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 initial child in need planning 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. This should be convened by the Social Worker within 15 working days of the agreement that a CIN plan is needed.

The following parties should attend the inital child in need planning meeting:

• The child/young person (subject to age and understanding);
• Parents/carers;
• Other appropriate family members;
• Advocates (where appropriate);
• Representatives from the child's nursery or school/ college;
• The midwife (if unborn) or health visitor;
• Other agencies identified as important during the C&F  process e.g. youth offending service, substance misuse workers, housing, adult mental health staff, etc.

To ensure a successful meeting the Chair should:

• Facilitate the exchange of information and the inclusion of all those attending the meeting following SOS:
  • What is going well for the child? 
  • What are we worried about? 
  • What needs to happen and who will do what to support the family to make changes with clear time scales identified;
• Facilitate the participation of parents, carers, children and young people, whether or not they attend including presenting the lived experience of the child and parent/ carer;
• Ensure the meeting follows the agenda and that the meeting keeps to time;
• Help members to interpret the information and focus on the relevant issues;
• Manage any conflict and facilitate discussion of opposing views;
• Encourage clear, jargon free communication and challenge the evidential base of any judgements given;
• Summarise regularly to ensure all involved are aware of what is happening. The chair should have an understanding of Child in Need issues and knowledge of the child protection procedures.

For complex Child in Need cases professionals from agencies attending the Child in Need meetings should be prepared to discuss their concerns and provide an evidence base for each one, especially if they believe a situation is deteriorating. For example, concerns about missed appointments should specify how many have been missed in a particular timeframe, and concerns about school absence should quantify the absence rate and compare it to previous rates. The impact of each concern for the child must be considered. In these complex cases, the appropriate interventions put in place to prevent the risk escalating will be reflected in the Child in Need Plan.

The CIN meeting agenda should contain:

• Introductions;
• Meeting ground rules;
• Update from family and professionals for the tasks identified for each of the points on the plan and the impact for the child if a task has or has not been completed to be considered;
• Significant events;
• Any new concerns/ risks identified (will be added to the updated Child in Need plan);
• Agreed action going forward to update the Child in Need plan.

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.

CIN 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.

A note of the meeting will be taken by the Chair. This record will be copied to those involved, including the child and parent/s and shared within 10 working days.

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.

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 provided to the parents, child (if old enough) and the agencies or other professionals involved in the provision of services under the 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.

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 contributing to the achievement of the objectives 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.

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 case 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 in providing the services set out in the amended Plan, including any new services to be provided.

All CIN plans and reviews should have Management oversight.