SECTION 9 CHILD WELFARE THE FAMILY SUPPORT PLANNING PROCESS

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1 SECTION 9 CHILD WELFARE THE FAMILY SUPPORT PLANNING PROCESS Introduction There is a statutory responsibility on the HSE to provide support services to (children and) the families of children who may be risk of abuse or neglect. Family Support All referrals to social work departments are subject to preliminary enquiries. Unless the case is closed at this juncture, an Initial Assessment is carried out at the end of which the concern is categorised as abuse, neglect or welfare and a determination is made about risk. Where the concern is categorised as Child Welfare, the social work department will provide services by means of a Family Support Plan. The Family Support Plan should be formulated with the family. Families should be encouraged to identify their own solutions as much as possible. The allocated social worker will also need to consider whether other agencies or disciplines such as members of neighbourhood/community networks or professionals involved in delivering a service or offering support may need to contribute to the plan. If so their contributions will need to be co-ordinated by the allocated worker. Proposed solutions should be documented as a formal plan using standard HSE Family Support Plan template. Where a formal meeting is used the family should be assisted by the allocated worker. The Family Support Plan should take into account the needs and strengths of the child and his/her parents/carers so that appropriate services can be identified, offered and agreed. The Plan may include family support services provided directly by HSE staff or family support services externally provided i.e. funded by the HSE. The Family Support Plan should include a list of actions and names of person(s) responsible for carrying them out and timescales. The plan should be agreed with the family and approved by a management function within the HSE. During the lifetime of the plan, the allocated social worker will need to monitor the offering of service and its take-up. The organisation will need to oversee and coordinate information on unmet need for family support services. Family Support Planning Family Support Planning & Review of Family Support plans are time-limited 1 processes to allow the gathering sufficient information to formulate a plan that will support families and children who may be at risk of abuse or neglect. Family Support Plans 1 Time-limited to permit the process to conclude or end at an appropriate time.

2 A Family Support Plan should be formulated for each child where Initial Assessment indicates that there is a welfare concern which can best be addressed by way activating this process. Not all welfare concerns are dealt with through the family support processes, alternatives such as Family Welfare conference may also be considered and this is a decision of the Social Worker in consultation with the Team Leader. A Family Support Plan is formulated with the child and family and other professionals and services. It must be recorded and signed off on the pre-defined template described in this procedure (form CC ). Timescale The duration of a Family Support Plan will be up to 6 months 2. A review date, on or before that period should be set at the point of formulating the plan. Management Information The number of formal signed family support plans will for the purposes of the national child care return will be counted as the Number of children who have a Family Support Plan Family Support Plan Chart (Overview) Family Support Plan Social worker has been allocated by TL & Family have agreed to participate as part of IA process. Begin Participate (Family) Yes No Participate (Others) Direct work Agree (Family) Yes No Details from IR & IA Contact Participants Record Document / Plan Review Date Close or Further Ass./ or Other Review Available Info. Preparation Sign-off End Close Approve FA Activate Further Assessment Review Cycle - 6 Mth (Max) 2 The length of time to complete the initial Family Support Plan after end of Initial Assessment depends on the complexity of the case (less complex cases/family support plans may be completed in a much shorter time frame).

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13 SECTION 10 CHILD WELFARE THE FAMILY SUPPORT PLAN REVIEW PROCESS Introduction A family support plan review is (always) activated by way of an existing Family Support Plan. The review date is set in the existing plan and the review will be held no later than six months after the sign-off date of the existing plan. The review date may be brought forward if an emergency requires it. The setting for the review is a multi-disciplinary meeting to include the family and child (where appropriate) and relevant significant others who may be contributors to the Plan. The purpose of the Review is to: Monitor implementation of the plan. Measure progress towards achieving identified goals i.e. the actions and time lines established in the Plan. Consider the need for continuing intervention or changes in the needs of the child and family for family support intervention. If necessary to agree new actions to be taken if the goals are not attained If necessary to revise the plan in the light of new information. Where the Review process identifies that there are no on-going Family Support needs the meeting will need to consider if the case should be closed and / or if other services are required. Where the review process identifies that there are on-going needs the plan should be updated and a date for the next review meeting agreed (up to a maximum of six months).

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23 SECTION 11 FAMILY WELFARE CONFERENCE Introduction The Family Welfare Conference is a family-led decision-making meeting involving family members and professionals, which is convened when decisions need to be made about the welfare, care or protection of a child/young person. The purpose of the meeting is to develop a safe plan to meet the needs of the child or young person. Family Welfare Conferencing service is established under the Children Act Part 2 (Sections 7-15) Part 3 (Section 16 (IVA Section 23) and Part 8 (Section 77) of the Act sets out, on a statutory basis, that role, purpose and format to be adopted by the HSE in convening and operating a Family Welfare Conference. In circumstances where the HSE is directed by the Children s Court (Section 77) because it considers that a child/young person on criminal charges may be in need of special care and protection, the HSE may convene a Family Welfare Conference. Section 23 of the Act sets out the circumstances where the HSE in applying for a Special Care Order to place and detain a child in a Special Care Unit, where a child s behaviour is out of control to the extent that there is a real and substantial risk to his/her health, safety, development or welfare shall convene a Family Welfare Conference in advance of the application to the court for a Special Care Order. In circumstances where HSE is of the view that there are issues of concern around the welfare and/or protection of a child/young person, it can, with the informed consent of parents/main carers/guardians, make a referral to the Family Welfare Conferencing service. Family Welfare Conference is convened when: The HSE is directed to do so by order of the court; The HSE is of the view that a child requires a Special Care Order or protection which he/she is unlikely to receive unless a Special Care Order is made; The HSE is concerned for the welfare/care/protection of a child/young person and wishes the family to devise a safe family plan to address their concerns. FWC Plans FWC Plan is formulated at the Family Welfare Conference by the family. The family is allocated private family time to develop the Plan. The Family Plan is accepted and implemented by the HSE unless it puts the child at risk. Timescales Preparation of families and professionals, convening and recording decisions and recommendations and dissemination of information minimum 28 working days. Section 23 applications for Special Care Order - 28 days.

24 Section 77 Family Welfare Conferences 28 working days minimum. FWC PROCESSES (Overview) Family Welfare Conference Basis for Planning Plan Act Review (Cycle) SRF Contact Report Preliminary Enquiries *Initial Assessment 24 hrs 20 days Request No Referral Meeting? Yes Child Protection Care Process Other Welfare Process FS Further Assessment Close Referral Meeting (4-Way) Family Welfare Conference Review Prepare family and professionals Convene FWC End Formulate Plan [Family time allowed] Decisions & recommendations to participants Activate Plan Plan accepted? Direct Referrals to FWC Separate process

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43 SECTION 12 FAMILY WELFARE CONFERENCE REVIEW PROCESS Introduction A Family Welfare Conference Review may take place, following an agreed period of time, (normally after 3 months) to review the implementation of the Plan agreed at the Family Welfare Conference. The Family Plan is reviewed and elements of the Plan that are working well and those that are not working are discussed. A new Plan or a modified Plan may emerge at the Review or the case may be closed to the FWC service. The responsibility for the monitoring of the plan is decided at the Family Welfare Conference Review.

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