Supervision Orders

AMENDMENT

This chapter was updated in June 2024 in line with local practice and terminology.

1. Introduction

Supervision orders.

  1. While a supervision order is in force it shall be the duty of the supervisor:
    1. To advise, assist and befriend the supervised child;
    2. To take such steps as are reasonably necessary to give effect to the order; and
    3. Where:
      1. The order is not wholly complied with; or
      2. The supervisor considers that the order may no longer be necessary, to consider whether or not to apply to the court for its variation or discharge.
  2. Parts I and II of Schedule 3 make further provision with respect to supervision orders.

A Supervision Order does not confer Parental Responsibility upon the parent or guardian with care of the child. The Supervision Order will be in place for the period of time directed by the court.

No Supervision Order may be made with respect to a child who has reached the age of seventeen (or sixteen, in the case of a child who is married).

Supervision Orders can be made with respect to a child who is subject to a Child Arrangement Order, Special Guardianship Order or any Section 8 Order and will not end those orders.

2. The Scope of a Supervision Order

In the first instance, a court will generally impose a Supervision Order for one year, (though this can be for a shorter period of time). A supervisor can apply to the court to extend or further extend a Supervision Order for such period as the court may specify but cannot extend in total for a period beyond three years from the date on which the Supervision Order began.

If as part of proceedings a family or child move to another Local Authority Children’s Social Care should make representation timely regarding designation of the Supervision Order via the Court and Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council Legal department to ensure that any final care plans are supported in the correct Local Area. Supervision Order Support plans should be jointly completed with Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council and the receiving Local Authority in line with their resources.

Completed Supervision Order plans (as per appendix) should be shared with the family and professionals via care planning/child protection/child in need meetings for agreement to be sought in relation to actions and next steps prior to the hearing that will ratify/grant the Supervision Order – this will prevent any drift or delay. NB If in care proceedings the Guardian should be consulted with the Supervision Order Plan.

3. Directions

Orders can be made, which are sometimes relevant for older children (e.g. requiring them to live in a specific place in the case of a child who persists in returning to the home of a person who is a risk), or requiring them to attend medical appointments (e.g. a child with anorexia or self-harming or other diagnosed mental health problems).

A Supervision Order may require the supervised child to comply with any directions given from time to time by the supervisor which require him to do all or any of the following things:

  • To live at a place or places specified in the directions for a period or periods so specified;
  • To present herself/himself to a person or persons specified in the directions at a place or places and on a day or days so specified;
  • To participate in activities specified in the directions on a day or days so specified.
  • It shall be for the supervisor to decide whether, and to what extent, they exercises their power to give directions and to decide the form of any directions which they give.

Within the Supervision Order there is the opportunity to impose obligations on a responsible person, (Schedule 3). This makes the requirements the responsibility of the parent/carer as well as the child, but it needs their consent at the final hearing to include it in the order.

(Paragraph 8) requires the responsible person to give details of the child's address and allow the supervisor reasonable contact with the child.

The responsible person, in relation to a supervised child means:

  • Any person who has parental responsibility for the child; and
  • Any other person with whom the child is living.

A Supervision Order may require the supervised child to submit to a medical or psychiatric examination or to submit to any such examination from time to time as directed by the supervisor. See Schedule 3 for further details particularly in relation to medical/psychiatric examination and treatment.

When the Local authority requests a Supervision order the Appendix supervision order plan is to be completed in line with the requested timeframe as part of the initial Social Work Evidence Template (SWET) – the plan should be filed to court as part of the application.

When the courts have indicated that a Supervision Order may be ordered at the end of proceedings a draft Supervision Order plan (as per appendix) should be presented as part of final evidence for the courts to consider. This will allow for robust management oversight prior to supervision orders being granted to ensure that the supervision order has maximum impact for children and families

The use of the Supervision Order Plan is crucial in ensuring that prior to any order being granted the court is able to consider the balance of Supervision Order vs Care Order and evidences the Local Authorities robust plan of support.

4. Management and Review of Children Subject of a Supervision Order

Cases are allocated to social workers, who will visit, advise, assist and befriend the child, support the family to ensure that the action plan to improve the welfare of the child within the home is carried out. These cases are generally managed under the child in need (Child in Need Planning and Review Procedure) framework and will follow the government guidance in relation to the frequency of reviews. However, cases are considered on a case by case basis for management under the Child Protection framework, and it may be necessary to consider a Child Protection Conference if the level of concern or risk begins to escalate.

It is expected that the frequency of home visits within the first 3 months should be fortnightly.

The child/ren should be seen and spoken to alone.

At 3 months and 9 months (where appropriate), the Child In Need meeting should be chaired by the Team Manager. The Team Manager will consider the progress of the safety/support plan and the visiting schedule.

After the 3 month review, home visits should take place at least 4 weekly during the period of the supervision order. However the Team Manager can instruct more frequent visits to continue at the 3 month review.

A Legal Planning meeting will be held prior to the lapsing of a Supervision Order chaired by a Service Manager. This should be requested by the social worker via the legal workspace three months prior to the supervision order end date. At this meeting the Service Manager will review the progress and consider whether to:

  • End the Supervision Order on expiry of the order; or
  • Return to court to extend the Supervision Order or seek a Care Order.

The decision from this meeting will inform the actions at the final CIN meeting. If concerns have reduced the children may be stepped down to Early Help provision or the case may be closed in line with the CIN meeting and Legal Planning outcome. See Knowsley Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures Manual, Step Up / Step Down Procedure.

All Child in Need/Child Protection meetings should have clear minutes available to ensure that actions are clearly understood by the child/young person, their family and professionals. Professionals and family members should be sent a record of the meeting including a SMART plan within 10 days of meetings. See Child in Need Planning and Review Procedure.

Appendix 1: Supervision Order Support Plan

Click here to view Appendix 1: Supervision Order Support Plan.