What is a Child's Planning Meeting?

A Child's Planning Meeting is where key members of the ‘team around the child’ are invited to discuss and agree a plan to improve the wellbeing of a child or young person.  It offers opportunities for everyone involved to develop increased knowledge and understanding of the child or young person, by learning more about their wellbeing. It encourages the child and young person, parents, professionals  to develop shared and agreed aims and targets.  

The Child's Planning meeting will be recorded on one of two plans, either a Universal Wellbeing Plan or on a Child / Young Person's Plan.

When will a Child’s Planning Meeting be convened?

• A need has been identified in the child or young person’s life which may be impacting on their wellbeing, and there is a need to discuss this more fully. 

• To put in place or review a Universal Wellbeing Plan.  

• To put in place or review a Child's or Young Person's Plan.   

Who should arrange a Child’s Planning Meeting?

• Before a child is registered in an education setting the Health Visitor is responsible for arranging the Child's Planning Meeting. 

• When a child or young person is registered in an educational setting, the Named Education Contact or Lead Professional is responsible for arranging the Child’s Planning meeting.

•  Where there is a Lead Professional, they are responsible for arranging meetings.

Who should attend a Child’s Planning Meeting?

• The child or young person, parents and any professionals who have been involved in supporting the wellbeing of the child or young person.  

• There may be occasions where it is appropriate to invite a professional who has not been involved to date in the care of the child or young person. This should be agreed by all relevant parties, especially the child, young person and parent, before the meeting takes place.

Meetings are most productive when professionals have:

•  first-hand knowledge of the child and their family;

•  had enough time to complete their assessment;

• an ability to present balanced information, including strengths, risks, evidence of resilience as well as vulnerabilities and; 

• an ability to listen to other perspectives and reach conclusions about what is best for the child or young person.

 Characteristics of an Effective Child's Planning Meeting: 

• meeting is arranged at an agreed date and time;

• prior to the meeting a chair and a note taker is arranged; 

• all invitees are clear about the purpose of the meeting;

• all relevant assessments and documents have been sent to attendees in advance of the meeting;

• everyone is supported to contribute in the way that is best for them;

• a solution-focused approach is taken, concentrating on improving the wellbeing of the child or young person;

• the meeting is chaired effectively, ensuring that all perspectives are represented, dissenting views recorded, and actions with timescales agreed and recorded;

• everyone understands their role in helping the child, young person and family;

• the child, young person and family understand what is expected of themselves and other members of the network of support;

• a draft plan is sent to those in attendance within 14 days to allow them to agree the content before being issued as an accurate record of the meeting;

• a review date is arranged.  

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