HARROW COUNCIL CHILDREN'S SERVICES

HARROW COUNCIL CHILDREN'S SERVICES

PROCEDURE: INVOLVEMENT WITH FAMILIES OF CHILDREN SUBJECT TO CHILD PROTECTION PLANS

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 This procedure has been developed, in conjunction with Harrow Local Safeguarding Children Board, to clarify the role and expectation of Children's Services with families, where a child or children are subject to child protection plans.

1.2 This procedure addresses issues raised about national social worker practice following the death of Baby Peter in Haringey (reported in 2008) and the subsequent Laming Report.

1.3 Harrow Children's Service response to the death included an audit of social worker practice of children, under five years old, who were subject to a child protection plan under the category of physical abuse or neglect. This procedure addresses the findings identified by the audit.

1.4 A key aspect of this procedure is the introduction of a standard letter to parent/carers from the Corporate Director of Children's Services. This letter (see appendix) sets out the expectation of parent/carers and informs them of the role of the allocated social worker and how he/she will monitor and support the family to ensure that children subject to a child protection plan are safe, well cared for and that the desired outcomes are met as soon as possible.

2 ACTION REQUIRED IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING A CHILD BEING MADE SUBJECT TO A CHILD PROTECTION PLAN

2.1 The minutes of the Initial Child Protection Conference are normally agreed by the Chairperson and circulated to the family and agencies within 2 weeks of the conference. The minutes can be sent directly to family members who attended or invited to attend the conference. The Chair of the conference may also agree to the minutes being given to other family members. In many cases it is best for a copy of the minutes to be given to family members as part of a social worker visit. This means that key and sensitive issues can be explained and emphasised to family members in order to engage them in supporting and working within the spirit and detail of the child protection plan.

2.2 The letter from the Corporate Director of Children's Services (see 1.4 above) will be prepared by the Child Protection Administrator and sent to the allocated social worker within two weeks of the Initial Child Protection Conference. A copy of this letter must be given to the parent/carers by the social worker during their next visit. It is important that the content of the letter is explained to the parent/carer and, as applicable, read to the parent/carer. The letter must be translated or read to the parent/carer by an interpreter when English is not the parent/carer's preferred written language. It may be very useful to discuss this letter and the minutes of the conference at the same visit.

2.3 Attached to the letter from the Corporate Director of Children's Services is a slip for parent/carers to sign to confirm that they understand the contents of the letter. The social worker must ensure that the signed slip is uploaded onto HOST.

2.4 A Core Assessment should be completed on all children who have been made subject to a child protection plan within 4 weeks of the Initial Child Protection Conference. Core Assessments are completed by the Duty and Assessment Social Worker and approved by the Duty and Assessment Team Manager.

2.5 A copy of the Core Assessments must be given to the parent/carers.

2.6 A copy of the letter from the Corporate Director of Children's Services, minutes of the Initial Child Protection Conference and Core Assessment may also be given to the child/young person following consideration of his/her age and understanding. Whether or not a copy is given, it is very useful to discuss or provide a summary of the key points and actions.

2.7 Case responsibility will transfer from Duty and Assessment to the Children in Need Teams once the Core Assessment and other key tasks are completed (see Duty and Assessment/Children in Need Team Transfer Protocol).

2.8 A Core Group Meeting will normally be set up within 10 working days of the Initial Child Protection Conference. The membership of the group is agreed at the conference. The key purpose of the Core Group is to implement the Child Protection Plan and to ensure that the safety and welfare of the children is monitored and maintained.

3 SOCIAL WORKER VISITS TO CHILDREN SUBJECT TO CHILD PROTECTION PLANS

3.1 Working Together to Safeguard Children (2006) states that visits should take place at least six weekly. This should be considered to be an absolute minimum as it is highly unlikely that this frequency of visiting is sufficient to safeguard the welfare of children within the early period of being subject to a child protection plan.

3.2 During all social worker visits to children subject to a child protection plan consideration should be given to each of the following areas.

Speaking to/spending time with all children subject to a child protection plan on their own (providing they are not infants).
Speaking to all parent/carers and adults in the household.
Speaking to all other child in the household, not subject to a Child Protection Plan.
Inspecting all rooms in the home to ensure that there is nothing which may directly or indirectly place a child at risk.
Inspecting the sleeping arrangements of all children subject to a child protection plan.
Inspecting the kitchen cupboards and fridge to ensure that there is adequate food.
Checking the care and provision for family pets (the poor care of family pets is an indicator that children may also not be well cared for).

3.3 If any of these tasks are not undertaken or they are not considered appropriate to be undertaken a clear reason for this must be recorded on HOST as part of the record of the visit.

3.4 The central purpose of all visits is to check that all children, especially those subject to a child protection plan, are safe and well cared for. Any concerns must be reported immediately to a team manager or a more senior manager.

3.5 It is crucial that social workers are highly vigilant with regards to any bruising, marks or injuries to a child or adult in the household. Particular attention should be paid to any unusual covering up of the face or body which could prevent an injury being observed. It may, for example, be difficult to identify a bruise on a child's face if it is very dirty or covered in food. In these situations it is appropriate to ask for the child's face to be wiped clean.

3.6 In the discussions with members of the household, as outlined above, it is important that the social worker;

actively considers the services and support being offered to the family and any changes which may need to be made to the care plan;
identifies any changes to the make-up of the household, even if this has been for a very short period, for example someone staying over for a night;
checks if there has been any injuries to the children including minor accidents;
checks any periods the family or members of the family are planning to be away from the family home and, if so, requests details of the address etc (the Local Authority covering that address may need to be informed).

3.7 Visits to children subject to a child protection plan and their families would normally be by arrangement however some visits should be unannounced. Consideration should be given to the latter taking place in the evening and at weekends. For example, this may be particularly important if it is suspected that an individual, who presents a risk to children, may be visiting the home outside normal office hours. Unannounced visits may be more challenging for families and therefore should be carefully planned, including consideration of the visit being undertaken by two social workers.

3.8 Photographs may be taken if this is considered a helpful means to record the condition of the home. This may be to show unacceptable aspects of the home or to evidence improvements or deterioration over time.

3.9 For all visits it is essential that social workers carry Harrow Council identification badges and these are shown to family members.

4 ACTION REQUIRED IN ADVANCE OF THE REVIEW CHILD PROTECTION CONFERENCES

4.1 The social worker must prepare a report for the review Child Protection Conference. A copy of this must be made available to parent/carers at leave five working days before the review conference. Consideration should also be given to sharing this with children depending on their age and understanding. Wherever relevant, the key points of the report should be verbally explained to all family members.

4.2 Particular attention must be given to supporting children to participate in the conference. At the very minimum this should involve gaining their views and presenting these to the conference. These views should be reported to the conference. The child can be supported to make a written submission to the conference. Regarding whether a child should be invited to a conference, consideration should be given to;

whether the child has sufficient understanding of the process;
whether the child has expressed a wish to be involved;
the views of the parent/carers;
whether attending is in the best interests of the child.

For further guidance see the London Child Protection Procedures (3^rd Edition, 2007) paragraphs 8.5.17 - 8.5.24.

4.3 With regards to both adults and children, attention should be given to how they can be supported to fully participate in the conference. It is often helpful for a written statement to be prepared in advance of the conference, which can be read out by the author or on their behalf. Also, it may be useful to assist the parent/carer or child to access an advocate who can accompany them to the conference.

APPENDIX: Letter from Paul Clark to parent/carers of children subject to a CP plan

LETTER TO ALL PARENTS/CARERS OF CHILDREN SUBJECT TO A CHILD PROTECTION PLAN

NB: This letter must be translated or read to the parent by an interpreter when English is not the parent/carer's preferred written language.

(Insert date)

Dear (insert name of parent/carer(s))

At the Child Protection Conference on (insert date) your child(ren), (insert names), became subject to a Child Protection Plan under the category of (insert category).

This means that the conference was concerned about the safety and welfare of the children. It felt that agencies involved with you and your family need to work closely together to address these concerns in order to ensure that your child(ren) are safe and well.

I understand that this may be a very difficult time for you and your family. My hope is however that we can work together to ensure that (insert names) are safe and well and that you are provided with the services and support to assist you in this. Hopefully we can get to a point, as soon as possible, when a Child Protection Conference agrees that (insert names) are not suffering or likely to suffer significant harm.

The next Child Protection Conference, to discuss your children, will be held on (insert date and time) at Children's Services, 429-433 Pinner Road, North Harrow HA1 4HN.

The purpose of this letter is to inform you of what will be happening during the period up to (insert date of review conference).

A copy of the minutes of the Child Protection Conference will be sent to you within the next two weeks.
(insert name) (Social Worker) will be completing a Core Assessment on (insert names of children). These assessments will include details and analysis of;

their developmental and health needs;
risks to them and how these can be reduced;
your parenting skills;
your wider family and environment.

These assessments will contain information contained in the Child Protection Conference report, of which you should have a copy, as discussed at the conference. (insert name of social worker) may wish to meet with you to further discuss the Core Assessments.

You will be given a copy of the Core Assessments when they are completed. This should be within the next four weeks.

Once the Core Assessments are completed, your case will transfer to the Children in Need team of Children's Services where a new social worker will be allocated to your children. I understand that introducing a new worker can be disruptive to you and your family however this is necessary as the social worker involved so far specialises in the early stage of assessment and it is important that a longer-term social worker now works with you and your family.

The Core Group will be meeting at least every six weeks to ensure that the Child Protection Plan, as agreed at the conference, is carried out. The Core Group is made up of the key professionals, from various agencies, working with your family. The membership of the group was agreed at the Child Protection Conference. You and/or members of your family will be members of the Core Group. This group should also insure that you and (insert names of children) receive the services which have been agreed and that the children are effectively monitored and protected. The next Core Group will take place on (insert date and time) at (insert address). It is important that the Core Group meetings are well attended and that there is a clear record of what is discussed.

A social worker will be visiting you at least every (insert, as agreed at conference) weeks to consider the safety and welfare of (insert names of children). It is crucial that you and the child(ren) are at home for all social worker visits. During these visits I am expecting the social worker to undertake a range of duties, which will include;

speaking and/or spending time with (insert names of children), on their own (providing they are not infants);
speaking with you;
speaking to anyone else, child or adults, in your household;
checking all rooms in your home to ensure that there is nothing which may directly or indirectly place (insert names of children) at risk;
inspecting the sleeping arrangements for (insert names of children);
checking that there is adequate food in the kitchen cupboards and fridge;
checking on the care and provision made for family pets;
taking photographs, if necessary, as a record of the condition of your home;
checking whether there are any new members in your household or whether anyone has left your household.

In addition to planned visits, a social worker (who may not be known to you) may visit you, without notice, to consider the safety and welfare of (insert names of children) as outlined above. These visits may take place in the evening or at weekends. I understand that these visits may be inconvenient to you however I would ask you to consider them as an important means of ensuring the safety and welfare of (insert names of children).

All workers visiting you will have appropriate identification which they will show you.

Wherever possible, all discussions with you will take place in your preferred language using a trained and approved interpreter. Where necessary, they will also be available to verbally translate any documents or reports that professionals are sharing with you.

Other professionals, including school staff, health visitors, doctors and others involved with your family will be monitoring the safety and welfare of (insert names of children) and reporting any concerns. They may do this without informing you. Professionals will also be talking to each other on a regular basis to discuss how (insert names of children) are doing.

Throughout the contact with you, all professionals will be considering how best to support you and your family in order to ensure the safety and welfare of (insert names of children). They must consider any suggestions or requests, made by you or others, of action or services that would assist in promoting the safety and welfare of (insert names of children).

The social worker will produce a report for the next Child Protection Conference on (insert date). You will be given a copy of this report at least five working days before the conference and, if necessary, an interpreter will be made available to assist you in understanding its contents.

I would like you to assist us by ensuring that;

you and (insert name of children) are present for all planned visits;
you attend all meetings to which you are invited;
you inform the social worker of any instances when any of your children are harmed, including minor accidents;
you inform the social worker, in advance, of any new child or adult staying at your home, even if only for a night;
you inform the social worker, in advance, of any periods when you or (insert names of children) will be away from your home;
you and (insert name of children) at all times treat all professionals in the same manner as you would want to be treated.

I trust that you and the professionals involved can work together over the next months in order to ensure that (insert names of children) are safe and well. If at any point you feel that the service you are receiving is inadequate or differs from that outlined in this letter, please feel free to contact Terry McCarthy or Jennifer Noble (Service Managers) on 020 8863 5544 who will ensure that the relevant manager looks into the matter.

Finally I would ask you to sign the slip below and return it to your social worker so that we are clear that you have received and understand the contents of this letter.

Many thanks for your assistance.

Yours sincerely

Paul Clark

Corporate Director of Children's Services

CONFIRMATION THAT LETTER HAS BEEN RECEIVED AND UNDERSTOOD

Signing this letter confirms you are committed to working in partnership with Children's Services and other agencies to ensure that (insert names of children) are safe and well.

I (insert name of addressee) have read and understand the contents of this letter from the Corporate Director of Children's Services dated (insert date).

Signed: _____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

Date: / /

Terry docs and king usb/procedure CPP visits and letter 6/10/09 6.56