5.3.8 Role of LAC Reviews Chairperson Guidance |
Contents
- Introduction
- Quality Protects, 1998
- Care Plans
- The Review has Three Distinct Functions
- IRO Responsibilities
- SW Responsibilities
- General Information
- Postponements of Looked After Reviews
- Executive Reviews
- Implementation Meetings
- Late Reviews
- Referrals to CAFCASS
1. Introduction
This document provides a brief overview and should be read in conjunction with the new IRO guidance provided with this pack.
The checklist included in this section provides just that a comprehensive checklist of areas that should be considered during a review.
Much of the information has been taken from the IRO guidance implemented September 04
The Children Act 89 states the Statutory Review is;
- To Review the care plan for the child.
- And the care plan can only be changed by a review or by an order from the Court.
The Children Act set out detailed regulations and guidance concerning the planning for and reviewing of children looked after by local authorities. It was described as
'a continuous process of planning and reconsideration of the plan for the child.'
This basic premise has not changed only been developed and strengthened over time.
2. Quality Protects, 1998
'The QP programme encouraged the development of the independent reviewing officer role in local authorities. The appointment of the IRO was seen as one means by which care planning and decision-making could be improved leading to improved outcomes and life chances for LAC'.
The IRO could make an important contribution to ensuring that the local authority had a consistent approach towards the care of children for whom it was corporately responsible. The IRO could offer a safeguard to prevent any 'drift' in planning the care for looked after children and ensure that the local authority's efforts in reviewing children's cases were focused on meeting the needs of the children. The IRO could monitor the activity of the local authority as a corporate Parent in ensuring that appropriate actions were taken to meet the child's needs. The role of the IRO could ensure that plans for looked after children were timely, effective and sensitive to their individual needs. The role also had the potential to make a major contribution to assuring the quality of the service for looked after children in any local authority.
3. Care Plans
These should be completed before the child Becomes Looked After (BLA), or in the case where a child BLA in an emergency within 14 days of Becomes Looked After. The plan provides the basis of the plan presented to Court when application for a section 31 care order is made. LAC under section 20 of the Children Act must also have a care plan.
The review is one of the key components of working with children and families, other key components being, assessment, planning and intervention.
The review schedule is part of the ongoing process of being looked after.
It considers;
- the objectives of the plan,
- the effectiveness of the interventions
- the current needs of the child.
These are considered within the context of child development, new experience and changing circumstances.
4. The Review has Three Distinct Functions
- continuous monitoring and reassessment
- it is an event to consider, change and confirm the plan for the child in consultation with the key players in the Child's life.
- a quality assurance function
Crucially the child is central to the review it is their meeting
The independent reviewing officer evaluates the extent to which the plan is meeting the child / young persons needs.
5 key areas in the review
- To monitoring the child / young person's development over a period of time and identify whether these needs are met or unmet.
- Update key information
- Consider the impact of services on the child / YP and identify when key services have not been provided.
- Consider whether the current care plan and placement meets the needs of the child
- Identifies and recommends changes to the plan.
As already highlighted the review then is a system designed to ensure children and YP receive high standards of care that meet their needs at each stage of their development and achieve their potential.
5. IRO Responsibilities
- Arranging, confirming and chairing all initial and ongoing reviews.
- Ensuring reviews are held within statutory timescales.
- The placement is meeting the child's needs
- Highlighting whether previous decisions have been implemented and their impact.
- What alterations to the strategy for achieving the aims and objectives of the care plan are necessary.
- Ensure all aspects of the review form are addressed
- Ensure that the child/young person, their Parents and Carers views are sought and shared in the review, through the consultation booklets and where possible their attendance at the review.
- Confirm the placement continues to be the best way of meeting the child's needs as identified in the care plan/pathway plan
- That any previous decisions not acted on are carried forward and if necessary amended.
- Highlighting drift and negotiating issues with Social Workers, team Managers and senior Managers as required in the IRO's guidance.
- Referral to CAFCASS if issues are not resolved. (please see Section 12, Referrals to CAFCASS)
- That any new decisions made reflect the reported change and continue to be in the child's best interest
- That the chronology is up to date and available
- That the child /young person and their family are informed about their rights in respect of S8 orders, criminal injuries compensations and complaints.
- Setting the date for next review.
6. SW Responsibilities
- Contacting the IRO / Care Planning Service to confirm arrangements for an up coming review.
- Sending invites to relevant people although this should be in discussion with the IRO who decides who should be present.
- Distribute the consultation documents at least two weeks before the review.
- Ensure the chair has copies of the care plan / pathway plan and completed review of arrangements form.
- Ensure child, Parent and Carers are seen prior to the review
- Raise sensitive/contentious issues relevant to the parties in advance of the review and agreeing how they will be addressed in the review.
- Share the outcome of the above with the IRO prior to the review.
- Discuss the care plan and arrangements for the review with the IRO prior to the review.
7. General Information
- The review will normally take place at the child /young person's placement unless clear reasons are given as to why this should not be so.
Please note there are specific arrangements for the reviews on young people leaving care to be held at the leaving care service office, (these are currently being reviewed). - Aim to schedule reviews at a time that is convenient for everyone most importantly the child / young person. Be mindful of a child's after school / college commitments and exam schedules.
- The chair and Social Worker should always have contact before a review, to discuss the care plan, progress on the case, issues and to confirm date, time, and venue and travel arrangements.
- DO NOT TRAVEL TO A LONG DISTANCE REVIEW WITHOUT CONFIRMING ARRANGEMENTS.
- Where possible communicate with Social Workers and team Managers through email or use an email to confirm significant points made during telephone conversations. This provides us with an audit trail and ensures accuracy if issues arise from a review.
- Preparation and communication is key to productive care planning. Please pay particular attention to this. Being informed enables you to be effective.
- Working together highlights shared responsibility and encourages partnership working.
- We have a quality assurance function that must be pursued. We aim to resolve issues through negotiation.
8. Postponements of Looked After Reviews
Review dates cannot be changed from the agreed date, except in exceptional circumstances, and where it can also be ensured that the review will be completed within time-scales. The Review may then be changed with the agreement of the Chair in consultation with their Manager.
9. Executive Reviews
Where it is not possible for a review to go ahead as planned and permission is not granted to re-schedule or postpone the review an Executive Review will be held on the original agreed date where in principle decisions will be made. The team Manager becomes responsible for convening an implementation meeting with all relevant parties present within four weeks of the Executive Review to ensure that the agreed action plans are endorsed and followed through.
The next Looked After Review will be set within the required time-scales from the date of the Executive Review.
An Executive Review should be held with as many of the key members as possible but the minimum is the child's Social Worker or Line Manager and the Chair.
It may be necessary to hold the Executive Review in a different place to that where the child is living, for example where the Carer is ill.
Agenda for the Executive Review:
An Executive Review as a minimum should review the child's Care Plan and agree key actions required, including whether any changes are necessary to ensure that the child is safeguarded, contact arrangements are reviewed, drift is avoided and goals are being worked to with priority and realistic timescales. The dates of key actions such as medical's, dental checks, education and health plans should be recorded.
Issues relating to identity and implementation, and the views of the child, Carers and Parents through the consultation process may be left to the Implementation Meeting.
10. Implementation Meetings
Where it has been necessary to hold an executive review, the summary and any revised plans should be discussed at an implementation meeting within four weeks with the relevant people present. The team Manager will chair the implementation meeting. If additions or amendments to any of the relevant plans (as agreed at the executive review) are recommended, these should be discussed with the Chair of the executive review who will have the authority to amend the executive review.
Implementation Meeting Agenda
To ensure understanding of the decisions of the executive review and that these will be implemented, and the schedule and responsibility for actions. If not already considered, to ensure that the consultation papers and reports from the child, Carers and Parents are considered and to plan any action as required.
Where the allocated Social Worker is ill or not available for a scheduled Looked After Review, the Social Worker's Manager will attend the Review in the allocated worker's absence to present the summary of work and report.
Should the child not attend as agreed/expected, the Review should go ahead as planned and the Chair of the Review should advise the child in writing of the outcome and offer a face-to-face meeting to explain the recommendations and hear any representations from the child.
In the light of any representations from the child, the Chair may make amendments to the recommended plan following consultation with key members of the Review (this may be done in writing or by phone).
If a Parent or significant family member who should be present is unable to attend, the Review should go ahead but every effort should be made to seek their views in advance of the meeting.
If the Review Chair is ill at the time of a scheduled Looked After Review, every effort will be made by his or her Line Manager to provide a substitute Chair. If this is not possible the Social Worker's Line Manager or team Manager will chair the review and discuss the recommendations with the Chair before they are endorsed. If no substitute Chair is available on the day of the review, an executive review must be scheduled within the required time-scales.
Monitoring and Recording
The IRO is required to inform their Manager that an executive review has taken place and contact the team Manager within two weeks to ensure a date has been set. Following the implementation meeting minutes should be sent to the IRO.
The review report will record when a Looked After Review has been completed as an executive review. The LAC Planning Managers will monitor the number of Executive Reviews and Implementation Meetings.
11. Late Reviews
You will note that because of our policy of executive reviews there should be no late reviews.
However there are likely to be some rare occasions when a late review cannot be helped.
To request a late review the Social Worker or team Manager must contact the IRO and their Manager.
The decision for a review to be held outside timescales will be taken by the LAC Care Planning Managers.
12. Referrals to CAFCASS
Please see Care Planning Quality Assurance Protocol and Flowchart
In line with the Adoption and Children Act 2002 Independent Reviewing Officers Guidance, which requires IROs to follow up on issues of concern regarding Children Looked After, with the possibility as a last resort of referring cases to CAFCASS, the Care Planning Service has developed a Protocol called the IRO QA Protocol. The purpose of this is to formalise the QA process that IROs will follow.
The attached flow chart shows the different stages to be taken in working towards good outcomes on issues highlighted, with clear expectations of timescales for response. The flow chart shows at which stage Social Workers, Managers and legal would be consulted. The IROs will be raising issues using a template referring to this Protocol and recording stages taken.
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