Child protection plan new local authority

[Needsupport]

I have just been placed into emergency accommodation in a different borough from where my children were placed on a child protection plan I don’t know how long I will be in this new borough for it could be a few months etc I will not be returning to the previous borough I will be moving else where what happens if the LA that I have just been placed in don’t accept this plan what happens

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Needsupport

Thank you for your post and welcome to the discussion board. My name is Suzie, I am an online adviser and will be replying to you today.
You and your children have been placed into emergency accommodation in a different borough to where the child protection plan was made. You do not know how long you will be in this borough but are clear you will not be returning to the borough who initiated the child protection plan for your children. You are seeking advice on what might happen if the borough you are now living in does not accept the child protection plan.

When a family with children subject to a child protection plan moves from one local authority area to another local authority area, then the responsibility for the monitoring, supervision and updating of that plan must transfer from the originating authority to the receiving authority.

When Children who are subject to children protection plans move area, it is particularly important that multi agency services are carefully coordinated during the transfer process. The current authority must not curtail their involvement until the case has been formally accepted by the new area.

Both local authorities will have a Transfer in/out policy and procedure. You can ask them for a copy to help you understand the process better. There will be a Transfer In conference (often referred to an an initial child protection conference, abbreviated to an ICPC) where the incoming authority will decide whether the child protection plan remains the appropriate plan for the children.

An initial or transfer-in child protection case conference will be held within 15 working days of the referral being accepted by the receiving authority. Until the case conference, responsibility for the child’s plan remains with the originating local authority working in close liaison with the receiving local authority.

To accept a referral in these circumstances, the family must have moved from the originating local authority and be living in the receiving local authority area. If the move is temporary, depending on the circumstance, the referral may or may not be accepted. The concept of ‘Ordinary Residence’ will be considered if there is a dispute between local authorities around whether a referral should be accepted or not.

Local authorities typically use the SAFER tool referral process. The SAFER tool provides details of all agencies who are continuing to support the Child Protection Plan and any agencies in the receiving local authority who will be expected to contribute to the Plan going forward. When the referral is accepted, the social worker in the originating local authority must forward case file documentation.

The exception to accepting the plan would be where the local authority decides to continue to maintain responsibility for the child protection plan, e.g. siblings living in different areas or when a child moves into the new area for a period of less than 15 days. In this case, the receiving local authority should be notified that a child who is subject to a child protection plan is temporarily residing in their area.

The receiving local authority is responsible for convening the conference. The originating local authority’s allocated social worker will be invited to the conference and will write an updated report for the transfer ICPC and must share this with the receiving local authority, the family and all agencies attending the transfer ICPC at least 2 working days prior to the conference.

All involved agencies in the originating Local Authority will be invited along with their counterparts in the receiving Local Authority. All agencies invited to the transfer-in ICPC will be expected to share information to help inform decision making.

The originating local authority child protection plan will be reviewed at the transfer-in ICPC and if required, a new child protection plan drafted.

I hope you find this information helpful. If you would like to talk to an adviser at Family Rights Group about your situation, please call the freephone advice line on 0808 801 0366, Mon to Fri, 9.30 am to 3.00 pm. If you prefer, you can post back, use our advice enquiry form or webchat.

Best wishes, Suzie