Child Protection Guidance 2021

National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021 Part 1: The context for child protection 19 Version 1.0 September 2021 1.78 However, when the complexity or urgency of need requires co‑ordinated intervention from more than one service or agency, it is crucial that a lead professional is identified to take on that coordinating role. A ‘child’s plan’ should be developed. 1.79 The partners involved in supporting the child need to agree which professional takes on the lead professional role, co‑ordinating a multi-agency child’s plan. The lead professional can be drawn from any of the services or agencies which are partners to the child’s plan. 1.80 Children and families may be involved in several formal processes. For example they may be looked after and have a Child Protection Plan, and/or a co‑ordinated support plan. They should experience a co‑ordinated process, managed as far as possible by a single meeting structure, with due respect for principles of lawful information sharing. Family understanding and positive engagement is likely to depend on the extent to which they can hear and be heard, and become partners in ‘joined up’ planning. 1.81 Where a child is thought to be at risk of harm, their safety is the priority concern and assessment and planning processes will reflect this. 1.82 A Child Protection Planning Meeting (CPPM) is an inter-agency meeting which is convened when there are concerns that a child is or may be at risk of significant harm. Part 3 of this Guidance describes activities that precede a CPPM. The Chair ensures the CPPM supports engagement of parents and all relevant agencies in assessment of risks and strengths, and in planning next steps. This includes potential referral to the Principal Reporter. 1.83 A lead professional will be responsible for ensuring the production and review of an agreed multi-agency child’s plan as detailed in Part 3 of this Guidance. This should integrate information from previous plans by individual agencies as appropriate. Reports for a child’s planning meeting or for a CPPM should be circulated to everyone involved, especially the child and family. Reports should be available and presented so that they are accessible to all. This includes, for example, children or parents or carers with learning disabilities. 1.84 In child protection cases, the role of a lead professional will typically be taken by the local authority social worker. Where a child is believed to be at risk of significant harm, a Child Protection Plan should be incorporated into the child’s plan for as long as the risk of significant harm is deemed to last. The multi-agency group working with the child and their family will be known as the Core Group. For further information, see Part 3 of this Guidance. 1.85 A lead professional will: • ensure the child’s voice and experience is heard and his/her views recorded • work with the child and family, ensuring shared understanding about the plan and about how it is working from the perspective of child and family • track and respond to changes in circumstances that may affect the plan • be a point of contact for all practitioners who are delivering services to the child • make sure that the help provided is consistent with the child’s plan • be a bridge to engagement with and support from other agencies • offer to link the child and family with specialist advocacy when appropriate • monitor how well the child’s plan is working • co‑ordinate the provision of other help or specialist assessments as needed