Below is a list of common features on any plan devised by the Local Authority to help protect your child and promote your child’s wellbeing.
Schedule/Contract of Expectations or Safety Plan
This is a document that sets out in writing what is expected of you and what is expected from the local authority. It may include things like not exposing your child to a particular person or not drinking alcohol with the child in your care or if there is parental conflict that the child goes to a relative to not be exposed to it etc.
Family/Early Help Practitioner
This is a person that can attend your family home to help e.g. regarding boundaries and routine or internet safety or budgeting/managing finances.
Family Group Conference
This process allows you to gather your friends and family. Your family receives and shares information, formulates and implements a plan of action.
Assessments e.g. parenting, pre-birth, cognitive/capacity
The Local Authority will investigate what is working well and what is not working so well.
Where there is room for improvement or a gap has been identified in your knowledge/ability, they will assess what additional support or services can be provided to promote and assist with such improvements.
Referrals to relevant agencies e.g. drug and alcohol, anger management, mental health, domestic abuse, parenting classes
The Local Authority can make referrals on your behalf. It is important that once you are aware that the Social Worker has made the relevant referral, you can be proactive in chasing initial or further contact. You can be equally responsible for making it happen. It is important to engage meaningfully in any such course so that you can discuss and demonstrate insight into what you have learnt and how you would implement/apply what you have learnt in your everyday life.
Parenting App
This is a means of communicating with the other parent to effectively co-parent
For further information on anything mentioned in this article, please contact Stephanie McAulay on 01392 260145 or email stephaniemcaulay@wbw.co.uk.
WBW Solicitors has offices in Axminster, Bovey Tracey, Brixham, Chard, Exeter, Exmouth, Honiton, Launceston, Newton Abbot, Paignton, Seaton, Sidmouth, and Torquay.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Please note that the law may have changed since this article was published.
