Child and Young Person's Planning Framework

GIRFEC in East Lothian

National GIRFEC policy and guidance is delivered in East Lothian's Children's Services via the Child and Young Person's Planning Framework. This framework has been designed to be child centred, holistic and integrated in its approach to ensure that children and young people and their families, receive the earliest and most effective response to their needs. It is a dynamic framework where assessment is directly linked to intervention. The framework is a single shared approach to planning for children and young people across services which enables collaborative decision making and planning. Key to success are children, young people, families and agencies working together in gathering information , carrying out interventions and evaluating progress. The paperwork ensures all aspects outlined in the National practice guidance are met and compliant.

A fundamental principle that underpins the Child's Planning Framework is minimum intervention in that where as far as possible children, young people and families will be supported within universal services without the need for any additional support. If a wellbeing concerns arise, support should build on the universal provision and steps taken to ensure that support is available to prevent further difficulties or an escalation of needs. In a smaller number of cases, additional and targeted support involving multi-agency working will be required.

"The framework is based on partners working together at the earliest opportunity to support a child or young person and their family. We will work together to deliver interventions that are timely, appropriate, and proportionate to prevent a situation escalating."

East Lothian Council will promote, support and safeguard the wellbeing of all children and young people. This aim will be delivered through the Child and Young Person's Planning Framework which has been designed to be child centred, holistic and integrated in its approach to ensure that children and young people and their families, receive the earliest and most effective response to their needs. It is a dynamic framework where assessment is directly linked to intervention. The framework is a single shared approach to planning for children and young people across services which enables collaborative decision making and planning. Key to success are children, young people, families and agencies working together in gathering information, carrying out interventions, and evaluating progress.

Aims:

to put the child or young person at the centre of all decisions;
to promote the wellbeing of every child and young person;
to assist co-ordination of assessment and planning of intervention for individual children and young people;
support multi-agency working, consistency and good communication between practitioners by having a shared framework for assessment and planning across agencies and;
to provide evidence of Requests for Assistance to specialist services and provisions.

Core Elements:

on entry to education, there will be a Named Education Contact for children, young people and families to go to for support and advice;
a Lead Professional will be identified when more intensive, targeted support is required;
the recording and monitoring of Wellbeing Concerns to identify and put in place support at the earliest possible stage;
use of the National Practice Model to complete a comprehensive Wellbeing Assessment;
the use of pastoral notes;
use of Chronologies to record significant life events of children and young people;
the Child’s Planning Meeting to bring together the child’s network of support, the child and their family to consider the child’s needs and identify the desired outcomes to be recorded on the Child’s Plan and;
proportionate information sharing.

Universal

Universal services wrap around children and young people at all times and can be drawn on when a wellbeing need has been identified.

"Universal Services of Health and Education are available to all children and young people throughout the early years into primary and secondary school."

Universal support includes a wide range of interventions such as:

Early support for health or developmental issues;
Guidance and pastoral support;
Engagement in the health and wellbeing curriculum;
Informal community groups and volunteer networks as well as group work;
Support for learning and;
Parenting support and advice.

Additional

Additional support is available to some children and young people who require more intervention than is available at the Universal level usually from a partner agency.

"The aim of additional support is to prevent further more intensive interventions being required at a later stage."

A range of partners able to provide additional support include:

Educational Psychology Service;
Speech and Language Therapy;
Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS);
School Nursing Service;
School Counselling Service;
Third sector organisations – individual and group supports and;
Relevant community clubs and organisations.

Targeted

A small proportion of children and young people will require a high level of targeted support from a number of agencies over a period of time. This level includes situations where complex or unmet needs impact on functioning, and where there is a crisis and an urgent intervention is required.

At this level the primary focus will be to ensure the immediate risk is minimised, and bespoke packages of therapeutic interventions and care are put in place to ensure the continued wellbeing of the child or young person. The expectation is that the majority of children and young people at this level will require formal involvement of Children's Social Work services. Support will include the identification of a Lead Professional.

"Targeted support is for children and young people with a higher level of complex needs and will be provided through a multi-agency partnership approach, including specialist providers."

Examples of where targeted support should be required:

Children and Young People on the Child Protection register;
Looked after/care experienced children and young people, both accommodated and at home;
Children and Young People subject to a Child Protection investigation;
Children and Young People receiving intensive support from CAMHS and;
Children and Young People with complex health care and educational needs who may be attending a specialist provision.

Associated East Lothian Education Policies

There are a range of associated East Lothian Policies that support GIRFEC and meeting learners needs. They can be found here East Lothian EduHub - Policy, Process and Guidance (google.com)

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