Child in Need Plans and Reviews

A Child in Need Review Meeting 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 whereby, a Child Protection Conference has removed a Protection Plan and concluded a child's needs could be supported by the provision of Family Support within the Child in Need process.

The Child in Need Review 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. The Child in need review will follow the Signs of Safety approach that is being implemented within North Tyneside. Please access Signs of Safety guidance via LCS Help within the Leaning Pool.

All Child in Need Review Meetings should be attended by the child (depending on age and understanding), parents/carers, members of the network and those agencies whose potential/actual contribution is recommended as an outcome of an assessment or part of recommendations from conference.

The relevant social worker should discuss potential attendees for the Child in Need Review Meeting with the child and the parents/carers and network prior to arrangements being made for the meeting. The Social Worker should also ensure the child and parents/carers understand the process, the reason for the meeting and what is expected to be delivered having met.

It will be important that an appropriate venue suitable for the child and their 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.

The social worker is responsible for convening the meeting and arranging invitations.

A note of the meeting will be taken by the Chair of the meeting by the completion of the Child in Need Review Meeting Form. This record will be copied to those involved, including the child and parent/s, who will need to sign their agreement.

A Child in Need Plan will be developed in a Child in Need Review Meeting.

Most Child in Need Plans will envisage that Children's Services intervention will end within 6 months. However, some children and families may require longer term support, for example children with disabilities.

The Child in Need Plan must identify the Social Worker, any resources or services that will be needed to meet the identified need within the agreed timescales and who is responsible for which action and the time-scale involved.

In particular, the Child in Need Plan/timeline should:

• Describe the identified developmental needs of the child, and any services required;
• Include realistic strategies and specific actions to achieve the planned outcomes;
• Include timescales that are not too short or unachievable;
• Not be dependent on resources which are known to be scarce or unavailable;
• Identify frequency of visits to the child;
• 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.

The Chair of the Child in Need Review Meeting is responsible for the distribution of the Child in Need Plan/timeline. A copy of the Child in Need Plan/timeline should be provided to the parents, child (if old enough) and the agencies or other professionals who are supporting the family within the plan/timeline.

The Social Worker will be responsible for implementing the plan including making referrals to appropriate agencies for services as described in the plan /timeline.

Where it becomes necessary to make minor adjustments to the plan /timeline and services provided, any changes to the plan /timeline must be made in consultation with the parents/family network and the child (where appropriate) and key professionals from other agencies.

Reviews will be conducted at intervals of 6 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/timeline must be responded to in line with North and South of Tyne Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures.

The Review will usually be carried out by the Social Worker, who should invite or seek the views of the child, parents and any service providers. The responsible team will administer all Child in Need Reviews. 

The Review will generally take place within a meeting, unless the manager agrees otherwise. The Social Worker or line manager will usually chair the meeting. If the case is not allocated, the manager of the responsible team must undertake the review or arrange for it to be undertaken on their behalf.

The purpose of the Review is to ensure that the services provided are contributing to the achievement of the objectives within the agreed timeline.

Exceptions to this will be those cases where the plan /timeline acknowledges the need for longer term support, for example in relation to children who meet the criteria for a service in relation to a disability.

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;
2. That the child is no longer a Child in Need requiring Children's Social Care Services intervention although the child may continue to receive services from a single agency or under a multi-agency plan not involving Children's Social Care. In these circumstances the Child in Need Review Process is expected to plan a seamless service linking with Early Help. The Social Worker should do this by attending a meeting with the Early Help Lead to discuss the possibility of Early Help support. If agreed the services should be discussed at the next Child in Need Review meeting for agreement and closure of case to Social Care;
3. 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 /timeline;
4. 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 /timeline, the Lead Professional should circulate a copy of the amended Plan /timeline to the child, parents, and other agencies/professionals involved in providing the services set out in the amended Plan /timeline, including any new services to be provided.