2.5 Looked After Reviews

Contents

1. Purpose of Looked After Reviews
2. Summary of Responsibilities
3. Role of the Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO)
4. Home's Responsibilities

1. Purpose of Looked After Reviews

Looked After Reviews are sometimes referred to as 'Statutory Reviews', they are formal reviews of the Child's Care Plan, and are convened and conducted by the Blackpool’s Independent Reviewing Team.

The purpose of the Looked After Review is to examine the work undertaken with the child, ensure that adequate plans are in place to safeguard and promote the child's welfare and make recommendations or representations on behalf of the child. 

It is not the role of the Looked After Review to make decisions about children, that is the responsibility of the social worker.

However, where the Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) (or another person, including the child) is concerned about delay in implementation of the Care Plan or that recommendations have not been incorporated appropriately, he or she may take this up with the relevant manager or provider. To this end the child may require assistance from an Advocate or Independent Visitor (see Advocacy and Independent Visitors Procedure). In exceptional circumstances, a review date may be brought forward.

2. Summary of Responsibilities

Looked After Reviews must take place:

• Before any significant change is made to the child’s Care Plan, unless that is not reasonably practicable
• Before a decision is taken to cease looking after a child
• For children who are looked after as a result of a secure remand
• Before an Eligible Young Person moves into semi-independent accommodation, a Looked After Review must be held and evaluate the quality of the assessment of the young person’s readiness and preparation to move

In the light of these requirements (above), Home’s Managers should consider consulting the Independent reviewing Officer (IRO) for any child where the Placing Authority is considering changing a child’s placement on an unplanned basis; or must ensure that the IRO is consulted where the Home’s Manager is considering ceasing, ending or changing the placement.

1. Under normal circumstances, Looked After Reviews should normally be convened at the following intervals:
   • An Initial Looked After Review should be conducted within 20 days of the child being Looked After
   • The 2nd Looked After Review should be conducted within three months of an Initial Looked After Review
   • Subsequent Looked After Review should be conducted not more than six months after any previous review

   These are maximum timescales, Looked After Reviews can be convened more frequently if the urgency of the case determines they should be.
   
   In the case of children under 5, it is good practice to review the Care Plan more frequently and, if practicable, every 3 months.
   
   Where there is a change of placement and the circumstances are such that the Care Plan is no longer appropriate, a Review should take place if practicable within 20 days of the change.

2. The first Looked After Review must take place within 20 days of a child being Looked After; the second must be within 3 months of the first and thereafter they must take place every 6 months. They can be held more frequently if the circumstances require
3. Looked After Reviews are normally chaired by an Independent Reviewing Officer; Regulations require that this person should be outside of the line management of the child's case
4. Arrangements, including the setting of dates and invitations, are normally made by the Reviewing Officer in consultation with the social worker. The Manager of the home should take all reasonable steps to be consulted too.
   
   Each authority will have it's own procedures on who should be invited, but invitations must be sent out at least 10 days before the Review and it is normal for the child, the child's parents and all key professionals involved in assisting in the implementation of the Care Plan to be invited.
5. The social worker is normally responsible for informing, consulting and preparing the child  at least 20 days before the review; but home's staff should assist as far as they can in this process and should ensure that children are properly informed and prepared. To this end, the child must be encouraged to contribute to any report prepared by the home. If the child wishes, s/he should be assisted in preparing his/her own contribution.
6. Staff should be mindful that the child may wish to or may benefit from being supported by an Advocate or, if appointed, an Independent Visitor (see Advocacy and Independent Visitors Procedure)
7. In time for the review, or beforehand if required, the home should arrange for an up to date Placement Plan to be available demonstrating what arrangements exist to meet the child's needs. The home should also produce a report of the work undertaken since the child's placement or the last Looked After Review
8. The Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) must meet the child before his/her first Looked After Review.
9. The Review will consider the extent to which the aims and objectives of the Care Plan and associated Personal Education Plan (PEP) and, if relevant, Pathway Plan have been achieved. At the second and subsequent Reviews, the review must consider whether there is a suitable Permanence Plan in place
10. It will also be necessary for the child's Placement Plan to be reviewed to ensure it continues to meet the needs of the Care and associated plans
11. After the Review the social worker is responsible for updating and circulating the Care Plan, Personal Education Plan (PEP) and, if appropriate, the Pathway Plan. The Manager of the home is responsible for updating circulating the child's Placement Plan
12. The Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) normally prepares and circulates a record of the decisions and recommendations within 5 working days, a full record within 15 working days and a full record including decisions within 20 working days of the Review.
13. Within 10 working days, the social worker must update the Care Plan and (re)circulate it.
14. If the IRO has concerns about the child’s case e.g. that the Care Plan is not being properly progressed, s/he has a duty to report this to CAFCASS.

3. Role of the Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO)

Under the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010, the role of the Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) has substantially changed, in essence, the IRO has a responsibility to monitor the child’s case in between Looked After Reviews.

For example:

• The IRO should be notified within 2 working days of a child becoming Looked After;
• Children should be told who their IRO is and how to make contact with him/her;
• The IRO must be consulted before a child is placed outside the area where the child normally lives;
• The IRO should be notified and consulted if a child persistently absents him/herself or has been missing from the home;
• Children have a right to contact their IRO if they are concerned about their placement or Care Plan.

Home’s managers should be aware of these wider responsibility and should ensure that children are informed of their right to consult or notify the IRO; and Home’s Managers should also consult the IRO if they are concerned about the child’s placement.

4. Home's Responsibilities

4.1 Preparing for the Review

1. The Manager should consult the young person's social worker to ensure that the arrangements set out in Section 2, Summary of Responsibilities are followed
2. The Manager must ensure that a full report must be written at least 2 weeks prior to the review date and sent to the Chair Person and social worker.
   
   Where possible young people should be given the opportunity to read through their report prior to the review taking place. This is ideally done in the presence of the child's Keyworker who can then answer any questions the child may have. Although this can take some planning this process is very positive as it can allow the child to have prior knowledge of what is going to be said about them and enable them to comment on this out of the Review format and discuss any issues raised.
   
   It can also therefore help to allay some of the fears that young people have about attending meetings.
3. If it appears to be necessary or the young person requests it, an Advocate or, if appointed, an Independent Visitor should be appointed/asked to act on behalf of or accompany the young person to the review. (see Advocacy and Independent Visitors Procedure)
4. In time for the review, or beforehand if required, the home should arrange for an up to date Placement Plan to be available demonstrating what arrangements exist to meet the child's needs. It may be necessary to conduct a Placement Plan Review prior to or soon after the Looked After Review. The home should also produce a report of the work undertaken since the child's placement or the last Looked After Review
5. An appropriate member of staff, e.g. the Keyworker or Manager will represent the authority at Looked After Reviews
6. If reviews are not conducted in accordance with regulations, Staff should ask for these matters to be noted within the minutes
7. Internal notes will be taken, and a copy of placed on the young person's file

End