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• working together 2010

Contents

1. Purpose of Placement Planning Meetings
2. Frequency of Placement Planning Meetings
3. Convening and Chairing
4. Attendance
5. Conducting the Meeting

1. Purpose of Placement Planning Meetings

Placement Planning Meetings should be undertaken in relation to all Looked After Children.

Normally, Placement Planning Meetings provide an opportunity to consider whether the Care Plan (Part 2) and Placement Plan for a Looked After Child continue to be appropriate.

In exceptional circumstances, an Emergency Placement Planning Meeting must be convened; the exceptional circumstances are:

1. In the event of an Emergency Placement of a child in a foster home, children’s home or secure accommodation;
2. After serious Incidents or in the light of a significant event, involving a Looked After Child, which suggests the child’s placement may be unsuitable.

Where the proposed placement has the effect of disrupting the arrangements made for the child's education and training - see Education of Looked After Children Procedure.

2. Frequency of Placement Planning Meetings

Placement Planning Meetings should normally be convened at the following intervals:

1. Where a child has been placed and his/her Placement Information Record has not been fully completed: within 7 working days of the placement; and then every seven days until is has been fully completed;
2. During a Looked After Review or within 7 working days of it;
3. At other intervals agreed between the social worker and provider/carer.

Emergency Placement Planning Meetings must be within 3 working days of an Emergency Placement, of a serious Incident or significant event which suggests a Looked After Child’s placement may be unsuitable.

3. Convening and Chairing

Normally, the social worker should convene and chair Placement Planning Meetings; which should preferably be conducted where the child is placed. 

Emergency Placement Planning Meetings must be chaired by the Team Manager and may be conducted in a more formal setting.

4. Attendance

The following people should attend or contribute to Placement Planning Meetings:

1. The child’s social worker;
2. The Child;
3. The child’s parents;
4. A representative from the home; who may be the foster carer(s), a Link/Key Worker and/or Supervising Social worker (if the child is placed in foster care);
5. Representatives from the Leaving Care Service or other agencies providing support to the placement.

5. Conducting the Meeting

Normally, the purpose of the meeting is to consider the appropriateness of the placement and to update the arrangements set out in the Placement Information Record.

Where an Emergency Placement Planning Meeting has been convened, other matters must be considered. 

1. Consideration must be given to whether the placement is suitable for the child, having considered the needs and interests of all the other children in the placement.
   
   If there concerns about the suitability of the placement, consideration should be given to the following:
   
   1. Whether it is possible to sustain the placement until the next Looked After Review by, for example, providing additional support to the placement;
   2. Bringing forward the date of the next Looked After Review;
   3. Ending the placement and seeking a more suitable alternative.
2. If the placement appears to be appropriate, the child’s Care Plan Part 2 and Placement Information Record must be fully completed to reflect the arrangements for the child whilst placed in the home.  Where the meeting has been convened as a result of an Incident, consideration should be given to the need for a Strategy to reduce or prevent re-occurrence.  If it is not possible to do this, a further Placement Planning Meeting must be convened within 7 days of the placement starting.
   
   The chairperson should also consider whether it is necessary to undertake the following:
   • Consultations as set out in Decision to Look After (Care and Permanence Planning Procedure;
   • The need for approval of the placement from the Designated Manager (Placements Outside the Authority);
   • The need for the Health Trust, Local Education Authority and Education and Children's Services to be notified of the placement; as set out in Section 1.4, Placements of Children in Residential Care or Secure Accommodation Procedure;
   • The need for the Independent Reviewing Officer to be notified, with a view to arranging a Looked After Review; as set out in Section 1.4, Placements of Children in Residential Care or Secure Accommodation Procedure;
   • The need to arrange a Health Care Assessment and/or register the child with a GP, Dentist or Optician, as required by Health Care Assessments and Health Plans Procedure and General Practitioners, Dentists and Opticians Procedure.

In all cases, the child’s Care Plan Part 2 and Placement Information Record must be updated to reflect the arrangements for the child whilst placed in the home. Copies should be given to the child, parents, providers/carers and other relevant people/agencies.

End