The role of the social worker (care and support protection plan co-ordinator)

The local authority is required, in partnership with other agencies, to prepare and maintain the care and support protection plan.

The care and support protection plan co-ordinator, also referred to as the social worker, takes lead responsibility for the plan on behalf of the local authority

The social worker must be employed by social services, registered with Social Care Wales and have appropriate qualifications, training and experience to undertake the role of the care and support plan coordinator

Code of Practice to Part 4 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014

The chair at the initial child protection conference should ensure that a named social worker is identified i.e. the responsible care and support protection plan co-ordinator.

This should also be recorded at the conference.

If there is no identified social worker who is the responsible care and support protection plan co-ordinator, the relevant senior manager responsible for safeguarding in social services must be informed immediately.

Responsibilities of the social worker (the care and support protection plan co-ordinator)

The social worker should:

• actively engage with the child including:
  • seeing the child alone at least every 10 working days and ensuring that the child is seen at home at least every 4 weeks. (in the absence of the identified social worker the team manager/line manager must ensure that these visits take place);
  • being aware that ‘seeing’ the child means, (dependent on age, stage of development and disability) ascertaining changes to their lived experience resulting from the implementation of the care and support protection plan as well as their wishes and feelings; ensuring the child’s bedroom is seen at least once between review conferences.
• take the multi-agency lead and work with the child and family so they have:
  • a clear understanding of the rationale for the plan and planned outcomes;
  • an understanding of the reasons for the plan; the actions they need to complete and the support they will receive;
  • motivation and ability to work to the plan in order to achieve the child-focused outcomes;
  • knowledge of their right to make a complaint and how to do so.
• co-ordinate the preparation, completion, review, delivery and revision of the plan.

This includes:

• ensuring that the outline plan is further developed at the first core group into a more detailed multi-agency working plan;
• co-ordinating the completion of assessments of the needs of the child and the family and commissioning any specialist assessments;
• co-ordinating the contributions of family members and other agencies to the implementation of the plan;
• ensuring each core group review progress of outcomes for the child’s safety and wellbeing in relation to the child’s care and support protection plan;
• providing a focus for communication between all practitioners and family members;
• completing case records of assessments and progress of the plan;
• preparing reports for review conference, drawing on the contributions of members of the core group;
• notifying the custodian of the child protection register immediately of any relevant information such as changes to the child’s household, so the register can be updated;
• keeping practitioners informed of changes. This includes any changes of address where the child is residing, as well as details of new people who may visit the house regularly.

Any change of care and support protection plan co-ordinator must be notified verbally and confirmed in writing to all relevant agencies and the family by the social worker relinquishing responsibility or their supervising line manager. The Child Protection Register must also be amended promptly.