Care plan Template
Filed on Behalf of:
Prepared by:
Care Plan No:
Date of Signature:
Case No:……………………………………..
IN THE ……………………………COURT
IN THE MATTER OF: ( childsname) DOB:
AND IN THE MATTER OF THE CHILDREN ACT 1989
Between:……………………..
……………………………………COUNCIL
Applicant
and
………………………………………
First Respondent
And
…………………………………..Council
Second Respondent
And
(Child’s name)
(through their Children’s Guardian
Third Respondent
CARE PLAN FOR (Childs name)
SECTION 1: OVERALL AIM
• -Aim of the plan and summary of timetable
The aim of the plan is to ensure that ……..………………. needs are met adequately in a safe and secure environment and that he receives appropriate parenting that enables him to meet his full potential.
The care plan should ensure that ………………………… short and long-term needs are met in a safe, stable and caring environment. ……………………..…….. requires to be protected from harm and be provided with the opportunity to fulfil his physical, emotional and cognitive potential until adulthood. As a young person, he needs a secure and nurturing home environment, stability and consistent care.
In implementing this plan, the Local Authority will take into account ……………………. welfare as the paramount consideration, including (amongst other things):
• ….……………….…… Developmental needs;
• ….……………………..Emotional needs
• ….……………………. Maintaining an appropriate level of contact with his family members.
….……………………………... is currently subject to a Care Order (S31 of the Children Act 1989). With the recent updated information available to the Local Authority including the Psychological assessment by …………………. filed on the …………………….. it is considered, on balanced, that there have been changes to both (parent)…………………and (child) …………………. circumstances since Care Proceedings were concluded in …………………..and subsequent 6 attempts made by ………………… to discharge the Care Order without success. (The psychologist)……………….. concludes that there “is nothing to suggest in either (Parent)…………… or………………. presentation that she/he would be unable to meet ……………………. emotional needs.” This warrants the Local Authority supporting the view of reunification of ………………………. with his mother/Father.
It must be identified at this stage that there still remain concerns and uncertainties in respect to this arrangement which are highlighted and discussed within this statement. Nevertheless, it is the view that this needs to be facilitated and will be closely monitored and appraised with an appropriate reunification plan formulated to support ……………………… to ensure he is able to achieve stability and given every chance to succeed.
It is believed this form of pathway with allow the Local Authority the opportunity to advise, assist and befriend ………………………and his (mother/Father.) The Local Authority proposes that a 12 months Supervision Order is put in place in the event the court considers discharging the Care Order. It is considered that (Parent)……………….. and the family will need full support to build on this plan, addressing any gaps that will ensure that the reunification plan will be successful and offer (Child)………………….. permanency into adulthood.
SECTION 2: CHILDS NEEDS INCLUDING CONTACT
2.1 - The child’s identified needs, including special needs arising from race, culture, religion or language, special education, health or disability
….………………… is a ……………… year old …………………… of White British origin; ……… parents are also of White British decent. His Primary language is English. …………………. has no specific physical needs beyond those of other children of his age and is growing in proportion. He is able bodied, healthy and extremely active with no identified disabilities. ……………………… is able to express his wishes and feelings with both confidence and ease.
There are no reports of any religious affiliations and preferred religious practices; therefore, ………………….. does not have any direct religious needs identified at this stage………………….. racial, cultural, and religious and language needs will need to be met by …………………….. school and any other significant adults in his life.
….…………………….attends ……………………, where he has remained for the past three years. ………………………. is reported to be making progress in respect to his academic progress but can be slow at processing information, especially in History and Science at the moment. The school advise that some teachers have commented that ……………….. continues to shows some obvious signs of being anxious e.g. biting nails even when not under pressure. Also that he is often unable to take responsibility for his behaviour and tends to blame others instead. He gets upset and angry if challenged. He also continues to be reluctant to ask for help when in need in some lessons. The school are working on these areas steadily with …………………..
….………………………… is still of an age where he will require support in meeting his emotional needs. ………………………….. requires a safe, loving and secure environment to grow up in, where his needs are consistently responded to and met to an adequate standard.
2.2 - The extent to which the wishes and views of the child have been obtained and acted upon
….…………………… needs are typical for his age and he would wish to reside in a safe, stable environment with nurturing adults who will provide him an opportunity to establish clear and age appropriate routines/boundaries and to protect him from exposure to any factors which might affect his emotional wellbeing and overall development.
….……………………….is of an age where he is able to contribute to this plan and express his wishes and feelings. He is currently in adolescence where he is developing on his independence; nevertheless he remains reliant on his primary care giver to meet his emotional needs. …………………… undoubtedly has a significant understanding of his current circumstances and Social Services involvement.
….……………………………will openly admit that he struggles with the status of being a Looked after Child feeling restricted to this role and wants to have the opportunity to experience some 'normality' and be like his peers. From ………………….. there was a shift in …………………………. feelings towards contact and asking for this to be increased and his siblings considered within this arrangement. …………………. has stated that he wants to be returned to his family and cared for by ………………………. his reason for this is based on the identity he holds with his family and love. Initially, there were concerns that …………………… was being influenced by the views of others. However, I feel he is sincere in his thoughts.
2.3 – The reasons for supporting this or explanation of why wishes/views have not been given absolute precedence
….…………………… is a ………………….. year old young person, who has the capacity and understanding to express his wishes and feelings with both confidence and ease. Since the matter has returned to court ………………………. has been constant and clear in stating that he would like to return to the care of his (mother/Father) and family if it is deemed appropriate by the court.
2.4 – Summary of how those needs might be met
The primary task is that for any placement for ……………………… is for his caregiver to meet his needs. As indicated, in order for ………………………. to thrive and meet his full potential, he requires all of his basic care, health and education to be met in the context of a safe and secure environment. ……………………… and ……………. will continue to be supported by the Local Authority, under a Child in Need plan, in order to ensure that …………………….. is able to access the appropriate services to promote his health, education and independence are available.
SECTION 3: VIEWS OF OTHERS
3.1 – The extent to which the wishes and views of the child’s parents and anyone else with a significant interest in the child (including representatives of this agencies, current and former carers) have been obtained and acted upon
….………………………. has been clear in her views of wanting to have …………………….returned to her care and for the Care Order to be discharged. Her/his views around this have been highlighted in her/His recent application and statement in …………………………..
….…………………… is not party to proceedings, therefore his views have not been obtained for the purpose of this statement.
3.2 – The reasons for supporting them or explanation of why wishes/views have been given absolute precedence
With the recent updated information available to the Local Authority including the Psychological assessment by …………….. filed on the ………………………., it is considered on balanced that there have been changes to both ……………………and ………………… circumstances since Care Proceedings were concluded in ……………….. ……………………… concludes that there “is nothing to suggest in either ……………………… or ……………………… presentation that she would be unable to meet ………………………… emotional needs. This warrants the Local Authority supporting the view of reunification of ………………. returning home to the care of his mother.
It must be identified at this stage that there still remain concerns and uncertainties in respect to this which are highlighted within the attached statement. Nevertheless, it is the view that this needs to be facilitated and will be closely monitored and appraised with an appropriate reunification plan formulated to support ……………………. to ensure he/she is able to achieve stability and given every chance to succeed.
It is believed this form of pathway with allow the Local Authority the opportunity to advise, assist and befriend ……………….. and his mother/father. The Local Authority proposes that a 12 months Supervision Order is put in place in the event the court considers discharging the Care Order. It is considered that ……………….. and the family will need full support to build on this plan, addressing any gaps that will ensure that the reunification plan will be successful and offer …………………. permanency into adulthood.
SECTION 4: PLACEMENT DETAILS AND TIMETABLE
4.1 – Proposed placement, type and details (or details of alternative placements)
I propose that ……………………. is placed in the care of his mother/Father …………………….. under a Supervision Order of 12 months.
4.2 – Time that is likely to elapse before proposed placement is made
….……………………….. will remain with his current foster carers, …………………… up until the end of the reunification plan.
4.3 – Likely duration of placement
I proposes ………………………… to be reunified to his family in mother’s/Fathers care with the support of the Local Authority and allocated social worker while the 12 months Supervision Order follows its course. Should any concerns arise regarding ………………… safety and overall well- being in his mother’s/Fathers care, the matter will be taken back to court and his placement reconsidered.
4.4. – Arrangements for health care (including consent to examinations and treatment)
….…………………… health needs will be met by his mother/ Father ………………… who will ensure that he attends all necessary health appointments. He will be registered at a local general practitioner.
4.5 – Arrangements for education (including any pre school, day care, activity)
….……………………………. will be responsible for ensuring that ……………………. is accessing the identified education provision, and will be supported by the Local Authority in this regards.
In the future, any additional support identified for …………………………… with regards to his/her education will be assessed and reviewed.
4.6 – Arrangements for reunification (often known as “rehabilitation”)
Weeks 1, 2 & 3
Direct work to be undertaken with ………………………… to assist him understand gradual changes proposed to his contact, acknowledging his wish and mother’s/fathers desire for him to return home. Provide opportunity for ………………………….. to express his feelings, and share any concerns. Contact to be supervised and to take place once a week for a period of an hour and a half in the community. Increase contact by 30 mins on each occasion to double the duration by week three.
Weeks 4, 5 & 6
Subject to satisfactory adjustments by all parties, further increase contact duration by 30 minutes per week to take place in the community, with supervisor observation removed, but access to telephone support from …………………………. if required during contact. The duration of contact by week six to be 4.5 hours. At week 6 family home visit to be incorporated; Social Worker to be present to transport ……………………… and collect and return him to placement.
Review Contact Meeting to be scheduled to monitor the overall progress of the plan. This will include ………………………….., the foster carers, social worker and the school. This will allow the professional and family network involved in …………………… care to adequately assess his ability to adjust to change and the appropriateness of unsupervised contact with ………………………….
Weeks 7 & 8
Increase frequency of contact to include an extra half day over the weekend. Additional day to be 4.5 hours or all day if indicated. Some time to be spent at the family home, and additional family members to be carefully reintroduced but one at a time for short periods of time only.
Once a week, ………………………..to collect ……………………….. from school and go home with …………………. for an evening meal. ………………….. to return to placement for the night.
Position statement to be prepared for the final hearing scheduled to update the court on the progress of the of the reunification plan.
Weeks 9, 10 &11
….…………………………… to collect …………………… from school three times a week for some time at home and for dinner. On a Friday evening ………………… to stay overnight and have Saturday at home returning to foster carers Saturday afternoon.
Week 12
If progress is sufficient and no contra indications to progression are evident, consideration to be given for …………………….. to stay overnight at mother’s /Fathers address Monday to Friday. Saturday to be at home returning to his foster carers on Sunday.
Week 13
Owen to return to …………………… care, regular respite to be agreed at intervals appropriate to ……………………… and family’s needs. On-going access to support to be provided to ………………………. via Social Worker, Foster Carers and School when ………………………. returns in September.
In addition, the allocated social worker will continue to undertake direct work with ……………………. to explore his wishes and feelings. The social worker will increase the statutory home visits to every 2 weeks.
Should the court consider discharging the Care Order and granting the 12 months Supervision Order, the Local Authority will hold ……………………. case under a Child In Need plan where he will be visited every 3 weeks and review meeting involving other professional, ………………………. and his mother held every 12 weeks.
4.7- Other services to be provided to the child
There will be continued support from the Local Authority under a Child in Need Plan. There will be regular reviews of this plan every 12 weeks to ensure that ……………….. is being provided with appropriate care and to ensure that ………………..is able to access the support and advice that she needs in regards to caring for ……………………….. Child in need visit will be carried out on a three weekly basis.
4.8. – Other services to be provided to parents and other family members
The allocated social worker will continue to offer support, advice and guidance to …………………………………
4.9 – Details of proposed support services in placement for the carers
As stated above, ……………………. will be given support and advice by the Local Authority in order to ensure that she is able to provide the best care for …………………...
4.10 – Specific details of the parents role in day to day arrangements
All day–to-day arrangements, routines, guidance and boundaries will be provided by . ……………………, …………………………will work in conjunction with the allocated social worker under a Child in need plan.
SECTION 5: MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT BY LOCAL AUTHORITY
5.1. – Who is to be responsible for implementing the overall plan
….…………………… Children Services is responsible for implementing the overall care plan.
5.2. – Who is to be responsible for implementing specific tasks within the plan
The plan will be co-ordinated by the allocated Social Worker to ensure that agencies and family liaise with each other on a regular basis and to ensure the care plan is being effectively implemented. This will be monitored through Child in Need Review meetings.
5.4. – Contingency plan, if placement breaks down or if preferred placement is not available
If …………………………….. placement with ……………………….. should break down for any reason, a contingency meeting would be arranged to see if any additional support could be offered to alleviate the difficulties. However, if the issues, which precipitated the breakdown, cannot be revolved an alternative placement would be identified to meet ……………………… needs and the matter brought back to court.
5.5. Arrangements for input by parents, the child and others into the ongoing decision making process
….…………………….. is legally represented and can express her views either directly to the allocated social worker or through her legal representative. …………………. will attend meetings in relation to …………………, ……………….. wishes and feelings will continue to be sought within meetings and visits.
5.6 – Arrangements for notifying the responsible authority of disagreements about the implementation of the care plan or making representation or complaints
….…………………………. Council operates a complaints procedure process. In the event that parents should wish to make a representation to the Local Authority or highlight a matter of disagreement, this should initially be discussed with the child’s Social Worker and her manager, ……………………. or follow the complaints procedure of which details can be provided when needed.
I declare that the information I have given is true to the best of my knowledge, information and belief, and I understand this Care Plan will be placed before the Court.
Signed:
Dated: