Child in Need Plans and Reviews

A Child in Need Plan will follow an Assessment where the assessment has concluded that a package of family support is required to meet the child's needs under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 or this may also be as a result of outcomes of support required via a Child Arrangement Order or Special Guardianship Order.

The first multi-agency Meeting provides an opportunity for a child and his or her parents/carers, together with key agencies, to identify and agree the package of services required and to develop the Child in Need Plan.

All Child in Need meetings should be attended by the child (depending on age and understanding), parents/carers and those agencies whose potential/actual contribution is recommended as an outcome of an assessment.

The relevant Social Worker should discuss potential attendees for the Meeting with the child and the parents/carers prior to arrangements being made.

It will be important that an appropriate venue suitable for the child and his or her family are used for the meeting. Consideration must be given to transport, timing and any child care issues. Where a child is attending a meeting and is of school age the meeting should be held outside of school time, wherever possible.

Child in Need meetings are usually chaired by the allocated worker and a Team Manager will chair if this necessary.

The Social Worker is responsible for convening the meeting and arranging invitations.

The meeting will be minuted, the minute taker will be agreed by the attendees. This record will be copied to those involved, including the child and parent/s.

A Child in Need Plan will be developed in a Child in Need Meeting.

In particular, the Child in Need Plan should:

• Describe the identified developmental needs of the child, and any services required;
• Include specific, achievable, child-focused outcomes intended to promote and safeguard the welfare of the child;
• Include realistic strategies and specific actions to achieve the planned outcomes;
• Include a contingency plan to be followed if circumstances change significantly and require prompt action;
• Include timescales that are not too short or unachievable;
• Not be dependent on resources which are known to be scarce or unavailable;
• Clearly identify the roles and responsibilities of other professionals and family members, including the nature and frequency of contact by professionals with children and family members;
• Lay down points at which progress will be reviewed and the means by which it will be judged;
• Should not be service led, should detail the changes in behaviour we need to see, which may be because of accessing services.

The Chair of the Child in Need Meeting is responsible for the distribution of the Child in Need Plan. A copy of the Child in Need Plan should be shared with the family within 5 days of the Child in Need Meeting. A copy should also be provided to agencies and professionals involved. A child’s version of the plan should be created if required, to help the child understand their plan.

The allocated worker will be responsible for implementing the plan including making referrals to appropriate agencies for services as described in the plan.

Where it becomes 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.

A Child in Need Review meeting will be held with 20 working days for all children where the assessment identifies the child/young person is in need. The second and subsequent reviews will be conducted at intervals agreed with the line manager, which will be at least every 8 weeks, unless there are exceptional circumstances when timescales can be longer. This can include disabled children whose circumstances remain consistent and the services provided do not require such a regular review.

If there are significant changes in the family circumstances, an early review should take place.

Any child protection or safeguarding issues which arise during the course of a Child in Need Plan must be responded to in line with Cumbria Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures.

The Review will usually be carried out by the allocated worker, who should invite or seek the views of the child, parents and any service providers.

The purpose of the Review is to ensure that the services provided are having a positive impact and reducing the worries for the child, within the time-scales set; a review of the risks to the child; that all key actions have been carried out and what new actions need to be progressed and added to the plan.

All decisions made should be recorded on the child's electronic record, together with reasons, and dated.

A copy of the record should be sent to the child (if old enough), parent and all other participants in the Review process, along with the updated plan within ten working days of the Child in Need meeting.

The outcome of a Review will be:

1. That the child is no longer a Child in Need requiring Children's Social Care Services intervention, which will result in a recommendation to the Team Manager that the child should be closed although the child may continue to receive services from a single agency or under a Early Help plan not involving Children's Social Care;
2. That the child continues to be a Child in Need requiring the same level of services, resulting in the continuing provision of services and minor amendment, as necessary, of the Child in Need Plan;
3. That the child appears to be at risk of Significant Harm, resulting in the need for a Strategy Discussion/Meeting and possible Section 47 Enquiry.

Where the outcome of the Review is an amendment to the Child in Need Plan, the allocated worker should circulate a copy of the amended Plan to the child, parents, and other agencies/professionals involved with the family within 5 days of the review.

Should a child or young person continue to be subject of a Child in Need plan over 6 months, a review of children’s social care involvement, will be undertaken by the Service Manager.