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Protecting Children and Young People: Framework for Standards

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Protecting Children and Young People: Framework for Standards

Standard 5

Agencies and professionals work together to assess needs and risks and develop effective plans

1 Taking account of the needs of the child and their parents, professionals, working together, ensure that assessments focus on:

  • needs and risks;
  • personal and family strengths;
  • support networks and resources available; and
  • the gaps that need to be filled and the resources and options to fill them.

2 Assessment reports clearly distinguish fact from opinion and provide evidence in support of opinions.

3 Children in need of care and protection have a plan which will meet their needs and protect them and is regularly reviewed.

4 Plans can clearly be seen to have been derived from assessments.

5 Professionals ensure that plans:

  • identify individual and family responsibilities;
  • identify the professional with the lead role in ensuring the co- ordination of work amongst professionals;
  • indicate expected actions and outcomes with timescales for their achievement;
  • identify action to be taken should the plan fail to protect the child or improve their situation within agreed timescales; and
  • detail monitoring and review arrangements.

6 Professionals are alert to, and respond to, new information, increased risks or lack of progress, and can demonstrate that any necessary action has been taken in the light of this.

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Page updated: Tuesday, March 21, 2006