View SCB Procedures View SCB Procedures

1.2.8 Home Visits to Children in Need and Children with a Child Protection Plan

RELATED CHAPTERS

For information/guidance on visits to children who are "Looked After" - please refer to Social Worker Visits Procedure.


Contents

  1. Home Visits to Children in Need (s.17 Children Act 1989)
  2. Home Visits to Children with a Child Protection Plan


1. Home Visits to Children in Need (s.17 Children Act 1989)

To determine the appropriate frequency of visiting children "In Need", agreement should be reached with the Supervising Manager.  In reaching this decision, consideration will be given to the specific issues relating to the child/ren concerned.

It is good practice to visit at least every 4 weeks. There should be no more than 6 weeks between visits.  The circumstances and frequency between visits should be discussed, agreed and reviewed monthly during supervision with the Supervising Manager.  This should be sooner if there is cause for concern.  For example, the family is resistant or does not engage with the allocated worker.

The frequency of visits and timescales for review should be recorded on the Children's Plan and Management Decision Making Record (CF15).


2. Home Visits to Children with a Child Protection Plan

See also Coventry Safeguarding Children Board Procedures

Children with a Child Protection Plan should be visited by a qualified Social Worker at least every 4 weeks.  This may be much more often.  To determine the appropriate frequency, consultation with the Supervising Manager is essential.  The first Core Group following the Child Protection Conference will be the deciding factor.  At each subsequent Core Group Meeting the frequency of visits should be discussed to ensure that they remain appropriate and also during monthly supervision.  Decisions will be reached, based on the individual circumstances of children and the Child Protection Plan, to keep the child/ren safe.  If at any time during the social work intervention it is assessed that the Child Protection Plan is not keeping the child/ren safe, - urgent consultation should be sought from a manager.

At these four weekly visits, it is expected that the Social Worker will undertake the following:-

  • See the children alone
  • See the parent/carer alone and together with the children
  • Give the children the opportunity to express views, wishes and feelings
  • Evaluate the child/ren's health/education/development/peer relationships
  • Advise, assist and befriend the child/ren
  • Observe the child/ren with parent/carer, assess relationships between child/ren/parent/carer/siblings and any other adults in the house
  • Monitor the standard of care provided
  • Provide support/offer additional support
  • Evaluate whether the Child Protection Plan is achieving its objectives
  • Observe the home conditions and identify any safety issues
  • Ensure all adults residing in the household have undertaken a CRB check.  This should also include guests who are staying.
  • Identify by name and date of birth - other adults who are regular visitors to the household and consider CRB checks as appropriate
  • Any other issues outlined in the Child Protection Plan as appropriate.

The sleeping arrangements for the child/ren should be seen at least every 8 weeks.

If at any time during the social worker intervention, a decision is reached that the Child Protection Plan is not keeping the child/ren safe or the situation deteriorates or there are further concerns identified (these circumstances include - failing to engage in any meaningful way, the family are resistant, or defaulting appointments etc.), the supervising manager should be consulted urgently with a view to seeking legal advice to safeguard the children.

A written report on each home visit should be made by the Social Worker within 48 hours of the home visit and placed on the child/ren's electronic file.  The details should clearly state the purpose of the visit as outlined above and findings.

It should be explicit -

  • Who has been seen
  • Whether the child was seen and if not, why not?
  • Whether the child was seen alone and if not, why not?
  • The children's wishes and feelings should be clearly recorded
  • The parent/carer's views and comments
  • Any matters of concern or difficulty

 

 

End