Child protection plans

When a child protection case conference decides a child or young person is at risk of abuse they are known as a 'child subject of a child protection plan'. This is to remind us that it's what we all do, as set out in the plan, that keeps children safe.

Workers concerned about a child will be able to find out whether they're subject of a child protection plan by contacting children's services referral and assessment team.

All work to safeguard children and young people will continue, including:

• making initial and core assessments when there are concerns about a child
• holding a child protection case conference when there is a need to decide whether a child is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm
• making a child protection plan when it is decided a child is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm
• holding core group meetings of workers and families of children with a child protection plan to finalise, review and revise the plan when needed

What is a child protection plan

A child protection plan is a working tool that should enable the family and professionals to understand what is expected of them and what they can expect of others. The aims of the plan are:

• to keep the child safe
• to promote their welfare
• to support their wider family to care for them if it can be done safely

Effective plans set out:

• the cause of harm to the child
• the practical long and short term goals
• what the family and workers involved need to do to meet the goals
• who will be checking the child is safe and well on a day to day basis
• the contingency plan - what should be done if the child protection plan isn't working

What you need to do

If you're working with a child who has a child protection plan, you need to:

• know what the child protection plan says you have to do
• know who the key worker is and report any concerns to them immediately
• implement any policies and procedures that you would have used for children on the child protection register
• attend all child protection conferences and core group meetings with a progress report on the child and their family

For more information on effective interventions, see the Department of Health's framework for the assessment of children in need and their families.

Page last updated: 18 October 2019