Child Protection Plan
A multi-agency plan put in place after an initial child protection conference concludes a child is at continuing risk of significant harm. Coordinated by a lead social worker, it sets out the actions each agency will take to keep the child safe, and is reviewed at intervals of no more than six months.
Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.
Statutory guidance sets out what the plan is for: 'The aim of the child protection plan is to:' 'ensure the child is safe from harm (including inside and outside of the home, and online) and prevent them from suffering further harm', 'promote the child's health and development', and 'support the parents, family, and the family network to safeguard and promote the welfare of the child.' Local authority children's social care must 'designate a suitably skilled and experienced social worker to be the lead practitioner as they carry statutory responsibility for the child's welfare.'
The plan is built and checked through a defined multi-agency process. A 'core group' — the practitioners and family working most closely on the case — must 'meet within 10 working days from the initial child protection conference if the child is the subject of a child protection plan' and must 'further develop the outline child protection plan, based on assessment findings, and set out what needs to change, by how much, and by when.' The lead practitioner must 'explain the plan to the child in a manner which is in accordance with their age and understanding and agree the plan with the child', and progress is checked regularly: 'The first review should be held within three months of the initial conference and further reviews at intervals of no more than six months for as long as the child remains subject of a child protection plan.'
Example
Government guidance sets out how a plan formally ends: following 'a decision to discharge a child protection plan', practitioners must ensure the decision and reasons are recorded and communicated to everyone involved, including the family.
Related terms
Official sources
This explanation is drawn from the official sources below; every substantive statement is verified against them. For advice on a specific matter, see our find help page.