1.2.3 Looked After Reviews |
REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS
Children's Homes Regulations and Standards (England) 2001: Standard 3: Reviews
Children's Homes Regulations and Standards (Wales) 2002: Standard 5: Reviews
LAC (2004) 14 The Independent Review Mechanism
OUTCOME STATEMENT
Children are able to move into and leave the home in a planned and sensitive manner. Children's needs and development are reviewed regularly in the light of their care and progress at the home.
THE SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER
Arrangements for Looked After Reviews are the responsibility of the Placing Authority; therefore managers and staff should obtain copies of procedures from relevant authorities and assist social workers in implementing them.
This chapter summarises the normal responsibilities of the placing authority and what steps should be taken by homes in relation to them.
Contents
1. Purpose of Looked After Reviews
The purpose of the review is to examine the work undertaken with the child, ensure that adequate plans are in place to safeguard and promote the child's welfare and make recommendations or representations on behalf of the child.
It is not the role of the Looked After Review to make decisions about children, that is the responsibility of the social worker.
However, where the chairperson (or another person, including the child) is concerned about delay in implementation of the Care Plan or that recommendations have not been incorporated appropriately, he or she may take this up with the relevant manager or provider. To this end the child mat require assistance from an Advocate or Independent Visitor (see Advocacy and Independent Visitors Procedure). In exceptional circumstances, a review date may be brought forward.
2. Summary of Responsibilities
| 1. | Looked After Reviews should normally be convened at the following intervals:
These are maximum timescales, Looked After Reviews can be convened more frequently if the urgency of the case determines they should be. In the case of children under 5, it is good practice to review the Care Plan more frequently and, if practicable, every 3 months. Where there is a change of placement and the circumstances are such that the Care Plan is no longer appropriate, a Review should take place if practicable within 28 days of the change. |
| 2. | The first Looked After Review must take place within 28 days of a child being Looked After; the second must be within 3 months of the first and thereafter they must take place every 6 months. They can be held more frequently if the circumstances require. |
| 3. | Looked After Reviews are normally chaired by an Independent Reviewing Officer; Regulations require that this person should be outside of the line management of the child's case. |
| 4. | Arrangements, including the setting of dates and invitations, are normally made by the Reviewing Officer in consultation with the social worker. The Manager of the home should take all reasonable steps to be consulted too. Each authority will have it's own procedures on who should be invited, but it is normal for the child, the child's parents and all key professionals involved in assisting in the implementation of the Care Plan to be invited. |
| 5. | The social worker is normally responsible for informing, consulting and preparing the child in good time before the review; but home's staff should assist as far as they can in this process and should ensure that children are properly informed and prepared. To this end, the child must be encouraged to contribute to any report prepared by the home. If the child wishes, s/he should be assisted in preparing his/her own contribution. |
| 6. | Staff should be mindful that the child may wish to or may benefit from being supported by an Advocate or, if appointed, an Independent Visitor (see Advocacy and Independent Visitors Procedure). |
| 7. | In time for the review, or beforehand if required, the home should arrange for an up to date Placement Plan to be available demonstrating what arrangements exist to meet the child's needs. The home should also produce a report of the work undertaken since the child's placement or the last Looked After Review. Teaching staff should produce a report of the child's educational attainments and progress. |
| 8. | The Review will consider the extent to which the aims and objectives of the Care Plan and associated Personal Education Plan (PEP) and, if relevant, Pathway Plan have been achieved. At the second and subsequent Reviews, the review must consider whether there is a suitable Permanence Plan in place. |
| 9. | It will also be necessary for the child's Placement Plan to be reviewed to ensure it continues to meet the needs of the Care and associated plans. |
| 10. | After the Review the social worker is responsible for updating and circulating the Care Plan, Personal Education Plan (PEP) and, if appropriate, the Pathway Plan. The Manager of the home is responsible for updating circulating the child's Placement Plan. |
| 11. | The chairperson normally prepares and circulates minutes. |
3. Clifford House Responsibilities
If Looked After Reviews are not arranged or conducted in line with regulations/standards, the Resource Manager should initially raise his/her concerns with the social worker. If matters are not resolved, the Resource Manager should consult his/her own Line Manager with a view to raising concerns with senior managers within the Local Authority or, in exceptional circumstances, by way of a referral to CAFCASS a formal complaint.
- The Resource Manager should consult the young person's social worker to ensure that the arrangements set out in Local Authority/Social Worker Responsibilities.
- The Resource Manager must ensure that a full report must be written at least 2weeks prior to the review date and send to the Chair Person and social worker 1 week in advance.
The Registered Manager and Operations Manager should have a discussion prior to this to decide who is the most appropriate person to write it. Click here to view the format and guidance for this report.
Where possible young people should be given the opportunity to read through their report prior to the review taking place. This is ideally done in the presence of the child's Linkworker who can then answer any questions the child may have. Although this can take some planning this process is very positive as it can allow the child to have prior knowledge of what is going to be said about them and enable them to comment on this out of the Review format and discuss any issues raised.
It can also therefore help to allay some of the fears that young people have about attending meetings.
Children should also be given and supported to complete either both our own or the Local Authority's Young Person's Questionnaire which allows them to comment on how they feel they are being cared for and any issues that they would like raising at the meeting. - If it appears to be necessary or the young person requests it, an Advocate or, if appointed, an Independent Visitor should be appointed/asked to act on behalf of or accompany the young person to the review. (see Advocacy and Independent Visitors Procedure).
- In time for the review, or beforehand if required, the home should arrange for an up to date Placement Plan to be available demonstrating what arrangements exist to meet the child's needs. It may be necessary to conduct a Placement Plan Review prior to or soon after the Looked After Review. The home should also produce a report of the work undertaken since the child's placement or the last Looked After Review. Teaching staff should produce a report of the child's educational attainments and progress.
- An appropriate member of staff, e.g. the Linkworker or Team leader and the Operations Manager responsible for the home, will represent the company at Looked After reviews.
- If reviews are not conducted in accordance with regulations, Staff should ask for these matters to be noted within the minutes.
- Internal notes will be taken, and a copy of placed on the young person's file.
End