Permanence Plan By second Looked After Review	As soon as possible, and by second Looked After Review at the latest, Care Plan incorporates Permanence Plan to be implemented for child, Contingency Plan (if Permanence Plan not achieved by third Looked After Review) and, where appropriate Parallel Plan.

Where plan is for Adoption, either as preferred plan or Parallel Plan, Adoption Procedures to be followed. See Placements for Adoption Procedure.

Where plan is for placement within extended family, either as preferred plan or Parallel Plan, possible placements with family to be explored and assessed as appropriate. See Placements with Parents Procedure or Placements with Connected Persons Procedure.

Permanence Plan Implementation By third Looked After Review	Where rehabilitation plan not implemented by third Looked After Review, implement Contingency Plan. Looked After Reviews Procedure Permanence Planning for Looked After Children Procedure

Where plan is for Adoption, Adoption Procedures to be followed. See Placement for Adoption Procedure. Where plan is for placement within extended family, see Placements with Parents Procedure or Placements with Connected Persons Procedure.

Where preparation for independence appropriate.	Pathway Plan drawn up and reviewed. See Leaving Care Procedure.

Where young person has a learning disability, start planning transition to adult services from age 14 with plan to be in place by age 18	Transitions Planning completed.

End

4.1 Route Map for Looked After Children

Route Map for Looked After Children

Referral

Initial Assessment

Core Assessment