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Contents

1. General
2. Looked After Children
3. Children on the CPR
4. Child in Need/ Careleavers
5. Assessment of Prospective Carer/Adopter
6. Approved Carer Supervision

1. General

Supervision should focus on standards of practice and not just levels of work and activities. All casework discussion should cover the following areas:

• Any limitations in current knowledge or understanding of the child or family.
• Any specific points for action.
• Planning for the future – over the next three months, the next year and longer term with regard to permanence planning.
• Issues regarding cross-agency work.
• Views of the child or young person.
• Any risks or concerns.
• Resource issues causing problems in case planning.
• Strengths and positive factors that can be maximised.

Notes for each case discussion should be recorded on the “Supervision Notes” form and filed in the respective case planning section of each child’s file. Use the “Supervision Record- General Issues” form for recording non- case related issues (workload management/personnel issues etc) with each worker.

Ensure recording is up to date and that the recording policy has been adhered to.

2. Looked After Children

All Looked After Children should be discussed in supervision at least every six weeks. The case records should be seen by the PM at least twice a year.

In supervision the following items should be considered:

• Boarding-out visit – Has it been completed within statutory time-frame? Was the child seen separately? Any concerns or worries from Carer or child?
• Liaison with school/health visitor/GP/specialist agency – Has there been any change in supports provided to the child and Carer? Do any of these agencies have any concerns about the child?
• Are there specific health issues/have relevant medical assessments been undertaken?
• Are there any educational issues/has the worker received information about educational attainment or issues regarding attendance?
• Parents – Has there been contact with the worker? Is there regular contact with the child? Are there any issues of concern?
• Have all the LAC documents been completed, signed and distributed?
• LAC Reviews – Have the decisions from the previous review been implemented?
• Pathway Plan review(Leaving care Team)
• Action & Assessment Records– Check progress regarding completion of records?
• Court processes-Check regarding process of Court reports. Any specific legal problems?
• Placement planning – has the child’s need for a permanent Home been addressed at the four month review and a plan for permanence made?

3. Children on the CPR

All Children whi are subject to a Child Protection Plan should be discussed in supervision at least once every four weeks. The case records should be seen by the PM/SM at least quarterly. The following matters should be covered:-

• Has the action agreed at the strategy meeting been covered. Any outstanding issues?
• Child Protection Plan – Has this been changed/ Are all relevant actions being implemented? Progress on case plan – any major problems?
• Core Groups – Are they meeting/any issues of concern/problems with cross agency involvement
• Assessment – Is the Core Assessment complete? Any specialist assessment required?
• Monitoring – Has the child been seen by a core group member every 10 working days/has the house been seen? Has the child been seen alone? Are there any issues of concern?
• Preparation for Review – Have the recommendations of the last review been implemented? Preparation of report for conference confirm arrangements for endorsement by supervisor.
• Consideration of longer-term planning – Is there progress towards de-registration? If not consider alternative risk management options.

4. Child in Need / Careleavers

Children in Need/Careleavers including former relevant careleavers should be discussed in supervision at least every eight weeks but where there are possible child protection concerns or while core assessments are being undertaken it should be more frequent. Frequency of discussion should be explicitly discussed and agreed. Supervision should cover the following matters:

• Time frame for assessment – Any slippage or delays? Any particular risks or concerns identified?
• Cross-agency input to assessment – Any particular problems or issues raised?
• Progress on case-plan – Is the service achieving targets and achieving change?
• Views of the service-user – any major concerns regarding nature of service provided?
• Frequency of contact with service-users – Is it appropriate?
• Reviews* - Have the recommendations of the last review been achieved? Is there a continuing need for the service? Is there a need for re-assessment of need?

Note all clients receiving a service should be reviewed every six months.

5. Assessment of Prospective Carer / Adopter

Carers undergoing assessment should be discussed in supervision at least every six weeks. At the start of the assessment process there will be an agreement about the likely time-scales for the assessment that should conform to the appropriate national standards on foster care or adoption and regular supervision schedules will be built into the assessment process. The PM/SM should see the case records at least twice a year.

In supervision the following items will be discussed:

• Time frame for assessment – Any slippage or delays?
• Discussions of competencies/evidence – case for the assessment – Any major issues, concerns or risk factors?
• Preparation issues – how far are they prepared for the caring task?
• Analysis of information gained during the assessment – Any gaps in knowledge/ areas of concern/matters requiring further evidence?
• Any strengths or positive factors that require noting?
• Record of Assessment – Check that chronologies/timelines are being used. Check that assessment is being recorded in appropriate report format throughout the assessment process.

6. Approved Carer Supervision

All approved Carers should be discussed in supervision at least every eight weeks. Where a child is recently placed (particularly in a permanence placement) there may be a need for more frequent discussions. Supervision should cover the following areas:

• Frequency of visits to Carers – Rationale for level of contact. Any specific concerns.
• Other contacts with Carer e.g. telephone/letter – Discussion of usefulness of this contact/discuss alternative ways of providing support.
• Specific issues raised – By Carers or about placements.
• Developmental and support needs of Carers.
• Support network – positive factors/gaps or limitations?
• Foster-care reviews – Have decisions been implemented/reports prepared?
• Any standards of care or Child Protection Issues – Any contact from placing Social Workers?
• Significant changes to household or Carers – Work patterns/financial problems.
• Placement stability/security – strengths and issues that need to be addressed.

End