Care Planning Guidance

1. Who Must Have a Care Plan

1.1	Every child/young person who is looked after by the Local Authority or who is the subject of Care Proceedings must have a Care Plan. Care Plans should have a clear pathway as to how permanency will be achieved and within what timeframe, for all looked after children/young people, except for those who start to be looked after at age 15+ years where the Needs Assessment and Pathway Plan form the Permanence Plan. Every child/young person in care must have a Child and Family Assessment which provides the information to inform the Care Plan. (see Care Leavers and Transition to Adulthood Procedure).
1.2	Where a child/young person becomes the subject of Care Proceedings, an Interim Care Plan must be provided to inform the Court how and where the child/young person will be cared for the duration of the Care Proceedings. A final Care Plan is presented at the end of the Care Proceedings which includes the plan for permanence. The Care Plans (both interim and final) that are presented to Court have specific templates to ensure that the report is concise and addresses the specific information the Court will need. Before a court grants a Care Order it must be satisfied that a suitable Care Plan has been drawn up and approve that plan as reflecting the best interests of the child/young person (see Court Proceedings Procedure).
1.3	Where the plan for the child/young person is adoption including adoption by Connected Person (family and friends) or foster carers, a Child/Young Person Permanency Report (CPR) must be presented to the Agency Decision Maker. The CPR includes information from the Care Plan. See also: Permanence Planning, Placement Strategy and Guidance.
1.4	The relevant Safeguarding Service Manager must authorise the Permanence Plan where the plan for the child/young person is placement with a relative or friend or foster carer under a Special Guardianship Order (SGO). A report is filed with the Court. The content of the report is prescribed by Statutory Guidance but sections can be completed from the Care Plan. It must be jointly authorised by the relevant Safeguarding and Fostering Service Managers. This guidance makes clear where this is possible (see Section 13, The Court Care Plan). Where the plan is for Long Term Fostering the child/young person's permanence report will need consideration at Fostering Panel.
1.5	The Care Plan can be used to secure resources for the child/young person. e.g. a placement. The East and West Practice and Resources Panel has a separate referral form (see LCS, Forms, Practice and Resource Panel Referral Form) but the Care Plan will be a key source document that the Panel will use in approving resources to meet the child/young person's needs.

2. Who is Responsible for the Care Plan

2.1	The child/young person's social worker is responsible for the following actions and reports with advice from colleagues from Family Placement staff: Requesting advice from Adoption and Fostering Services; The Care Plan; The CPR; The SGO Report*; Child/young person Arrangements Order Report.
2.2	The Family Placement workers and managers in Fostering and Adoption will provide advice on the Care Plan regarding achieving permanency for the child/young person or regarding the appropriate placement. This may be necessary throughout the duration of Care Proceedings and beyond. Adoption workers provide advice in the completion of the CPR and are specifically responsible for: The child/young person's profile; Advertising information when required; The matching report matching child/young person and adopters; The Introductions Plan; The Adoption Support Plan; Rule 29 report presented at the final Adoption Hearing; Any family finding report requested by court or Adoption Panel. Indicates that reports will need to be produced jointly with contributions and discussion between the Adoption worker and the allocated social worker.
2.3	Court Care Plans, the SGO court report or the CPR must be provided to managers at least 5 working days before the date of filing or submission to allow for amendments. In practice this is insufficient time if the plan needs comprehensive revision and it is better to prepare these plans well before the deadline.
2.4	Family and Friends Supervising Social Workers work with the child/young person's social worker to complete the assessment of connected persons who are either already caring for a looked after child/young person (who was placed in an emergency) or who are proposing to care for looked after child/young person on a long term basis either as a Foster Carer or under a Special Guardianship Order (SGO). The Family and Friends Worker complete the part of the SGO report that relates to the carers.
2.5	Where the plan for the child/young person is long term or permanent fostering, the Fostering Teams will find families and alongside the allocated social worker will jointly prepare a matching report that is presented to the Fostering Panel.
2.6	The Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) is responsible for reviewing the Care Plan and identifying any issues of drift and delay.

3. Timescales for Completion

3.1	The Care Plan must be drawn up as soon as the need for the child/young person to become the subject of Court Proceedings and/or come into care has been identified. It should be completed prior to the child/young person's first placement or, if this is impracticable within 10 working days of the child/young person's first placement. A Care Plan must be available for the first court hearing in Care Proceedings. See Decision to Look After and Initial Care Planning Procedure.
3.2	If there are exceptional reasons that prevent the Care Plan from being drawn up prior to the child/young person's placement, the key objectives of the child/young person's admission to care and the proposed placement must still be identified and recorded.
3.3	The Care Plan is reviewed at each Looked After Review and should be updated after each Review. Any significant changes must be signed off by the Service Manager.
3.4	In Care Proceedings, an Interim Care Plan must be filed with the application whether the child/young person is to remain with the birth family or if removal to care is requested/planned. Dates for filing a final Care Plan will be determined by the Court in conjunction with the timetable for the child/young person.
3.5	The CPR is presented to the Agency Decision Maker in conjunction with the timing around the proceedings. The Agency Decision Maker's recommendation that the plan for the child/young person should be adoption is required before a Placement Order can be obtained. However, all assessments within the proceedings need to have been completed before the Agency Decision Maker can make a recommendation and occasionally this means that there is little time between the availability of an expert's assessment and the date for filing of a final care plan.
3.6	Where a baby is relinquished for adoption, the CPR will be presented to the Agency Decision Maker by the Adoption Worker for a recommendation that adoption is in the baby's best interests. The baby cannot be matched with prospective adopters until the mother or both parents have given consent to CAFCASS for adoption. See Relinquished Children Procedure.
3.7	Applications for SGO's may be made by Connected Persons regarding a child/young person in proceedings in which case, the Court timetable will include the filing of a report concerning the SGO application. It is a legal requirement that the Local Authority complete the SGO report within 12 weeks of the date of notification of the SGO application. see Special Guardianship Orders Policy and Procedure) and Long Term Fostering Procedure.

4. Approval of the Plan

4.1	A final Care Plan taken before the Court in Care Proceedings must be endorsed and signed by the relevant Head of Service.
4.2	All other Care Plans must be endorsed and signed by the social worker's Team Manager and/or Services Manager

5. Consultation

5.1

The social worker is responsible for drawing up and updating the Care Plan in consultation with:

The child/young person;
The child/young person's parents;
Anyone who is not a parent but has been caring for or looking after the child/young person;
Other members of the child/young person's family network who are significant to the child/young person;
The child/young person's school or the education service;
The relevant health trust(s);
The Youth Offending Service, if the child/young person is known to them;
Any other agency involved with the child/young person's care;
The Adoption Service unless the child/young person is over 10;
The Fostering Service.

5.2

The Adoption and Fostering Services will provide advice about achieving permanence for the child/young person and this should be specifically recorded in the care plan. Where the child/young person is one of a sibling group, Adoption workers may assist in making decisions about whether the child/young person should be separated or placed together. There is a presumption that siblings are placed together unless the needs of the child/young person preclude this.

6. Purpose

6.1	The purpose of the plan is to safeguard and promote the interests of the child/young person, prevent drift and focus work on achieving permanence for the child/young person.
6.2	The Care Plan describes the needs of the child/young person and how those needs will be met in whichever are the most appropriate care arrangements. Wherever possible the plan should direct how the child/young person will move out of care. If the child/young person has to remain in care, the Care Plan will describe how they will be cared for to best meet their needs and deliver good outcomes in a stable and secure situation.
6.3	If the plan for the child/young person is adoption, the child/young person's permanency report (CPR) must be presented to the Adoption panel. This incorporates the child/young person's care plan as well as other information. The CPR is a key document when subsequently matching the child/young person with approved adopters. Elements of the Care Plan will also feed into the report presented to the Adoption Panel and subsequently to court in respect of a Special Guardianship Application.

7. Review

7.1	The Care Plan should be updated by the social worker, with the Team Manager's approval, at any time as changes occur but where there is significant change this must be approved by the Service Manager and in the case of a looked after child/young person, shared with the IRO.
7.2	By the time of the second Looked After Review, the Care Plan must contain a plan for achieving permanence for the child/young person within a timescale that is realistic, achievable and meets the child/young person's needs. The Care Plan must contain advice from the Adoption and Fostering workers as to the best means of achieving permanence. For children/young people who are the subject of Care Proceedings the Permanence Planning timescales must tie in to the Public Law Outline (PLO) timescales.
7.3	All subsequent Reviews should review the progress and validity of the Permanence Plan. Where the IRO identifies that drift and delay are occurring and the care plan is not achieved, the matter will be escalated to senior managers. The IRO has the right to initiate Court Proceedings should there be persistent and serious failure to deliver good outcomes through the Care Plan for the child/young person.

8. Contents

8.1	Each section in the care plan (Section 9, Circulation) contains suggestions of issues, facts or analysis that should be included. Please remember that the child/young person's Care Plan is a major source document for: The child/young person reading their file as an adult; Various teams e.g. Brokerage, Fostering, Adoption who need information about the child/young person in order to provide resources to meet their needs including placements; The courts in making a final decision about the child/young person's future; Adoption and other Panel members and the Agency Decision Maker in formulating decisions about the necessary plan for the child/young person.
8.2	Research indicates that the more detailed the Care Plan, the more likely it is to be successful in achieving good outcomes. Actions to deliver the Care Plan should be specific, measurable, achievable, reviewable and time specific (SMART).
8.3	Before the child/young person's future is decided upon, it is likely that the Care Plan should contain two or more parallel plans. An example might be reunification with parents but also adoption. The Care Plan will describe how each strand will be progressed until it becomes clear which is the appropriate plan for permanence. Once it is clear the Care Plan will reflect the single course that will be pursued.
8.4	The Care Plans for Looked After Child/Young Person should contain what the contingency will be if the placement breaks down whilst the child/young person is under 18. In the case of adoption or SGO, applicants should consider who would care for the child/young person in the unlikely event of their death etc. For children/young people remaining in Foster Care, the contingency needs to explore what alternative carers would be available and how this would be arranged.
8.5	The Care Plan should incorporate information from the child's Personal Education Plan and their Health Care Plan.
8.6	Where a young person is aged 15+ the Care Plan should incorporate the Pathway Plan which describes how the young person will be assisted towards independence.
8.7	With regard to a young child/young person, it is helpful to refer to the following charts in assessing and determining their needs: Child/Young Person Development Chart.
8.8	The Care Plan should include the name of the Independent Reviewing Officer. And the following information concerning the management and support by the Local Authority: Who is to be responsible for implementing the plan; Who is responsible for implementing specific tasks within the plan; Date of last and next Looked After Review; Contingency Plan if the placement breaks down or if preferred placement is not available; Arrangements for input by the child/young person, parent and others in the ongoing decision-making process; Arrangements for notifying the responsible local authority of disagreements about the implementation of the Care Plan or for making representations/complaints.
8.9	For CLA plans an action plan should be drawn up that summarises the action with time limits that will be completed. For Court Care Plans, any actions should be detailed in the content of the Court Care Plan.

9. Circulation

9.1

Following signing off by the appropriate manager the Care Plan must be circulated to the following people:

The child/young person, depending on age and understanding - care must be taken to ensure the child/young person understands it. The child/young person's version of the care plan should be provided in most cases. If necessary, the child/young person should be given additional material, suitable to his/her needs and abilities, which can better explain the Care Plan; See also Written Communication with Children and Young People Procedure;
The parent(s) - who may also require help to understand the plan;
Providers/carers (with leave of the Court if the child/young person is subject to proceedings and the providers/carers are not parties to those proceedings) - if no Care Plan has been drawn up prior to the child/young person's placement, the social worker must ensure that the providers/carers understand the key objectives of the plan, and how the placement will help achieve these objectives;
The Independent Reviewing Officer.

10. The Care Plan

10.1 Front Sheet

Child/young person (name and d.o.b.)
LCS Number
Social worker
Independent Reviewing Officer
Date of Last Review
Date of Next Review

10.2 Section 1 - About the Child/Young Person and their Strengths and Needs

Identity

Where the child/young person was born;
Their ethnic origin and nationality;
Cultural heritage;
Religious heritage and whether child/young person has any religious beliefs;
Language;
Sexual orientation;
Irrespective of the above, how the child/young person sees themself.

Social Presentation

Physical Description;
How does the child/young person present to professionals, carers present and past, social worker;
The child/young person's likes and dislikes;
Is the child/young person usually dressed appropriate to weather, age etc.
Is the child/young person friendly/responsive to others;
Can the child/young person share with others;
Does the child/young person take part in social activities commensurate with age including any organised activities?

Emotional and Behavioural Development

Who is child/young person attached to and the qualities of that attachment;
What are the age appropriate behaviours that the child/young person exhibits indicative of good attachments;
Is the child/young person happy and how does the child show this;
Is the child/young person disturbed and what behaviours are exhibited as a result;
Has the child/young person any identified disorders/emotional difficulties;
Has the child/young person required interventions by CYPMHS and if so what are these.

Health

How is the child/young person's general health?
Does child/young person have any disabilities or health issues;
Has child/young person had appropriate immunisations;
Does the child/young person have healthy teeth?
Does child/young person need/wear glasses?
Does child/young person have regular exercise?
How will health needs be met- include elements of the health plan;
Include date health Plan was drawn up and by whom.

Education

Give details of where the child/young person does well, either meeting appropriate milestones or exceeding these;
The child/young person's likes and dislikes at school/nursery;
For a young child/young person give details development and whether this is within usual limits for their age. Give details of any issues or difficulties;
Describe what the child/young person might be expected to achieve in the longer future;
Does the child/young person have any idea of their wishes re a career and education?
If at school give details of what child/young person has achieved and how any difficulties are being addressed in PEP;
Give date PEP was completed, by whom and how objectives are being achieved.

Self-care skills

Describe what child/young person can do to manage their self care;
What does the child/young person need help with and how will this be addressed;
What does the child/young person need help with to get ready for school?
If older can the young person cook/prepare a snack or drink/manage their money/manage their possessions/manage money and shopping.

Family and Friends

Who does the child/young person see regularly/infrequently;
Describe the quality of the child/young person's relationships with all significant adults, siblings and other close friends;
Are there people the child/young person would like to see but doesn't? Why have their wishes not been acceded to.

Current Contact Arrangements

Provide exact details of arrangements for and purpose of contact in meeting child/young person's needs (specifying contact relationship e.g. parent, step-parent, other family member, former carer, friend, sibling(s) including those that are looked after that may have a separate placement or remain with birth family;
Include details of any court orders made under section 8 or 34 and how these have been fulfilled;
Describe current contact arrangements.

Child/Young Person's Wishes and Feelings

Describe the child/young person's views;
Give details of where these have/have not been acted upon and why?
Give reasons for supporting views or explanations of why wishes, views have not been given absolute precedence;
If child/young person's wishes are being overruled give details of what you think the impact may be on them and what will be provided to assist the child/young person in this process;
For a young child/young person use observations to inform how the child/young person reacts and responds to people they know and care for them.

10.3 Section 2 - Summary and Analysis

Overall Aim of Care Plan

Discuss which of the child/young person's strengths and needs may be more important and why;
Include what specific advice was provided by Adoption and Fostering Workers that has informed the conclusions about the care plan;
Describe how the plan's objectives will best meet the needs of the child/young person;
Detail the aim of the plan and summary of proposed timetable.

10.4 Section 3 - The Plan

Options for the Immediate Future

List all options and indicate why each is/is not appropriate to meet the needs of the child/young person. Include:

Remain/Return to parent(s) under no order/ISO/ ICO. If an ICO has the relevant Head of Service approved this placement under Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010;
Placement with relatives or friends under an ICO or IRO or section 20;
Placement with foster carer under ICO/section 20;
In thinking about which order is appropriate consideration has to be given as to why it is necessary to share parental responsibility with the birth parent(s);
Give details of what parallel plans are to be pursued and the timeframe for actions in respect of both;
Any assessments that are proposed for relatives/friends for future placements and dates for completion.

Details of Proposed/Current Placement

Where will the child/young person be living in the immediate future;
Time that is likely to elapse before any proposed placement is made if child/young person is to move;
How will child/young person move there?
Likely duration of the placement;
Arrangements for reunification/rehabilitation;
Specific details of the birth parents' role in day to day arrangements;
Arrangements for health care including consent to examination and treatment;
Arrangements for education (including any pre-school day care/activity);
What arrangements will be in place to address any issues of the child/young person's needs that cannot be met by the placement;
Details of proposed support services in the placement for the carers;
Whether the child/young person is placed with siblings and if not why not;
Indicate where siblings will be placed;
What contingency plans have been made in the event of any difficulties with the placement or if it suddenly breaks down before the final plan can be implemented;
Any possible issues e.g. foster carers' holidays that might impact on contact or assessments during proceedings;
How placement will be monitored;
Other services to be provided to the child/young person;
Other services to be provided to the parents and other family members.

Contact Arrangements

Provide details of proposed contact arrangements including who child/young person will see, frequency and where;
Will this be supervised and by whom;
Give dates of changes and how these will be managed;
Include any proposals to restrict or terminate contact and how this will be managed e.g. a final visit to a birth parent;
Give details where contact arrangements pose any risks e.g. an older child/young person visiting their parent without carer's knowledge;
Any issues of contact that child/young person would like to have but cannot be arranged for reasons of safety or person's whereabouts not known;
Include arrangements where there is to be no direct contact but where birth family members will be kept in touch with the child/young person's progress e.g. annual photograph, information at time of each CLA review etc.

Options for Permanence

List all options for permanence and indicate why each is/is not appropriate to meet the needs of the child/young person.

Include:

Placement with family and friends. This means that the child/young person will not remain in care and if the placement is good enough it will be expected that the child/young person leaves care either through adoption or an SGO;
Adoption by approved "stranger" adopters;
Placement with foster carer under CO. This could eventually lead to the foster carer applying for an SGO or an Adoption Order. If this is not envisaged please indicate why not;
Other placement e.g. residential care, independent living for an older teenager;
Of the preferred permanent arrangements describe exactly how this will be achieved and in what time frame;
Give reasons why adoption is not being considered for a child/young person under ten;
Give details of what contingency plans will be in place if the placement breaks down whilst the child/young person is under 18. In the case of adoption or SGO, adopters and relatives should consider who would care for the child/young person in the event of their death etc. For child/young person remaining in foster care, the contingency needs to explore what alternative carers would be available and how this would be arranged;
In the event of the placement ending before the child/young person reaches adulthood. In the case of adopters or relatives they need to plan for alternative.

Details of Current and Proposed Placement

Where is child/young person living currently;
If the child/young person's future placement involves a move, give details of when and how this will be managed to minimise disruption to the child/young person including reunification or placement with a parent or family member not currently caring for the child/young person;
If the plan is adoption advice from Adoption Service as to how many prospective adopters are available for the child/young person and a rough timetable to include date of presentation at Adoption Panel and matching process. Also how once a suitable family is identified how the process of moving the child/young person will be planned;
Specific details of the birth parents' role in day to day arrangements prior and if appropriate after the permanent placement has been achieved;
Whilst child/young person is in care and after arrangements for health care including consent to examination and treatment;
Arrangements for education (including any pre-school day care/activity) both whilst in care and afterwards;
Details of proposed support services in the placement for the carers;
How placement will be monitored and supported while child/young person is in care and support arrangements post adoption/SGO or reunification;
Other services to be provided to the child/young person;
Other services to be provided to the parents and other family members;
If SGO when was this presented to the Agency Decision Maker and did she or she support the plan;
What arrangements will be in place to address any issues of the child/young person's needs that cannot be met by the placement;
Whether the child/young person is placed with siblings and if not why not. Indicate where siblings will be placed;
If the child/young person is to remain with foster carers, give details of how the placement will be assessed and recognised as a permanent arrangement;
Give details of contingency plans. This is particularly important where the plan is adoption but finding a suitable family may be difficult. Include contingency in the event of the fostering placement breaking down;
How will placement if to continue will be monitored and reviewed.

Contact Arrangements

Provide details of proposed contact arrangements including who child/young person will see, frequency and where both in any interim period and in the permanent arrangement;
Will this be supervised and by whom;
Give dates of changes and how these will be managed;
Include any proposals to restrict or terminate contact and how this will be managed e.g. a final visit to a birth parent;
Give details where contact arrangements pose any risks e.g. an older child/young person visiting their parent without carer's knowledge;
Any issues of contact that child/young person would like to have but cannot be affected for reasons of safety or person's whereabouts not known;
Include arrangements where there is to be no direct contact but where birth family members will be kept in touch with the child/young person's progress e.g. annual photograph, information at time of each CLA review etc.
Where a child/young person is remaining in care include any plans to appoint an independent visitor, and if one is appointed, Care Plans and Placement Plans should include the frequency of visits and that this arrangement is reviewed at each review.

10.4 Section 4 - Views of Others

Include the wishes and views of the child/young person's parents and anyone else with a sufficient interest in the child/young person (including representatives of other agencies, current and former carers) or who the local authority consider relevant to the child/young person;
Include not only what the views of the relevant person are in relation to what they want, but also their views on the Local Authority's proposed plan, change to plan (if different);
Give the reasons for supporting them or explanations of why wishes/ views have not been given absolute precedence.

11. The Child/Young Person's Care Plan

11.1	In every case where the child/young person looked after is over 5, a Care Plan should be produced that explains things to the child/young person and what will happen for them in language and format that is appropriate with their level of understanding.
11.2	Any discrepancy between the child/young person's views and the views of others, including the social work staff, needs to be explained carefully. It is important to be open and honest so that the child/young person is able to understand what may happen for them and the reasons for this.
11.3	In each section, questions are asked as to who will help. The Care Plan should include specific things that will change. Explain clearly what needs to change and who will help with the changes. This will ensure that there is no doubt around future plans and that the child/young person/young person has understood what will happen to them and for them.
	See: How to Create the CLA Care Plan on LCS.

12. The Child/Young Person's Permanency Report

12.1

The CPR requires additional information for the Panel to decide whether the plan should be adoption and to approve a match of the child/young person with prospective adopters. Much of the child/young person's information can be gleaned and copied from the care plan as there are consistent headings. See also: Permanence Planning, Placement Strategy and Guidance Procedure.

13. The Court Care Plan

A Court Care Plan template (CSF4210) is available.

14. Special Guardianship Report

See Special Guardianship Orders Policy and Procedure and Court Reports in Special Guardianship Guidance.