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Section 3: The child's or young person's plan
Whether a child's or young person's plan is short and simple or more complex and detailed, the plan should be recorded and kept safely and securely.
Information to be recorded should include:
Concerns or matters to be tackled - Why agencies or families believe the child or young person may need action, help or support. These reasons should include any issues of concern to be tackled and risks to be managed.
Partners to the child's or young person's plan - The name and job title or relationship of every partner to the child's or young person's plan, including parents and children.
Summary of analysis of the child's or young person's circumstances - The analysis should be based on the assessment triangle (see page 3) and should cover:
- how the child or young person is growing and developing (including their health, education, physical and mental development, behaviour and social skills);
- what the child or young person needs from the people who look after him or her, including the strengths and risks involved;
- the strengths and pressures of the child's or young person's wider world of family, friends and community; and
- an assessment of risk, detailing:
- the kind of risk involved;
- what is likely to trigger harmful behaviour; and
- in what circumstances the behaviour is most likely to happen.
The plan should note the level of risk - low, medium or high - as well as the likely impact of the child or young person on others.
Where the risk is high this must be recorded on the front sheet of the plan.
If any assessment tools have been used, these should be noted in this section.
Desired outcomes and milestones for achievement -The child's or young person's plan should:
- identify practical goals (for example, improved safety, achievements, nurture, improved dental health and leading an active life);
- identify short-term and longer-term goals and say what activity is expected and who will do it;
- where a child or young person is at risk or poses a risk to others, identify the minimum requirements or standards of care, safety, nurture or behaviour to make sure he or she is safe or that the safety of others is protected; and
- encourage ambition for children and their families.
What should be done to improve a child's circumstances - The child's or young person's plan should be appropriate to the child's or young person's needs and circumstances. This may need to include:
- action to promote future wellbeing, inclusion and achievement (for example, social training or employment opportunities and education, including good citizenship and how to be safe). The action should be identified from a range of options known to improve outcomes for children in the longer term;
- action to strengthen the support network for the child or young person and the family (for example, parenting classes, respite services, youth services and self-support groups);
- any changes that need to be made to where the child or young person lives to keep him or her safe (for example, providing aids such as hoists, or separating the child or young person from their parents);
- action to make good any harm already caused or to help the child or young person catch up with other youngsters (for example, extra education, counselling or health treatment, and young carer peer support groups where they can meet others in the same position as themselves);
- whether compulsion is thought necessary;
- any other action that will help the child or young person and family manage their situation as independently as possible (for example, care or support for dependent parents to relieve a child from his or her caring role); and
- action that can reduce the risk to the child or young person and others.
Agreed action to be taken - Who does this (to include the family, the child or young person and agencies involved) and when it should be done.
Resources to be provided -Who provides them and when this should happen. Any difficulties agencies may have in providing resources of the type or level required by the child's or young person's plan should be recorded and suitable alternatives offered.
Contingency plans - A statement of what will happen if milestones or agreements are not reached, or if risks or circumstances change. An agreement should be recorded about actions to be taken if the child or young person or others continue to be at risk of harm, or if difficulties get worse rather than better.
Monitoring, review and lead professional arrangements - The plan should include:
- the name and contact details of the lead professional who is the key contact person for the family and responsible for monitoring the child's or young person's progress and for putting the plan into effect;
- how the lead professional will carry this out;
- the name and contact details of the person responsible for co-ordination, communication and review arrangements (if different from the lead professional);
- arrangements for monitoring and reviewing the plan and how this will be carried out, including where, in what form (for example, paper or electronically), when (including the date of the first review), who should take part, and the need for advance assessments or review reports.
The child's or young person's views (and those of their parents or carers) about the plan or any part of it.
Compulsory measures - Where compulsory measures such as a supervision requirement, an ASBO (anti-social behaviour order) or parenting order are thought to be needed, the reasons for this should be recorded and the evidence attached to the child's or young person's plan.
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