To ask if you have experience of child protection register/review/plans etc, can you pop on and help me please?

[SilveryMoon]

I am doing a home learning course in social work with children and families.
So far it has gone pretty well, but am now asking for a bit of help.

As thi is home study and I do not work in the field I don't have experience, just course materials.
I need to write an example plan that I would work out with family members and other workers to ensure the safety of a child on the child protection register.

I was hoping someone would be able to help me who has been on either side of this.

I just need an outline of who was involved, what their job was, how often you had contact with them etc

Thanks for your time

(I did post in chat, but there's more traffic here)

[sunshineandbooks]

I fostered a child on the At Risk Register (as it was then). On that panel there was me, the parent, the nursery manager, the health visitor, the case social worker and the senior social worker. I think there was also a police woman, though as she didn't say anything I didn't really take much notice of her. It was a while ago now, but I seem to remember the meetings happening about once a month. when the child was due to go back to mum's, certain key players (like the social worker and the health visitor) were meeting more regularly and a support worker was going in on a daily basis for the first few weeks. Does that help?

[LineRunner]

Are you asking for personal details? Will you be wanting to exchange PMs at some stage?

Sorry, but this seems a bit bogus to me. Did you ask your tutor about doing this via a public website?

[SilveryMoon]

Yes it does, thank you.
So you fostered this child because they felt s/he needed to be removed from home. He then stayed with you until they felt it was safe for him to return?
Do you have any idea how long they worked with the family before child was removed? How often they had contact with the family? What works were carried out and by who?

[SilveryMoon]

LR No, I do not want personal details, I will not need to PM anyone or mention anyone's involvement.
I have not spoken to tutor about how I will be answering this particular question.
There is nothing bogus about it.
I'm just trying to get a few things straight in my head before I put pen to paper.
i do not wish to upset, offend or put anyone on guard, I just wondered how often a family would be seen, but know that varies with each case and circumstance.

[MadameBoo]

Silverymoon For a child protection plan it would be a case of working out what the main issues are for the child and then ensuring that for each issue that there is way of addressing it and a person that is responsible for ensurung it gets addressed and monitored for each agency.

Have you got a case scenario to work with or do you need to make up your own?

[MadameBoo]

useful link: www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/safeguarding/safeguardingchildren

[MadameBoo]

www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/safeguarding/safeguardingchildren

[MadameBoo]

also here: www.havering.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=13299&p=0

I don't think it's ethical to be asking people to divulge on here about their own experiences of being subject to a CP plan - but I'd be happy to help you do a pretend one.

[SilveryMoon]

Ok MadameBoo For this unit, I have been given a case scenario that I suppose I could use.
Basically, a school reported that a child had some odd markings on him, the key SW was told that the step-dad pushed the child in a moments anger and child had fallen onto a cabinet, explaining bruises and grazes to his back.
It later emerged that it was the mum who was responsible for harming him and we found out the 2 siblings were biological to the step father and that the man was showing increasing amounts of dis-interest to the boy (now that he had kids of his own) and it was felt that the mum was blaming all problems with the family relationships on the child for not being her husbands iyswim.

[SilveryMoon]

Thank you MB Just to clarify, I do not expect people to share full on details, I was just hoping for a rough idea of how often there would be contact.

In hindsight, i didn't really think of the effect this thread may have on people who have had negative experiences and for that I apologise.

[MadameBoo]

Are you assuming you've already carried out an asessment? What category will the CP plan be coming under?

[SilveryMoon]

I'm going to ask this to be removed then before I really offend anyone.
I am really sorry and don't wish to know any private or personal details.

[MadameBoo]

Ok - would have been happy to help out though - try doing another thread starting something like 'social workers - please help me with an assignment' :)

[BimboNo5]

I have worked with various children who were on/about to be put onto a child protection plan (previously register). One of the most important things regarding this is that the child is at the centre of all the interventions and all relevant agencies work together to safeguard the child. Whats known as a CAF (common assesment framework) should be started with members from all agencies relevent to the child being a named point of contact (i.e school, GP, HV, doctors and nurses who';ve been involved in medical care of the child especially in cases where abuse is suspected, school nurses etc etc). When the CAF has been started there should be a meeting where all these named contacts meet and work out the way forward together.

[SilveryMoon]

Thanks Madame I might just do that
Bimbo Perfect Thank you

[MadameBoo]

I think that Silverymoon's assignment is that the child is higher than tier 3 - so would be a child in need or child protection plan rather than a CAF.

[BimboNo5]

Kids still need to have a CAF regardless so everyone who needs to work for the childs best interests can do so.

[SilveryMoon]

Yes.
The paper is focusing on children being placed on the child protection register.
I have tackled questions on CP reviews, the child returning home or not and the factors you will need to take into account on deciding that, and this question is,
'Describe an example plan you would work out with family members and other workers to ensure the safety of a child on the child protection register.'

[MadameBoo]

A CAF is not a child protection plan Bimbo - I think that it's very important that that distinction is noted.

CAF plans are about prevention at lower tiers of need - they only get escalated if they don't work and things get worse. Some children will arrive at the door of Children's services at a higher level of need and a CAF wouldn't be enough.

[diabolo]

I assumed you were asking professionals about involvement, not for personal information.

As Bimbo says above, the CAF pulls all agencies together. There should be representatives from the child's school, the school nurse, GP or hospital, possibly housing (if family are in social housing), one or more social workers, the lead professional from Children and Young People's services, the family themselves, any outside agencies like Triple P Parenting officials, Family Health workers, drug and alcohol abuse unit - basically everyone who has involvement with and a responsibility towards the child or children involved.

[alistron1]

Haha, am doing a course at the moment and spent yesterday writing about child protection/safe guarding. Just remember that section 47 of the human rights act (iirc) stipulates a right to a private family life (although if necessary this can be breached). Parents need to be involved in a plan, and treated sensitively - if the children are not to be removed agencies will need to work with the parents (use the term multi agency approach or working in partnership) and thus it's vital for positive relationships to be formed. Also take into account parents needs (SEN, EAL) But safeguarding, safeguarding, safeguarding and make sure the plan is in line with the 5 outcomes of ECM (stay safe, keep healthy, enjoy and achieve, economic productivity, positive contribution to society)

If you google birmingham child protection policy you will find a document that is v.comprehensive regarding safe guarding, child protection and all the implications/possible outcomes - including child protection plans.

[BimboNo5]

I didnt say it was...I do have knowledge of the subject from my job so please dont try and patronise or do the 'I know considerably mooooree than yow' crap Madame

[MadameBoo]

Bloody hell Silver they don't give you much with that question do they? :o Have you got a case study you could use with more info on than the one you posted earlier?

[SilveryMoon]

Thanks diabolo
I've got a good list of people who would be involved, just now need to work out who will do what with the family and how often, how we'd communicate, how often to review and how etc
I think.....

[diabolo]

Madamboo - nothing happens in my job without a CAF being instigated by whoever is concerned about the child in the first place.

It is right that the CAF might not lead to a Child Protection Plan. We have "Team Around the Child" and "Child in Need" as well - all of which bring the agencies above together.