Planning meetings

The following people are always invited to planning meetings:

• all professionals involved in the child's life,
• parents and people with parental responsibility,
• foster carers,
• the child,
• anyone else who can make a helpful contribution.
LAC reviews make recommendations whereas planning meetings make decisions.Full participation of the parents and children (appropriate to their age and understanding ) in the planning meeting is desirable.The wishes and feelings of the children must be ascertained.The chair of the planning meeting should introduce her or himself to the child before the meeting and agree an agenda with the child.If the child chooses not to attend, alternative provision must be made to involve the child.  If the child still chooses not to be involved then evidence of this must be presented to the planning meeting.The child should always be advised that they can be accompanied at the planning meeting by a friend or supporter of their choice if they so wish.  The child should always be made aware of this option.  However, the child should be properly informed of any sensitive material to be discussed as this may influence the choice of friend or supporter.There may be people entitled to be present at the planning meeting who the child does not want to see. In the case where the input of this person is crucial their presence overrides the wishes of the child though the matter will have to be handled sensitively.

Out of jurisdiction placements Such a meeting will be required if an out of jurisdiction placement is being considered.  This meeting will need to consider the following:

• The assessment of need.
• Current reports on child's health, education and emotional/social needs.
• Legal considerations.
• Contact.
• Current involvement of other agencies.
• Specific circumstances and justification of the need for possible Out of Jurisdiction provision.
For such meetings it is essential that representatives from all the relevant agencies are invited, including:

• Education Psychologists
• CAMHS
• health visitor for LAC
• Internal representatives from Family Placement Service
• residential and other professionals who have been involved with the child.
The child and their family can also be invited if it is considered to be in the child's best interests.Following such a meeting the social worker will need to complete the child permanence report for submission to Adoption and Permanency Panel.  This will allow a best interests decision to be made prior to the case being presented to the complex needs panel .

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