Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC): child's plan - practice statement - easy read

Who should be involved in making and reviewing the child’s plan?

If a child or young person and their family needs a multi-agency child’s plan a lead profession should be arranged. Any professional supporting child or young person could become the lead professional.

The lead professional will have a key role in making the child’s plan work. The lead professional works with a named person if a family would like this and all the other practitioners involved in the child’s plan.

The lead professional reports to the service they work for. They should explain what they are doing to put the child’s plan into action.

The lead professional should check that other workers know how to help with the child’s plan. They are not responsible for the work other people do. The lead professional should have the right support and training.

All professionals involved must make sure the plan moves forward. It should be checked so it meets the needs of the child, young person and family.

When the child’s plan has been agreed, the lead professional will:

• Be a point of contact with the child and their family to make sure the plan is working.
• Be a point of contact for all workers who are delivering support.

  

• Make sure that the support matches the child’s plan.

  

• Ask people to work as a team.

  

• Work with the child and family and workers to make sure that the child and family’s rights are respected. Their views and wishes should always be heard.

  

• Support the child and family to use help from workers and services.

  

• Check that the plan takes account of how the child and family are affected by inequality.

  

• Check how well the child’s plan is working.

  

• Organise other support that may be needed.
• Arrange a review with all services involved.
• Support the child and their family in key transitions.

  

The views of the child or young person and their family should be part of all decisions made about the child’s plan.

The child’s plan will look at strengths, needs and risks. It will have actions from plans the child had before this one.

The plan will say when it should be checked. The lead professional will arrange the materials needed for a review.

Materials will be given to everyone involved, including children and families. The lead professional is only responsible for other workers if it is part of their main job.

It is not the lead professional’s job to do all the work with the child and their family. They do not replace workers or jobs who carry out direct work or specialist assessments.