3.12.2 Looked After Children on a Child Protection Plan

When a child who is subject to a Child Protection Plan becomes Looked After, either on Section 20 or through care proceedings, consideration needs to be given as to whether they still need to be safeguarded by means of a multi-agency child protection plan.

The relevant section in Working Together says:

5.140 A child should no longer be the subject of a Child Protection Plan if:

It is judged that the child is no longer at continuing risk of significant harm requiring safeguarding by means of a child protection plan (for example, the likelihood of harm has been reduced by action taken through the child protection plan; the child and family’s circumstances have changed; or re-assessment of the child and family indicates that a child protection plan is not necessary). Under these circumstances, only a child protection review conference can decide that a child protection plan is no longer necessary.
If a child is on an interim Care Order, their welfare is overseen by the Court, and by the child looked after processes. If the child is looked after under Section 20, they are still subject to care planning and looked after reviews.

Working Together states that:

5.145 Where children looked after are also subject to a child protection review conference the overriding principle must be that the systems are integrated and carefully monitored in a way that promotes a child centred and not a bureaucratic approach. It is important to link the timing of a Child Protection Review Conference with the review under the Review Regulations to ensure that information from the former is brought to the review meeting, and informs the overall planning process. It should be remembered that significant changes to the care plan can only be made at the looked after children review meeting.

The locally agreed procedure to address these issues, is that the child protection review conference is brought forward, once a child becomes looked after, and that, if the child is no longer at continuing risk of significant harm, due to the change in their situation and being looked after, it may be necessary to make amendments to (or withdraw) the Child Protection Plan. For this to happen, the Social Worker must inform the conference chair when the child becomes looked after.
If the care plan is for them to return Home, and they would be at continuing risk of significant harm, the Child Protection Plan will be retained.
The decision to discontinue the child protection plan can only be made at a child protection review conference. Exceptionally, this can be done by letter, but only if the previous child protection review conference made it part of the plan and decisions.
Reviews of children under the Review Regulations for children who are looked after, should always consider whether they are continuing risk of significant harm if the care plan is for them to return Home, and an initial child protection conference should be convened if necessary.
For those children who are subject to orders but remain at Home, the Child Protection Review Conference will need to consider whether a child protection plan is still needed in addition to the Court proceedings and child looked after review processes.
If it is decided that the child should remain subject to a Child Protection Plan, the above guidance from Working Together should be followed. This is only likely to be necessary in exceptional circumstances, and arrangements can be made on a case by case basis, by the conference chair and IRO liaising, in consultation with the Social Worker.

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