Placement Support Meetings

1. Identify the child's current and future support needs;
2. Plan how these needs will be met;
3. Monitor and evaluate the provision of support.

1. When the child has expressed that they are not feeling comfortable or settled at home or when carers are reporting difficulties in meeting the child's needs. A Placement Support Meeting can help analyse the issues that have been raised and an action plan including support can be agreed. 

Placement Support Meetings will normally be chaired by the case responsible Team Manager. In addition the following should be invited to the meeting:

• Social worker for the child;
• Supervising Social Worker (if the child is in foster care);
• Present Carers;
• Child or Young Person (if appropriate);
• Any relevant professionals involved;
• Parents of the child or young person (if appropriate);
• Anyone else who might usefully contribute to the goals of the meeting.

A judgment will often be required about whether the looked after child should attend the meeting. This judgment should take account of the following:

• The child's wishes and feelings;
• The age, understanding and developmental needs and disabilities of the child;
• The likely conduct and content of the meeting and possible impact on the child;
• A general presumption in favour of attendance unless there are good reasons against this;
• Whether the child/young person attends or not, regard needs to be given to:
• Maximising the child/young person's understanding of what is happening;
• Ensuring the child's/young person's views are obtained and taken account of.

Whether to invite parents will primarily be determined by a judgment as to whether their involvement will help promote the goals of the meeting. Again whether parents attend or not, regard needs to be given to:

• Ensuring parents are appropriately informed about what is happening to their child;
• Ensuring parental views are known and taken account of.

Although helpful and desirable, preparation of a written report may not always be practicable in the timescale. As a minimum however the case responsible social worker should brief the chair before the meeting and provide them with copies of relevant background papers e.g. Last looked after review, Child and Family Assessments, Care Plan. All professionals also need to come to the meeting prepared to contribute relevant information and adopt a positive, problem solving approach. 

An agenda along the following lines is suggested:

1. Introduction and explanation of the purpose of the meeting;
2. General background (summary):
   • Family Background (summary);
   • Reasons for being Looked After;
   • Assessment of Needs;
   • Care Plan;
   • Any previous homes.
3. History of Current home;
4. What are the support needs of the carers;
5. Events/Factors which may undermine stability;
6. What has been done up to now to support the carers and the child to improve the situation?
7. What can be done to support the carers and the child to improve the current situation? 
   
   • Does the focus of social work intervention need changing or clarifying?
   • Does the work need to focus on particular problems or tasks e.g. school attendance, staying out at night?
   • Would some contract-based work help?
   • What other forms of intervention might help e.g. solution focused?
   • What additional support might be helpful e.g. enhanced fostering worker/social worker visits, some form of support care?
   • Would the involvement of a Support Worker assist / referral to another agency assist?
8. Consideration should be given to booking a slot to discuss the situation at the Care Planning Support and Assurance Panel.

Whilst working through this agenda, care should be taken to ensure the child/young person's views are represented and taken account of.

The Chair should ensure notes of the meeting are taken and circulated. Detailed minutes are not necessary but the notes should include a clear record of the actions agreed at the meeting.