1.10.2 Social Work Visits

Contents

1. Normal Frequency 
2. Purpose 
3. Recording 

1. Normal Frequency

Social Workers have a statutory obligation to visit children at the following intervals, subject to conditions*:

• within one week of the placement;
• then at intervals of no more than six weeks during the first year of the placement;
• in subsequent years, the child should be visited at every six weeks ( if the placement is intended to last until the child  is 18).

This applies to all placements, even where a child has moved from one placement to another. 

Some visits should be unannounced.

If Social Workers persistently fail to undertake visits, the Manager should raise their concerns with Social Worker’s line Managers.

Conditions* Where the placement is with relatives or friends who have not yet been approved as foster carers, the social worker must visit the child weekly. Where the placement is for a series of short-term placements, the child's social worker must visit the child within the first 7 placement days (being days when the child is placed) and thereafter every six months. Visits should be made more frequently if circumstances require and whenever reasonably requested by the child or the staff.

2. Purpose

The Continuum Group understands that the purpose of the visit is to ensure that the Social Worker is reassured that the placement continues to promote the child’s welfare. The Continuum Group will ensure that the child is given the opportunity:

1. Meet with their social worker in a suitable environment
2. To meet with their social worker alone
3. To express his or her wishes, feelings and views

And that the Social Worker is given the opportunity:

1. To advise, assist and befriend the child
2. To observe the child with the Staff/foster Carer/Parent
3. To monitor the standard of care offered by the placement
4. To monitor how the contact arrangements are working
5. To meet with the manager of the Home
6. To provide support to the placement
7. To identify any areas where additional support is required
8. To evaluate whether the placement is helping to achieve the objectives of the child’s Care Plan.

For reviews see: Planning and Disruption Meetings Procedure.

3. Recording

The Continuum Group will record visits made by Social Workers (see Policy, Values and Principles Procedure) the record will state:

1. who was seen,
2. any comments made by the child or the Staff/Carers/Parents
3. any matters of concern or difficulties
4. any issues raised by the Social Worker.

End