Appendix 2
Tameside Safeguarding Framework
Appendix 2 - Child & Family Meetings in the context of 'Children in Need' and the Tameside Children's Needs Framework
Introduction
Children who are defined as being 'in need', under the Children Act 1989, are those whose vulnerability is such that they are unlikely to reach or maintain a satisfactory level of health or development, or their health and development will be significantly impaired, without the provision of services (section 17 of the Children Act 1989).
This definition of a 'child in need' relates directly to level 3 and above of the Tameside Children's Needs Framework. However the needs of children change over time. It is likely that many children in need will receive coordinated services (for example, as a result of a Common Assessment (CAF)) both before and after they receive services as "children in need". Therefore a child does not have to be defined as a 'child in need' in order to receive services from agencies.
Determining who is a child in need, what those needs are, and how services will have an effect on outcomes for children requires professional judgment by Children's Social Care with practitioners from other agencies .
Children who are defined as in need are those whose:
- Vulnerability is such that they are unlikely to reach or maintain a satisfactory level of health and development;
- Or their health and development will be significantly impaired without the provision of services.
The critical factors to be taken into account in are:
- What will happen to a child's health and development without services?
- And the likely effect the services will have on the child's standard of health and development.
For more detail on the levels of need in the Tameside Children’s Needs Framework please consult the CNF at www.tameside.gov.uk/cypp/
Child & Family Meetings
In Tameside, Child & Family Meetings are arranged t o provide a co-ordinated approach across all disciplines and agencies in order to meet the needs of children, young people and their families. They can be arranged by any practitioner working with children and their families. Child and Family Meetings are therefore not dependent on there being an assessment of need by Children's Social Care. However they can arise out of that assessment of need or as the result of a Common Assessment.
A Child and Family meeting should be convened when:-
- A single agency plan is inadequate to meet the child's/young person's needs.
- Co-ordination of service provision is required to meet identified needs.
The convening of a Child & Family Meeting should be triggered by:
- The appearance of many characteristics from level 2, CNF
- The appearance of a few characteristics at level 3 and 4, CNF
- A sudden traumatic incident that may require support and intervention.
Tameside Children's Needs Framework
Tameside Children's Needs Framework sets out the levels of accessibility to services, described here:
Level 1
Universally and generally available services to improve outcomes for all children and promote social inclusion
Possible indicators
Children/young people where there is no concern regarding health or development
Level 2
Lower Level Need. Co-ordinated assessment, intervention and support
Possible indicators
Children/young people where there is some need around health and development. Children/young people not accessing or having difficulties accessing the national curriculum. Children and young people from a household where carer/s are under stress where the child's/young person's development may be affected .
Level 3
Additional Need. Co-ordinated assessment, intervention and support.
Possible indicators
Children/young people showing areas of concern needing coordinated intervention. Children/young people who continue to have difficulties accessing national curriculum despite intervention. Children/young people whose health or development is being impaired or there is a risk of impairment.
Level 4
Higher Level Need. Co-ordinated assessment, intervention and support.
Possible indicators
Children/young people whose health development and wellbeing is at high risk of impairment or in need of longer term intervention and support.
Level 5
Complex Needs. Specialist Assessment review, support and intervention.
Professional intervention essential to maintain adequate levels of care for the child.
Possible indicators
Children/young people experiencing significant harm or where there is likelihood of significant harm.