2.2 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.
Detailed guidance on recording Child in Need Plans is in ICS Detailed Guidance, Section 5.0 The Child's Plan CSICS5S.
See Transfer Policy.
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.
Child in Need Plans will be time limited and outcome focused. Every review of the case should consider not only whether the objectives of the Child in Need Plan are being achieved but also whether the needs of the child/ren would be better met within an alternative Plan such as a Child Protection Plan or a Child Care Plan. If the outcomes are not achieved within a maximum period of 6 months, the Child in Need Plan will be reviewed by the Service Manager in supervision with the Team Manager, to consider the appropriateness of the Plan.
In relation to financial assistance provided to families of children in need, as part of a Child in Need Plan, the appropriate manager can agree payments up to the financial limits agreed from time to time.
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.
A Child in Need Plan must be initiated via the following routes:
- As a development of an Initial Plan which was completed as part of the Initial Assessment processes;
- As an outcome of a Core Assessment;
- At a child protection conference when the decision is a child does not need to be the subject of a Child Protection Plan or at the cessation of a period of being Looked After.
The Child in Need Plan must identify the child's individual needs, the services to be provided, who is responsible for which action, the time-scale involved and the desired outcome.
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 three months, by the child’s allocated social worker, who should invite or seek the views of the child, parents and any service providers.
The Review should take place within a multi-agency meeting, unless there are exceptional circumstances and the manager agrees otherwise. The review is to be chaired by a social worker, Senior Support Worker or manager. If in exceptional circumstances the case is not allocated, the manager must ensure that there is a robust monitoring system in place and undertake the review or arrange for it to be undertaken on his/her behalf. Review of cases that are held at Family Centres, will be chaired by managers or a senior support worker with a level 3 NVQ.
If the outcome of such a review is that the child has, or is likely to suffer Significant Harm the case is to be re-referred within 24 hours to the Children and Families Team in the area 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 on Case Notes 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 Protocol. In these circumstances, an end of service customer feedback form should be given to the service user.
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.
If the conclusion of the review is that there a real risk of family breakdown, the case should be referred to the children and families team in the area where the family live.
End