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CHAPTER 15: Children in Care

Contents

  1. Section 47 Enquiry
  2. Reviews, Care Planning & Conferences
  3. Discontinuation of the Child Protection Plan


1. Section 47 Enquiry

1.1 In any situation in which there is reason to suspect that a child in care child is suffering, or is likely to suffer, Significant Harm a formal Section 47 Enquiry must be initiated.


2. Reviews, Care Planning & Conferences

2.1 A child in care who remains the subject of a Child Protection Plan will have both Children in Care Reviews and Child Protection Review Conferences. The Child in Care review should be arranged so as to follow the child protection conference.
2.2 Child in Care Reviews and Child Protection Conferences are separate meetings with different purposes. The plans made at Child in Care Reviews must be consistent with the Child Protection Plan.
2.3 Where a Child in Care Review or other local authority planning meeting proposes any change which might significantly affect the level of risk of a child subject to a Child Protection Plan e.g. return home to parents, the decision must not be implemented until it is considered by a review conference, unless it is part of the existing protection plan.
2.4 Where there is disagreement within the subsequent Child Protection Conference about the proposed change suggested by the Children in Care Review, the situation must be brought to the attention of the operational service manager, who in consultation with the safeguarding manager, will decide whether or not to proceed with the change.
2.5 Where a child is subject to a Child Protection Plan and is removed from accommodation by parents or where a child in care is returned to parents or carers in court proceedings, against the recommendation of the local authority, a Child Protection Review Conference must be convened to consider the risks to the child and the implications for the protection plan.
2.6 If necessary the local authority must take action to protect a child prior to a conference. This must not be delayed until a child protection review is convened if an enquiry or assessment indicates it is required sooner.
2.7

For relevant related procedures see:


3. Discontinuation of the Child Protection Plan

3.1 When a child in care is no longer living in the situation which gave rise to the decision to make her/him subject of a Child Protection Plan and there is no current plan for her/him to be returned, her/his name may be removed (by means of a child protection conference decision) from the list of those for whom such a plan exists. In these circumstances the child's Care Plan must include any elements of the Child Protection Plan that remain valid.
3.2 Should the care plan subsequently include returning the child from care to the situation that previously resulted in a decision to make her/him subject of a protection plan, a child protection conference must be held first to consider if a Child Protection Plan is required.

End