Placement Planning Meetings

Placement Planning meetings within Children's Services should be convened as part of the process of identifying and placing a child - as set out in the Placement in Foster Care Procedure and the Placement in Residential Care Procedure. The first Placement Planning Meeting in relation to a placement should be held before the placement. Where this is not possible because of the urgency of the situation, it should be held in order that the Placement Plan is prepared within 5 working days of the start of the placement.

Further Placement Planning Meetings should be held at intervals agreed with the manager of the residential placement or the foster carers and their supervising social worker - or as required for example where there are issues to be resolved in relation to the day to day arrangements for the placement.

The allocated social worker and residential manager/foster carers' supervising social worker will agree the date and venue for the meeting and the allocated social worker will chair the meeting.

The individuals listed below should contribute to the meetings:

1. The child's allocated social worker and/or other professional associated with the child e.g. Family Support Worker or other or advocate, where identified;
2. The child;
3. The child's parents;
4. For children in residential care, the child's /keyworker and, where appropriate the residential manager;
5. For children in foster care, the foster carers and their supervising social worker.

Before any meeting, the chair should obtain or be updated on the following, if available:

• The child's Placement Plan (recorded on the Placement Information Record);
• Any direct work or other which has been undertaken in supporting the child's placement;
• If relevant: the child's Care Plan, Personal Education Plan, Pathway Plan and Initial Health Assessment or Health Assessment Review.

Where the proposed placement has the effect of disrupting the arrangements made for the child's education and training - see Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Children in Care and Previously Looked After Children Procedure.

The chair should also ensure that the child, parent(s) and others who have been asked to contribute understand the purpose of the meeting, how it will be conducted and are given the opportunity to put their views and suggestions. Prior to the meeting it may be helpful to share suggested areas of discussions that will take place.

If there are any concerns about the suitability of the placement, consideration should be given to the following (after consultation with a Team Manager):

• If it is possible to sustain the placement until the next Looked After Review by, for example, providing additional support to the placement;
• Bringing forward the date of the next Looked After Review;
• Following discussion with Line Manager and ART, (see Placement Requests: Making LAC Placements with ART) consider alternative placement.

The IRO must be notified of any consideration to changes of the Care Plan.