2.5 Child Protection Risk Action Plan

RELEVANT GUIDANCE

1. Introduction

Caption: Introduction

1.1	Where a Child Protection Conference determines that a child is at continuing risk of Significant Harm, a multi-agency Child Protection Risk Action Plan is formulated to protect the child. A Core Group of professionals, including the Social Worker, are responsible for keeping the Child Protection Risk Action Plan up to date and co-ordinating inter-agency activities within it.

2. Content and Recording of the Child Protection Risk Action Plan

2.1	Areas to be covered in the Plan: Identification of the child’s needs derived from the findings of the NARRATES S46 Specific, achievable, child-focused outcomes; Specific actions and services to be offered to achieve the planned outcomes; A Contingency Plan to be followed if circumstances change significantly and prompt action is required; Clear identification of the role and responsibilities of professionals and family members including the nature and frequency of contact; How progress will be reviewed by the Core Group/Review Conference.
2.2	The Content of the Plan must take into account: The findings of NARRATES S46; The wishes and feelings of the child and the views of the parents insofar as they are consistent with the child’s welfare; The communication needs and level of understanding of the child and parents (taking into account their language and any learning disabilities); Any disagreements with family members regarding how to safeguard the child must be acknowledged.
2.3	The Plan will be recorded on Protocol using the pro forma provided: A summary of the outcome of the analysis of risk; The agreed risks identified; what needs to happen to protect the child or family; who needs to do it and when it needs to be done; The outcome(s) to be achieved and an indication of the difference that the plan will make to the child and family; A note of the people involved in the plan and their specific role; A note of when the Review Challenge meeting will be held;
2.4	Copies of the Plan must be signed and circulated to the Core Group and family. Following update, the amended copy must also be circulated.
2.5	If a child has been subject to a CwCN Plan prior to Child Protection procedures being undertaken the Core Group can use the CwCN Plan to assist in developing the Child Protection Risk Action Plan based on the outline plan created at the Initial Conference. Interventions must focus on reducing the likelihood of harm as well as meeting the developmental needs of the child.
2.6	Please see the Isle of Man Safeguarding Board Procedures, Developing and Implementing a Child Protection Risk Action Plan Procedure, Developing Effective Plans and Interventions for further guidance on the production of Child Protection Risk Action Plans.

3. Visiting Children who are the subject of a Child Protection Risk Action Plan

3.1	The Core Group will determine the visiting arrangements for all professional members of the Core Group, those whose role involves routine contact and those with specialist roles or providing targeted support. This programme of visiting will be an important part of the protective arrangements.
3.2	As a minimum requirement the Social Worker will visit the child at intervals of no less frequency than 4 weekly. As stated above the Core Group may determine that visits by the Social Worker are required more frequently than this. If appropriate to the situation, the child must be seen and spoken to alone on these occasions and their bedroom examined.
3.3	All visits must be recorded on Protocol via the Case Notes tab.

4. Ending the Child Protection Risk Action Plan

4.1

A child must no longer be subject of a Child Protection Risk Action Plan if:

It is judged that the child is no longer at continuing risk of Significant Harm requiring safeguarding by means of a Child Protection Risk Action Plan. Under these circumstances only a Child Protection Review Conference can decide that a Child Protection Risk Action Plan is no longer necessary;
The child and family have moved permanently off Island. In such cases, after the receiving Local Authority has held a transferring in Conference, the Child Protection Risk Action Plan can be discontinued without a Review Conference. Written notification will be sent by the Senior IRO to members of the Conference confirming that this has taken place. The ‘Ending CP Plan Outside of Conference’ process on Protocol must be used in these circumstances;
The child has reached 18 years of age or has died. In such cases the Senior IRO will send written confirmation to members of the Conference confirming this. No Review Conference is necessary. The ‘Ending CP Plan Outside of Conference’ process on Protocol must be used in these circumstances.

4.2

In the case of point one above the Conference must make a recommendation to Children and Families regarding ongoing involvement with the child and their family under the Children with Complex Needs or Children with Additional Needs procedures. The Social Worker must meet with the child and family within 10 working days of the discontinuation of the Child Protection Risk Action Plan to discuss the content of any CwCN Plan and the process for its implementation and review.