4.16 The Child Protection Plan

The overall aim of the plan is to:

ensure the child is safe from harm 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
promote the child's health and development i.e. his or her welfare; and
provided it is in the best interests of the child, support the family and wider family members to safeguard and promote the welfare of their child

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

describe the identified developmental needs of the child, and what therapeutic services are required to meet those needs
include specific, achievable, child-focused outcomes intended to Safeguard and Promote the Welfare of the Child.
include realistic strategies and specific actions to bring about the changes necessary to achieve the planned outcomes by supporting the strengths, addressing the vulnerabilities and risk factors and helping to meet the child's unmet needs.
set out when and in what situations the child will be seen by the Lead Social Worker, both alone and with other family members or caregivers present.
include a contingency plan to be followed if circumstances change significantly and require prompt action (including initiating family court proceedings to safeguard and promote the child's welfare).
clearly identify and set out roles and responsibilities of professionals and family members, including those with routine contact with the child (for example, health visitors, GP's and teachers) and the nature and frequency of contact by these professionals with the child and family members; and
lay down points at which progress will be reviewed, and the means by which progress will be judged.
be negotiated with the parents who should be clear about the evidence of Significant Harm which resulted in the child becoming the subject of a Child Protection Plan, what needs to change and what is expected of them as part of implementing the plan

Whilst the welfare of the child must be the primary concern, the Child Protection Plan should take into consideration the wishes and feelings of the child and the views of the parents, and provide explanation where these wishes, feelings and views are not acted on.

The Lead Social Worker should explain and agree the Child Protection Plan with the child in a manner appropriate to the child's age and understanding. The child should be given a copy of the plan written at an appropriate level to their age and understanding, and in a format appropriate to their needs.

The Lead Social Worker should ensure that those with Parental Responsibility and any other relevant family members participate in the development of and are provided with a copy of the Child Protection Plan in their preferred language, and ensure that they understand the plan. The Lead Social Worker should also determine whether the family are willing to co-operate with the Plan, and encourage them to do so.

The parents should be clear about the evidence of Significant Harm which resulted in the child becoming the subject of a Child Protection Plan, what needs to change and what is expected of them as part of implementing the plan.

Where parents' co-operation or agreement is not forthcoming, the Lead Social Worker or supervisor should seek legal advice.

If there are serious problems in the Child Protection Plan's operation the Lead Social Worker should discuss this with their supervisor and the Principal Officer with a view to bringing forward the Child Protection Review Conference. If immediate action is required to safeguard the child, this will take precedence over the review process.

End