4.15 The Core Group |
SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER
This chapter outlines the roles and responsibilities of members of the Core Group. Members include the parents / carers or other significant family members, the child (if appropriate to age and understanding) and relevant professionals.
The Core Group is fundamental to the implementation and monitoring of any multi-agency Child Protection Plan.
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.
Membership of the Core Group will be agreed at the Initial Child Protection Conference, and will include the Lead Social Worker, who chairs the Core Group ,the child where appropriate, parents, carers or other significant family members as appropriate and professionals who have direct contact with the family.
Although the Lead Social Worker has lead responsibility for the formulation and implementation of the Child Protection Plan , all members of the Core Group are jointly responsible for carrying out these tasks, refining the Plan as needed and monitoring progress against the planned outcomes set out in the Plan.
It is therefore important that agencies involved, and in particular Core Group members, ensure that Core Groups are well attended in order that this joint responsibility for the Child Protection Plan is effective and meaningful. Agencies should ensure that members of the Core Group undertake their roles and responsibilities effectively in accordance with the agreed Child Protection Plan.
The Core Group must meet initially within 10 working days of the Initial Child Protection Conference. Thereafter, the Core Group should meet sufficiently regularly to facilitate working together, monitor actions and outcomes against the Child Protection Plan, and make any necessary alterations as circumstances change. In Knowsley this is usually six weekly.
The Lead Social Worker should ensure that there is a record of the decisions made and actions agreed at Core Group meetings, as well as of the written views of those unable to attend. The Child Protection Plan should be updated as necessary.
Any member of the Core Group can convene a Core Group meeting if the Child Protection Plan is not being followed.
A detailed Child Protection Plan will be produced by the Core Group, identifying specific tasks required and who is responsible for undertaking the tasks. This will be circulated to all Core Group members as soon as possible, within 7 working days of the Initial Core Group, and a copy will be sent to the Quality Assurance Unit.
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