3.7 Implementing the Child Protection Plan

AMENDMENTS

This chapter was amended in September 2010 to take account of the changes in Working Together to Safeguard Children (WT) 2010. The changes, which are in Sections 1, 3 and 5, are shown in italics. Changes have also been made to reflect the change of terminology in WT 2010 from 'Keyworker' to Lead Social Worker.

The Child Protection Plan
Agreeing the Child Protection Plan with the Child
Negotiating the Child Protection Plan with the Parents
Role of the Lead Social Worker
Contact with the Child
Role of the Lead Social Worker's Manager
The Core Group

1. The Child Protection Plan

The Initial Child Protection Conference which decides that the child should be the subject of a Child Protection Plan must:

Outline the proposed plan, making sure it is detailed enough to protect the child until the first Core Group meeting
Suggest in outline the areas the continuing assessments should cover
Identify the Lead Social Worker and who will be members of the Core Group
Obtain agreement to the date for the first Core Group meeting, which must take place within 10 days of the conference

The details of the plan will then be developed in the Core Group - see Section 7.

The overall aim of the Child Protection Plan is:

To ensure the child is safe and prevent him or her from suffering further harm by supporting the strengths, addressing the vulnerabilities and risk factors and helping meet the child's unmet needs
To promote the child’s welfare, health and development; and
Provided it is in the best interests of the child, to support the family and wider family members to safeguard and promote the welfare of their child

The Plan must make clear to the child, family, and all relevant professionals the exact nature of the concerns which resulted in the decision that a Child Protection Plan was required.

The Child Protection Plan should set out what work needs to be done, why, when and by whom. The Plan should:

Identify when and in what situations the child will be seen by the child's Lead Social Worker, both alone and with other family members or caregivers present.
Describe the identified developmental needs of the child, and what support and therapeutic services are required
Describe the services that will be required to enable the parents to care for the child effectively.
Be culturally sensitive and appropriate for those with disabilities
Include specific, achievable, child-focused outcomes intended to safeguard and promote the welfare of and reduce the risk to the child
Set out realistic strategies and specific actions to achieve the planned outcomes, including any further specialist assessments of the child and the family
Be clear about roles and responsibilities- including tasks for family members - what and within what specified timescales
Set out the arrangements for monitoring including the nature and frequency of contact by professionals, e.g. GPs, health visitors and teachers as well as professionals providing additional support with children and family members
Ensure that arrangements are in place for the child to be seen alone and spoken to, depending on age and understanding
Lay down the points at which progress will be reviewed, and the means by which progress will be judged
Provide for a Contingency Plan and the circumstances which would necessitate its use

It is important that services are provided to give the child and family the best chance of achieving the required changes. If a child cannot be cared for safely by his or her parent(s), he or she will have to be placed elsewhere whilst work is being undertaken with the child and family.

Irrespective of where the child is living, interventions should specifically address:

The developmental needs of the child
The child’s understanding of what has happened to him or her
The abusing parent/child relationship and the parental capacity to respond to the child’s need
Family relationships and
Possible changes to the family’s social and environmental circumstances

Interventions may have a number of inter-related components:

Action to make a child safe
Action to help promote a child’s health and development
Action to help a parent in safeguarding a child and promoting his or her welfare
Therapy for an abused child and
Support or therapy for a perpetrator of abuse

A key issue in deciding on suitable interventions is whether the child’s developmental needs can be responded to within his or her family context and within timescales that are appropriate for the child. These timescales may not be compatible for the caregivers who are receiving therapeutic help.

The Child Protection Plan can be used as evidence in any legal proceedings of the efforts which have been made to work in partnership with the child and family and to reduce the level of risk.

If the Child Protection Plan is not successful in achieving its objectives, a Child Protection Review Conference must be convened – see Section 7.7.

2. Agreeing the Child Protection Plan with the Child

The Child Protection Plan should be explained to and agreed with the child in a manner appropriate to their age and understanding. An interpreter should be used if the level of the child’s English means that s/he is not able to participate fully in these discussions unless they are conducted in their own language. The involvement of other specialist advisers should be considered where the child has communication or learning difficulties.

The child should be given a copy of the plan written at a level appropriate to his or her age and understanding and in his or her preferred language.

3. Negotiating the Child Protection Plan with the Parents

Parents should be clear about the evidence of Significant Harm that resulted in the child becoming the subject of a Child Protection Plan, about what needs to change, and what is expected of them as part of the plan for safeguarding and promoting the child’s welfare. All parties should be clear about the respective roles and responsibilities of family members and different agencies in implementing this plan. The parents should receive a written copy of the plan so that they are clear about who is doing what, when and the planned outcomes for the child.

4. Role of the Lead Social Worker

Each child with a Child Protection Plan must have a Lead Social Worker. One of the primary tasks of the Conference Chairperson will be to identify the Lead Social Worker.

The Lead Social Worker will always be a suitably qualified and experienced social worker from within the Children and Young People's Services.

The Lead Social Worker is the lead professional in co-ordinating the multi-agency work under the Child Protection Plan.

The Lead Social Worker must take a proactive role in ensuring that:

Core Group meetings take place in accordance with these procedures
A detailed Child Protection Plan is developed
The Core Assessment is completed and that appropriate contributions are made by Core Group members and others as necessary.
The effectiveness of the Child Protection Plan in safeguarding the child is monitored
The child’s wishes and feelings are ascertained
The child is kept up to date with the Child Protection Plan and any changes or developments
Any specialist contribution to the required assessment is commissioned on behalf of the Core Group

It is important that the role of the Lead Social Worker is fully explained at the Initial Child Protection Conference and at the Core Group.

Where the Lead Social Worker becomes unavailable for more than four weeks, it becomes the responsibility of the Children and Young People's Services Manager to ensure that the Lead Social Worker's role and functions are met, or to notify their own manager that they cannot be met.

The specific responsibilities of the Lead Social Worker are:

To promote good communication between agencies and with the family, ensuring:

Parents are clear about the role and responsibility of the Core Group and that they are fully involved in developing the Child Protection Plan
Children understand the responsibilities of the Core Group and are involved in developing the child protection plan.
Any parent who has been excluded from the Core Group is informed of discussions and outcomes as appropriate to the child’s welfare and safety
Core Group members are aware of significant events in the family’s life and consulted about proposed changes to the Child Protection Plan
All Core Group meetings are recorded and copies are sent to all involved, including the Conference Chairperson
The Lead Social Worker's manager and the Conference Chair are consulted about and/or informed of any changes in circumstances as appropriate

To draft the practical and detailed proposals for the Child Protection Plan in line with the recommendations of the preceding Conference, as the basis for discussion at the initial Core Group meeting.
To take lead responsibility for monitoring the progress of the Child Protection Plan and alert their manager where the Plan cannot be progressed and it is necessary to consider alternative action.
To ensure that Core Group meeting are convened, co-ordinated, chaired and recorded.
To ensure Core Group meetings are held according to these procedures.
To invite additional members to the Core Group as needed
To ensure that all members of the Core Group are aware of the next Conference date.
To circulate the record of Core Group meetings and the Child Protection Plan to members of the Core Group, including parents and the child (depending on his or her age and understanding), and the Conference Chairperson- see 5.5 below.
To ensure that where a Looked After child is subject to a Child Protection Plan and therefore also subject to Looked After Reviews, active consideration is given by the Lead Social Worker's line manager and in discussion with the Conference Chairperson to coordinating the meetings wherever possible or appropriate.
To take lead responsibility for ensuring that the child’s Core Assessment is completed and that any specialist assessment identified as necessary is commissioned.

5. Contact with the Child

The Lead Social Worker must ensure:

He or she sees the child in order to monitor his/her safety and well-being and be aware of his/her views, wishes and feelings. This should generally be contact with the child alone, depending on the child's age, wishes and understanding. Where a decision is made that the child should not be seen alone, it should also be decided who should be present when the Lead Social Worker sees the child and the reason should be recorded. The frequency of contact will vary according to circumstances and the Child Protection Plan, but must never exceed intervals of more than 4 weeks. In addition, the child should be seen at least fortnightly by a person or persons nominated by the Core Group. These are minimum requirements and more frequent visiting may be necessary according to the circumstances.

Contact with the child should be recorded on the child’s file and the record should include:

The time and date of every home visit/contact with family, stating who was present
Confirmation that the Lead Social Worker saw and spoke with the child, depending on age and understanding (including if alone), and if not, include who was present giving a clear reason for their presence
Any information gathered or observations made during the visit relevant to the identified risks to the child
Specific information about key areas such as basic care, health, education, medical needs (See Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families)
Factual, evidence based reports of the child’s presentation and behaviour
Any new incidents or injuries,

If contact with the child is refused or avoided and the child remains unseen, this must be viewed as a serious breach of the Child Protection Plan. There should be immediate discussion with the Lead Social Worker's line manager and it may be deemed appropriate to consider seeking legal advice about statutory protective action. There must also be discussion with the Core Group members and with the Conference Chairperson about the need for an urgent Child Protection Review Conference.

6. Role of the Lead Social Worker's Manager

The first line manager has a vital role in managing the progress of the case and supporting the Lead Social Worker.

The manager should:

Ensure all decisions taken and reasons for these are recorded and dated.
Review the progress and effectiveness of the Child Protection Plan and any concerns in supervision, including the need for any further action to safeguard the child.
Read and countersign Conference Reports and the Child Protection Plan
Attend all Initial Child Protection Conferences and as many Child Protection Review Conferences as possible
Chair all initial Core Group meetings, to ensure the development of the outline plan agreed at the conference
Confirm the visiting frequency of the Lead Social Worker and the frequency of Core Group meetings
Arrange cover for the Lead Social Worker in case of sickness and ensure arrangements are in place when the Lead Social Worker is on annual leave and training.

7. The Core Group

7.1	Purpose of Core Group The Core Group is responsible for developing the Child Protection Plan as a detailed working tool, and implementing it, within the outline plan agreed at the initial child protection conference. The Core Group achieves this by: Producing an agreed, detailed Child Protection Plan Contributing to the assessment of the family and child and identifying any further assessments necessary Sharing information routinely and immediately if there are increased concerns about the safety of the child Ensuring the attendance of members at Core Group meetings Contributing to an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Child Protection Plan for the Child Protection Review Conference Taking appropriate steps in response to changing circumstances to ensure the child is adequately safeguarded.
7.2	Membership and Responsibilities of the Core Group Membership should include the Lead Social Worker, who leads the Core Group, the child if appropriate, family members, carers and professionals who have direct contact with the family. Child Protection Plans should be formulated with the specific roles of the Core Group members in mind so that everyone is clear about the individual and shared responsibilities. Although the Lead Social Worker has the lead role, all members of the Core Group are jointly responsible for the formulation and implementation of the Child Protection Plan, refining the plan as needed, and monitoring progress against the planned outcomes. Supervision and/or managerial and professional support to individual Core Group members remain with their agency. However, the Conference Chairperson may provide advice to the Core Group on any remaining inter-agency problems which the Core Group is unable to resolve. The specific responsibilities of individual Core Group members are to: Accept that the child’s needs remain paramount and maintain a child-centred focus Contribute to the multi-agency assessments Enlist the involvement of other specifically skilled professionals or agencies seen as relevant to the completion of the assessment or in order to promote the child’s welfare Attend and participate in Core Group meetings or other relevant meetings Carry out agreed tasks in accordance with their own agency functions: if this is not possible, the Lead Social Worker must be alerted. Provide specialist advice, which will inform the Child Protection Plan Provide the Lead Social Worker with written reports as requested Communicate regularly with the Lead Social Worker about the progress of their part of the agreed Child Protection Plan Inform the Lead Social Worker of any change in circumstances relevant to the Child Protection Plan Alert the Lead Social Worker to the possible need to convene either a Core Group meeting or to reconvene the Child Protection Review Conference early Help identify unmet need
7.3	The first Core Group Meeting The Lead Social Worker’s manager will chair the first meeting of the Core Group on the date set at the initial Child Protection Conference. This will be within 10 working days of the Conference. Using either the full minutes of the Child Protection Conference or a copy of the decisions and recommendations, the Core Group must complete the detail of the Child Protection Plan. The Core Group must also consider what steps need to be taken to complete the Core Assessment if this has not already been done. The detailed Child Protection Plan, together with any other decisions made and actions agreed at the Core Group should be written up on the available pro forma and circulated by the Lead Social Worker. The dates of the next two Core Group Meetings, which should be held at monthly intervals, should be agreed.
7.4	Subsequent Core Group Meetings The Core Group should meet sufficiently regularly to facilitate effective working together, monitor actions and outcomes against the Child Protection Plan. Also to make any necessary alterations as circumstances change. Therefore, it is recommended that Core Groups should meet every 4 weeks unless the conference decides that meetings should be more frequent. Following the first Core Group, meetings will chaired by the Lead Social Worker unless the level of concern increases when it would be advisable for the team manager to chair the meeting.
7.5	Recording Core Group Meetings. Core Group Meetings should be recorded. Copies of the notes and the detailed Child Protection Plan must be circulated by the Lead Social Worker to Core Group members within 3 working days of the Core Group Meeting. A copy must also be sent to the Conference Chairperson.
7.6	Agreement of detailed Child Protection Plan Core Group members must agree a plan which adds detail to the outline Child Protection Plan agreed at the Child Protection Conference. The Core Group should not alter any of the specified outcomes agreed at the conference although they can agree additional outcomes if required. The Plan should ensure the active intervention by members of the Core Group and agree monitoring through visits to the home. In addition, in cases where relevant areas have not been covered sufficiently in the Initial Assessment and Core Assessment, it will identify further assessments that enable the family to gain insight so that they and the professionals involved can build on their strengths and reduce any risk to the children of future Significant Harm.
7.7	Failure to achieve the desired outcomes of the Plan Monitoring and assessment may lead to the conclusion that the Child Protection Plan has been ineffective in reducing the risk of harm or that there is an increased risk of harm to the child, in which case consideration should be given to the need for any further action. In these circumstances, and/or where there is a failure to obtain or retain the cooperation of the parents or child in working on the plan or changed or unforeseen circumstances, this must be brought immediately to the attention of the Lead Social Worker. The Lead Social Worker must inform his or her manager and, where appropriate in consultation with other agencies, a decision will be made as to the need for any immediate protective action and/or a Section 47 Enquiry and/or a Child Protection Review Conference. Where there are concerns that a child or family are missing, for guidance see Children and Families who go Missing Procedure. If there are concerns that there are difficulties implementing the Plan as a result of disagreement among professionals or a Core Group member not carrying out his or her responsibilities, this must be addressed by discussion between Core Group members and, if required, the involvement of relevant managers and/or Designated Professionals within agencies. Where necessary, see Resolution of Professional Disagreements Procedure.

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