3.1.2 Route Map for Looked After Children

Referral

Within 1 working day

Information received that a child may be in need of services.

See Referrals Procedure.

If the child is Privately Fostered, see Private Fostering Procedure

Initial Assessment

Within 10 working days

Assessment identifies one or more of the following:

1. Child in Need requiring Core Assessment.
2. Possible Significant Harm; leading to Strategy Discussion and possible Core Assessment with Section 47 Enquiry
3. Child In Need with services provided under Child's Plan
4. Child not in need of services from Children and Families, sign post to other agencies and/or no further action.

If the child is at risk of Significant Harm, there may be a need to take immediate steps to protect the child, including obtaining an Emergency Protection Order.

See Initial Assessments Procedure

Where there is to be continued involvement, the initial steps required will be set out in an Initial Plan and a Chronology will be set up on ICS.

Core Assessment

Within 35 working days

Core Assessment identifies child's needs and any services required under a Child's Plan. Where appropriate, an Initial Child Protection Conference will be held, which may lead to the Child's Plan incorporating a Child Protection Plan. Where child requires to be Looked After, see below.

Update Chronology on ICS.

See Core Assessments Procedure.

Referral made for services to maintain child within the home and/or consider supporting arrangements for child to live with other family members, which would avoid need for child to be Looked After.

See also Flowchart for Panel Processes for Children and Families

Where Care Proceedings may be initiated, steps followed as required in Pre-Proceedings Checklist, Legal Planning Meeting held and consideration given to when to send notification to parents about the circumstances in which court proceedings may be taken.

Decision made to look after child approved by Service Manager - including whether child should be Accommodated or the subject of Care Proceedings.

Update Chronology on ICS.

See Decision to Look After, Care and Placement Planning Procedure

Consideration given to placing child with Connected Person with support if necessary. If suitable relative/friend available and the placement is likely to last longer than 6 weeks, immediate referral to be made to Fostering Team/Adoption and Permanency Team for assessment as foster carer - which is required to be presented to Fostering Panel within 6 weeks.

See Immediate Placements with Family and Friends (under Regulation 24) and their Approval as Foster Carers Procedure.

If no family member available or suitable to care for child, consider other placement options and contact the Placement Team. See:

Placements in Foster Care Procedure

Placements in Residential Care Procedure

If placement is with private or voluntary provider or residential placement costs more than £500 per week, referral to be made to the Access to Resources Panel - see Financial Agreement in Children's Placements and the Role of the Access to Resources Panel Procedure.

Care Plan drafted in outline, identifying purpose of admission to Looked After Service, how the local authority will exercise its responsibilities for the child including type of placement and contact with parents.

See Care Plans Guidance

Care Plan relating to Accommodated children should be approved by the social worker's Team Manager. Care Plan taken before the Court in Care Proceedings must be endorsed and signed by a Designated Manager (Care Proceedings).

Where Court action considered necessary, evidence prepared and hearing date arranged in accordance with Public Law Outline. 

For Secure Accommodation, the Designated Manager (Secure Accommodation Placements) can authorise up to 72 hours in Secure Accommodation without Court Order.

Unless parents consent to child being Accommodated, Court hearing will occur before child's placement unless child is in Police Protection or, for a placement in secure accommodation, the placement for up to 72 hours has been authorised by Designated Manager (Secure Placements).

Emergency Protection Order/Interim Care Order/Secure Accommodation Order obtained.

Update Chronology on ICS.

Hold Placement Planning Meeting and complete Placement Plan/Placement Information Record before placement or within 5 working days.

Provide copy of Placement Plan/Placement Information Record to child, parent and carer.

Update Chronology on ICS.

If Placement Planning Meeting cannot be held before or on day of placement, a Placement Planning Meeting must be convened within 72 hours (for residential care) and 5 working days (for foster care).

See Decision to Look After, Care and Placement Planning Procedure

Arrange first Looked After Review within 20 working days of placement

Finance, Health and Education notified that the placement has started.

See Decision to Look After, Care and Placement Planning Procedure

Social worker must visit child within one week of placement and then weekly until first Looked After Review if child placed with Connected Person, or otherwise at minimum of six weekly intervals in first year for the purposes of monitoring and supporting the placement.

See Social Work Visits Procedure.

Social worker to contact the LAC Health Coordinator to arrange the child's first Health Assessment. This will contribute to the child’s Health Action Plan which should be completed in time for the first Looked After Review.

See Health Assessments and Health Action Plans Procedure.

Detailed contact arrangements must be included within the Placement Plan/Placement Information Record to promote contact in the context of the overall Care Plan.

See Contact with Parents and Other Relatives Procedure.

The Placement Plan/Placement Information Record should also set out the circumstances in which residential staff/carers may allow social visits/overnight stays with friends. See Social Visits and Overnight Stays with Friends Procedure.

Complete Personal Education Plan (PEP)

As part of Care Plan, i.e. within ten working days of placement.

Social worker to liaise with child's school and the LACE Team as appropriate and formulate a Personal Education Plan (PEP).

See Education of Looked After Children Procedure.

As required by Care Plan, strategies implemented, further assessments organised (with Court’s permission if within Care Proceedings) and time-scales set to explore possibility of rehabilitation and/or other permanency options. Possible placements with family to be explored and assessed as appropriate. Permanency Planning Meetings convened as appropriate.

See Permanency Policy and Permanency Planning Procedure

Assess carers, where placement is with relative or friend.

Assessment of Connected Person as foster carer presented to Fostering Panel.

See Immediate Placements with Family and Friends (under Regulation 24) and their Approval as Foster Carers Procedure.

First Looked After Review.

Within 20 working days of the Placement

Progress in implementing aims of Care Plan considered at first Looked After Review; with a view to incorporating time-scales for achieving permanency for child by second Looked After Review at latest, and including Contingency Plan if permanency not achieved by third Looked After Review.  Consideration of Twin Track/Parallel Planning.

See Looked After Reviews Procedure.

Depending on the age of the child, further Health Assessments must be conducted at between 6 and 12 month intervals.

See: Health Assessments and Health Action Plans Procedure.

Where rehabilitation plan implemented while Interim Care Order or Care Order in force, Placements with Parents Procedure must be followed.

Subsequent Looked After Reviews will then consider need for Care Order to continue. 

Permanency Plan by second Looked After Review

As soon as possible, and by second Looked After Review at the latest, Permanency Plan to be in place and then implemented.

See: Looked After Review Procedure and Permanency Policy and Permanency Planning Procedure

Where plan is for Adoption, Adoption Procedures to be followed. See Placements for Adoption Procedure.

Where plan is for Special Guardianship, see Special Guardianship Procedure and Permanency Policy and Permanency Planning Procedure

Personal Adviser appointed and Pathway Plan drawn up and reviewed.

See Leaving Care Procedure.