3.3.2 The Review of the Placement Plan (Child in Care)

1. Purpose of Placement Planning Reviews

The purpose of Placement Planning Reviews is to ensure the Placement Plan (recorded on the Placement Information Record) for each Child in Care continues to be kept up to date in order to meet their needs, as set out in a Care Plan or Pathway Plan.

This does not prevent the child's social worker or manager of the home (in relation to a child placed in residential care) from amending or making modifications to the Placement Plan between Placement Plan Reviews so long as this has been agreed between the social worker and carer as well as with the child, parents and others affected. Any changes are likely to be undertaken following the completion of the Individual Child's Management plan and placement risk assessment.

The placement plan is contained within the Placement Information Record exemplar.

2. Frequency of Placement Plan Reviews

Placement Plan Reviews should be held at the following intervals:

1. Within 72 hours of the child's placement in foster care or residential care if a Placement Plan/Placement Information Record was not completed prior to the placement, sufficient to sustain the child until the first Looked After Review - see Placement Plans Procedure;
2. As part of a Looked After Review or if this is not possible, a Placement Plan Review should be conducted as soon as possible after each Looked After Review. The frequency of Placement Plan Reviews will be agreed at the Looked After Review;
3. After serious Incidents or in the light of significant changes in the child's circumstances that suggest it is necessary to review the arrangements set out in the Placement Plan/Placement Information Record. This will be determined by the Residential Home Manager, Lead Social Worker or Team manager;
4. At other times agreed between the social worker and provider/carer;
5. Where the Statement of Purpose for a children's home determines that such reviews should occur;
6. At the review of the Child's Care Plan, setting the date of the next review of the Placement Plan.

3. Who should Convene Placement Plan Reviews?

In children's homes, the manager of the home or a person delegated to act on the manager's behalf will usually convene Placement Plan Reviews, following a case discussion with the Lead Social Worker and consultation with the Team Manager of the Lead Social Worker.

In other placements, the social worker should convene the review.

For those children receiving a series of short term breaks from the children with disabilities service, and where the unit has the primary role, a designated person from the Residential Unit team will amend the placement plan in the child's record (MOSAIC). The review of the placement plan will be undertaken by the residential unit in these circumstances.

If the series of short term breaks provided by the residential unit is not the primary service provided within the care plan then it will be usual for the child's Lead Social Worker to lead and co-ordinate the placement plan reviews and amend the child's record (MOSAIC).

4. Chairing Placement Plan Reviews

• In children's homes, the manager of the home, or a person delegated to act on the manager's behalf, will chair Placement Plan Reviews;
• In other placements, the child's social worker, team manager or Practice Supervisor will chair the Review. The designation of who will chair the review will be dependent upon the complexity of the circumstances.

5. Who should Attend or Contribute to the Review?

The people who should contribute are:

1. The child's social worker;
2. The child;
3. The child's parents;
4. The foster carer and foster carer's supervising social worker or a representative from the children's home.

Other significant people should be invited, including the Head of Regulated Services (where the placement is with an external provider) and any providers/carers who have been looking after the child immediately prior to the placement.

Care must be taken to invite key professionals that are contributing to the placement including for example NYAS or other advocate of the child/young person.

6. Preparation and Conducting the Review

For those children receiving a series of short term breaks from the children with disabilities service, and where the unit has the primary role, a designated person from the Residential Unit team will amend the placement plan in the child's record (MOSAIC). The review of the placement plan will be undertaken by the residential unit in these circumstances.

If the series of short term breaks provided by the residential unit is not the primary service provided within the care plan then it will be usual for the child's Lead Social Worker to chair and co-ordinate the placement plan reviews and amend the child's record (MOSAIC).

Before the Review the chairperson should obtain or be up dated on the following:

• The child's Placement Plan recorded on the Placement Information Record;
• Any work which has been undertaken by key professionals involved in supporting the child's placement;
• The child's Care Plan and/or Pathway Plan.

The chairperson should also ensure that the child, parent(s) and others who have been asked to contribute, understand the purpose of the review, how it will be conducted and are given the opportunity to put their views and suggestions.

During the Review, the chairperson should ensure the following:

• That consideration is given to the continuing appropriateness of the placement within the context of the child's Care Plan and/or Pathway Plan and the need for the Placement Plan to be amended as appropriate;
• That the child's Placement Plan recorded on the Placement Information Record is updated if appropriate, and new or updated copies are circulated to those who were invited or contributed.

This does not mean that amendments or modifications to Placement Plans may only be made at Placement Plan Reviews. When Placement Plans are formulated and at each Placement Plan Review, the social worker and foster carer/fostering social worker or home manager should agree the extent to which they can be amended or modified between Placement Plan Reviews or without consultation.

If there are concerns about the suitability of the placement, consideration should be given to the following:

• Whether it is possible to sustain the placement until the next Looked After Review by, for example, providing additional support to the placement;
• Bringing forward the date of the next Looked After Review.

Where the proposed placement has the effect of disrupting the arrangements made for the child's education and training - See Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After Children Procedure.

Any decision to move the child/young person to another placement must be authorised by the Team Manager following a case discussion. A disruption meeting must be held in line with the procedure.

A move of a placement must be in line with the overall aim of the Care Plan, no changes can be made to the Care Plan without there first being a review of the Care Plan.

7. Recording of Review Outcomes

The chairperson must ensure the following is recorded at the end of the Placement Plan Review:

• The updating or amendment of the child's Placement Plan/Placement Information Record onto the child's record (MOSAIC);
• If it seems appropriate, additional minutes.

For those children receiving a series of short term breaks from the children with disabilities service, a designated person from the Residential Unit team will amend the placement plan in the child's record (MOSAIC).

Copies of these records should be circulated to those who attended or were invited to contribute.

8. Progress Chasing Review Outcomes

Where the chairperson is concerned about delay in implementation of aspects of the Placement Plan/Placement Information Record or Care Plan, he or she should take matters up with those responsible and, if necessary, relevant managers.