Understanding Placement Plans and My Voice Matters Meetings

You will need as much information as possible about a child/young person before they come into your home. Wherever possible planning meetings and documents are held and provided prior to the child staying with you. There also should be an opportunity for the child to have introductory visits prior to moving . However, where this is not possible, there should be a planning meeting and a Placement Plan within 5 days and Care Plan within 10 days of the placement / child coming into care. No information should be withheld from you without a manager’s approval, and this will only be in rare cases.

As a foster carer you will work effectively together with the Child’s Social Worker to ensure a smooth transition for the child . You are part of the team around the child, who will also be there to support you. You should be actively involved in planning for the child. Your views are valued by your fostering service and other professionals working with the child and will positively influence the child’s progress.

A Care Plan must be completed before the child's first placement or within 10 working days of them coming into care. Highly effective planning manages and minimises risks to children and so it is very important that the care plan is robust and child centred.

This is a document that must be drawn up where a child/family is receiving a service from a local authority. It should provide information relating to the child and their family, and what work must be done to meet the needs of the child or young person in relation to future plans for them.

The child's overarching Care Plan should include:

• Placement Plan (setting out why the placement was chosen and how the placement will contribute to meet the child's needs). 
• Permanence Plan (long-term plans for the child's upbringing including timescales).
• Pathway Plan (where appropriate, for young people leaving care).
• Health Plan.
• Personal Education Plan.
• Education, Health and Care Plan where appropriate.

This is a document that must be completed either on the day or within 5 days of a placement being made with you. This plan is drawn up by the child/young person's social worker, with you and your Supervising Social Worker and family members.

This plan details the expectations and routines of the child, as well as how their needs will be met in the foster placement. In addition, the Placement Plan should identify any risks and put in place strategies for managing these.

The Placement Plan covers the following areas:

• Objectives and purpose of the arrangement.
• The child's education and training, including the name and address of the child's school/other educational setting/provider and designated teacher; East Sussex County Council maintaining any Education, Health and Care Plan.
• The child's personal/cultural history.
• The child's likes/dislikes.
• Arrangements for the child's health (physical, emotional and mental) and dental care, including the name and address of registered medical and dental practitioners; arrangements for giving/withholding consent to medical/dental examination/treatment.
• Household rules;
• Agreements for contact / family time between the child, their family and others.
• Frequency of social work visits to the child and yourself, and any scheduled My Voice Matters meetings;
• If an Independent Visitor is appointed, the arrangements for them to visit the child and their contact details.
• Delegated Authority where appropriate.
• The Placement Plan must show who can make decisions about situations such as:
  • Medical and dental treatment.
  • Education and school trips.
  • Overnight stays.
  • Leisure and home life.
  • Faith and religious observance.
  • Use of social media.
  • Any other matters which East Sussex County Council/person with Parental Responsibility consider appropriate.

The Placement Plan must also identify any matters about which East Sussex County Council and/or the person with Parental Responsibility considers that the child may make a decision about. It is the responsibility of East Sussex County Council to ensure that if a child is not settling in with you that they take steps to ensure that the plan is reviewed with the Child’s Social Worker, their parents and you as their carer. Therefore, it is important that you report any worries or concerns early on to your Supervising Social Worker.

A My Voice Matter Meeting (previously referred to as a Looked After Child review) is a meeting that covers the arrangements for making sure the plans put in place for a child in care happen.

My Voice Matters meetings are for the child/young person and should focus on their needs and longer-term plans with the professional network to support them.

 My Voice Matters Meetings are held at specific intervals. They are  chaired by an Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO). They will discuss with all those involved with the child’s life including the child/young person how they are progressing and how their needs will continue to be met. The Independent Reviewing Officer has a responsibility to oversee and monitor the child’s needs and plans to prevent delay and drift in decision-making.

 My Voice Matters Meetings happen at the following intervals:

• Within 20 working days of the child becoming cared for by East Sussex County Council;
• Then within 3 months (91 days) of an initial My Voice Matters meeting;
• Then subsequent My Voice Matters meetings should be conducted not more than 6 months (183 days) after any previous review.

 My Voice Matters Meetings should be brought forward by the Independent Reviewing Officer where the circumstances of an event has a significant impact upon the child’s Care Plan, as suggested in the following sorts of circumstances:

• A proposed change of Care Planfor example arising at short notice in the course of proceedings following directions from the court;
• Where agreed decisions from the review are not carried out within the specified timescale;
• Major change to the contact/ family time arrangements;
• Changes of allocated social worker;
• Any safeguarding concerns involving the child, which may lead to enquiries being made under Section 47 of the 1989 Act (‘Child Protection Enquiries’) and outcomes of Child Protection Conferences, or other meetings that are not attended by the IRO;
• Complaints from or on behalf of the child, parent or carer;
• Unexpected changes in the child’s placement provision or status which may significantly impact on placement stability or safeguarding arrangements;
• Significant changes in birth family circumstances for example births, marriages or deaths which may have a particular impact on the child;
• If the child is charged with any offence leading to referral to Youth Offending Services, pending criminal proceedings and any convictions or sentences as a result of such proceedings;
• If the child is excluded from school;
• If the child has run away or is missing from an approved placement;
• Significant health, medical events, diagnoses, illnesses, hospitalisations, or serious accidents; and panel decisions in relation to permanency.

(DfE Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review).

This is not an exhaustive list and other events considered to be significant may prompt an earlier  My Voice Matters meeting. The decision whether to have an early meeting  is the IRO’s.

The parents and child should also be consulted about the need for an additional meeting .

You should therefore:

• Discuss with your social worker any changes that occur for yourself or for your family;
• Ensure the social worker for the child is fully informed and aware of any of the issues that have been highlighted;
• Discuss with your social worker any other matter that you feel could reflect significantly or impact upon the child or their Care Plan.

The IRO can then review and consider whether an earlier meeting should be convened.

The first  My Voice Matters meeting following a young person’s 16th birthday should consider whether a Staying Put arrangement (whereby the young person remains in the foster home after the age of 18) could be an option.

The child/young person should be at the meeting (unless there is a special reason why not as this is their meeting), in addition to you as their foster carer, the child’s teacher, their family, the child’s social worker and any other professionals working with the family.

If you are worried about these meetings discuss it with your Supervising Social Worker.