Protecting Children and Young People: Framework for Standards
Standard 5
Agencies and professionals work together to assess needs and risks and develop effective plans
1 Taking account of the needs of the child and their parents, professionals, working together, ensure that assessments focus on:
- needs and risks;
- personal and family strengths;
- support networks and resources available; and
- the gaps that need to be filled and the resources and options to fill them.
2 Assessment reports clearly distinguish fact from opinion and provide evidence in support of opinions.
3 Children in need of care and protection have a plan which will meet their needs and protect them and is regularly reviewed.
4 Plans can clearly be seen to have been derived from assessments.
5 Professionals ensure that plans:
- identify individual and family responsibilities;
- identify the professional with the lead role in ensuring the co- ordination of work amongst professionals;
- indicate expected actions and outcomes with timescales for their achievement;
- identify action to be taken should the plan fail to protect the child or improve their situation within agreed timescales; and
- detail monitoring and review arrangements.
6 Professionals are alert to, and respond to, new information, increased risks or lack of progress, and can demonstrate that any necessary action has been taken in the light of this.