Child and Family Plan Meetings (Child in Need Meetings)
| 1 | Child and Family Plan meetings are convened for all children and young people who meet the threshold of a CIN. | The definition of a CIN (Section 17, Children Act 1989) is applied. If a Child Protection Conference does not make a Child Protection Plan for a child it will consider the formulation of a Child and Family Plan that addresses the areas of concern and set a date for a Child and Family Plan Meeting where the plan will be developed with appropriate consents. |
| 2 | Child and Family Plan meetings are held within agreed timescales | – The manager will review the case by day 10 and make a decision as to whether there needs to be a multi-agency Child and Family Plan meeting. – The Child and Family Plan meeting will take place by day 20 The draft Child and Family Plan is contained within the assessment and will be formed by day 20. Where a strategy discussion decides that the child is a Child In Need then the Child and Family Plan Meeting will take place within 10 working days of the strategy discussion. – Where the outcome of an s47 Enquiry is that the child is in need of support and not at risk of on-going harm then the first Child and Family Plan Meeting will take place within 10 working days of from the end date of the s47. – The Child and Family Plan meeting should be held within 28 days from the date of the ICPC where a CPP was not made or the RCPC where the CPP was ended. – Subsequent Child and Family Plan Meetings will take place every four to six weeks and no less frequently that once every six weeks. |
| 3 | Membership is appropriate to the needs of the child and their situation. | Child and Family Plan Meetings are: – Convened by Children’s Social Care – Attended by all agencies which have direct and relevant involvement with the child and family (e.g. schools, Children’s Social Care and health services) – Those who hold relevant information that can be shared in the meeting – The child and their family |
| 4 | Involvement of the child and the family | – Children and families should be prepared for attendance at meetings (unless the young person objects to parental involvement) – Where children and/or parents do not wish to attend, efforts should be made to ascertain their wishes and represent these at the meeting – In all circumstances the views of all children should be ascertained using whatever medium is appropriate |
| 5 | Child and Family Plan meetings will address key issues for the child or young person. | – The Assessment will be available to the Child and Family Plan meeting with copies distributed to appropriate members of the family and all involved professionals – The Chair will facilitate a clear analysis of the needs, difficulties and concerns that have led to the need for a Child and Family Plan meeting |
| 6 | Outcomes of Child and Family Plan meetings are clear and developed by those attending | Development of a Child and Family Plan that addresses the needs, difficulties and concerns in relation to the child The plan will include: – Clear bottom lines and contingencies – What needs to happen and clear timescales – Identify the objectives – The plan rules – Timeline – How the plan will be reviewed – Identify and engage the network around the child/young person to provide support and ensure the safety plan remains in place – Partner agencies involved in the plan |
| 7 | Clear recording of Child and Family Plan Meetings and Plans | The Plan will be recorded on the CSC computer system The record of the Child and Family Plan Meeting and copies of the Child and Family Plan will be sent to the parents, carers and the child (where appropriate) and all involved professionals within 5 working days of the meeting All plans will be provided in an accessible format |
| 8 | There is clear resolution when the plan cannot be progressed or outcomes achieved for the child. | If the plan is not progressed or has failed to meet the child’s needs, the chair of the meeting must be informed and a decision taken whether to reconvene the meeting before the planned review date. |
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