Understanding Placement Plans and Looked After Reviews

Foster carers need as much information as possible about a child/young person before they come into their home. Wherever possible planning meetings and documents are held and provided prior to a placement starting. There also should be an opportunity for the foster child to have introductory visits prior to placement starting. However, where this is not possible, there should be a planning meeting and a Placement Plan within 5 days and Care Plan within 10 days of the placement / child coming into care.

Either before, or on, the day of placement you will take part in the drawing up of a document known as the child's Care Plan. This is a document that must be drawn up where a child / family is receiving a service from a local authority. It should provide information relating to the child and their family, and will what work must be done to meet the needs of the child or young person in relation to future plans for them.

This is a document that must be completed either on the day or within 5 days of a placement being made with you. This plan is drawn up by the child/young person’s social worker, with you and your Supervising Social Worker family members. This plan details the expectations and routines of the child, as well as how their needs will be met in the foster placement.

The Placement Plan covers the following areas:

• Objectives and purpose of the placement;
• Any relevant agreements about health or educational needs;
• The child's personal / cultural history;
• The child's likes / dislikes;
• The rules of the placement, including expectations around behaviour;
• Agreements for contact between the child / young person and their family;
• Frequency of social work visits to the child and yourself, and any review meetings.

Delegated Authority - the Placement Plan must show who can make decisions about situations such as:

• Medical and dental treatment;
• Education and school trips;
• Overnight stays;
• Leisure and home life;
• Faith and religious observance;
• Use of social media;
• Any other matters which the local authority/person with Parental Responsibility consider appropriate.

The Placement Plan must also identify any matters about which the Local Authority / person with Parental Responsibility considers that the child may make a decision about.

A Looked After Review review is a statutory requirement that covers the arrangements for making sure the plans put in place for a child in care happen.

Reviews can be convened as required. The local authority holds the first review within 20 working days of a child / young person being looked after. The next review is held after 3 months and then every 6 months.

An Independent Reviewing Officer will manage the process and will chair the meeting. They will discuss with all those involved with the child's life including the child / young person how they are progressing and how their needs will continue to be met. The Independent Reviewing Officer has a quality assurance role for the child overall so is a good source of support if needed.

Foster carers and Supervising Social Workers should attend the reviews of the child / young person they are caring for. Also at the meeting may be the child / young person (if appropriate), the child's teacher, their family, the child's Social Worker and any other professionals working with the family.

Looked After Reviews take place at the following intervals:

• Within 20 working days of the child becoming Looked After;
• Then within 3 months (91 days) of an initial Looked After Review;
• Then subsequent looked after reviews should be conducted not more than 6 months (183 days) after any previous review.

Looked After Reviews should be brought forward by the Independent Reviewing Officer where the circumstances of an event has a significant impact upon the child’s Care Plan, as suggested in the following sorts of circumstances:

• A proposed change of Care Plan for example arising at short notice in the course of proceedings following directions from the court;
• Where agreed decisions from the review are not carried out within the specified timescale;
• Major change to the contact arrangements;
• Changes of allocated social worker;
• Any safeguarding concerns involving the child, which may lead to enquiries being made under Section 47 of the 1989 Act (‘Child Protection Enquiries’) and outcomes of Child Protection Conferences, or other meetings that are not attended by the IRO;
• Complaints from or on behalf of the child, parent or carer;
• Unexpected changes in the child’s placement provision which may significantly impact on placement stability or safeguarding arrangements;
• Significant changes in birth family circumstances for example births, marriages or deaths which may have a particular impact on the child;
• If the child is charged with any offence leading to referral to Youth Offending Services, pending criminal proceedings and any convictions or sentences as a result of such proceedings;
• If the child is excluded from school;
• If the child has run away or gone missing;
• Significant health, medical events, diagnoses, illnesses, hospitalisations, or serious accidents; and panel decisions in relation to permanency.

DfE Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review.

This is not an exhaustive list and other events considered to be significant may prompt an earlier review. The decision whether to have an early review is the IRO’s.

The parents and child should also be consulted about the need for an additional review.

You should therefore:

• Discuss with your social worker any changes that occur for yourself or for your family;
• Ensure the social worker for the child is fully informed and aware of any of the issues that have been highlighted;
• Any other matter that you feel could reflect significantly or impact upon the child or their Care Plan.

The IRO can then review and consider whether an earlier review should be convened.

The first Looked After Review following a young person’s 16th birthday should consider whether a Staying Put arrangement (whereby the young person remains in the foster home after the age of 18) could be an option.

If you are worried about these meetings discuss it with your Supervising Social Worker.