Managing Child Protection Plans in the Context of Interim Supervision Orders (ISO)

This guidance outlines the procedures to be followed when a child subject to a Child Protection (CP) Plan is made subject to an Interim Supervision Order (ISO). This guidance is aligned with the Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (LSCP) Procedures, the Lincolnshire Children's Services Procedure Manual, Working Together 2023, the National Social Care Framework 2023, and the Families First for Children Pathfinder Lead Child Protection Practitioner Role.

When a child is made subject to an ISO, it is presumed that the oversight of the court and the appointment of a children's guardian provide sufficient statutory safeguarding measures for the CP plan to be ended. In line with LSCP guidance, this guidance sets out the process for ending the CP Plan and transitioning to the ISO plan.

The Locality Child Protection Chair will continue to oversee the progress of the CP Plan for the child when they become subject to an ISO. An ISO is managed as a Child in Need Plan. The CP Chair, supported by the safeguarding and review service, will ensure that all necessary steps are taken to transition from the CP Plan to the ISO (Child in Need) plan.

1. Review Conference (RCPC) Timing:
   
   If the RCPC is scheduled within 4 weeks of the ISO being made, the conference will be held as planned. During this conference, the CP Plan will be ended, and the ISO plan will be reviewed and updated by the multi-agency network.
   
   If the RCPC is scheduled more than 4 weeks away, the CP Chair and Social Worker (SW) will identify a date within 28 days of the ISO being made to hold a Supervision Order Review. The family must be consulted to agree on a suitable time and date.
2. Communication:
   
   The CP Chair will write to all Core Group members and professionals who attended the Initial Child Protection Conference (ICPC) to inform them that the child is now subject to an ISO. The communication will state that, in line with LSCP procedures, the CP Plan will end at the first Supervision Order Review due to the court's oversight.
3. Multi-Agency Decision:
   
   The decision to end a CP Plan is a multi-agency decision. All professionals involved must agree that the oversight provided by the court and the children's guardian is sufficient to end the CP Plan. This is the presumption in most circumstances and the outcome that the chair will encourage professionals to agree. However, there may be circumstances where the multi-agency decision is that there are sound, evidence-based, practical reasons for the child to remain subject to a CP Plan despite the ISO being in place. These reasons must be clearly documented and reviewed regularly.

Previously, ISO reviews were held as Child in Need meetings chaired by the Social Worker and then at key points by Locality managers.  However, the role of the CP Chair has been expanded to act as a locality-based Child Protection Adviser. This change leverages the CP Chair's experience to improve planning and review in various contexts. By chairing ISO reviews, the CP Chair can utilise their expertise to enhance the quality of assessments and ensure robust oversight of the child's plan, under the auspices of the Child in Need plan. They share the Lead Child Protection Role with the Locality Practice Supervisors and the decision to ask CP Chairs to Chair these reviews has been taken to improve consistency and provide independent oversight of how the supervision plan is impacting on the day-to-day life of the child.

The significant harm threshold, as defined by the Children Act 1989, must be met for a court to issue an ISO. This threshold is met when there is evidence that the child is suffering or is likely to suffer significant harm. The court order itself evidences that this threshold has been met. This is why Lincolnshire is committed to improving practice in delivering services to children under an ISO. The aim is to thoroughly assess the family and supervise their parenting to improve the child's circumstances during the ISO period. This ensures that the court has sufficient evidence to conclude proceedings swiftly, with high confidence in the effectiveness of the supervision order plan.

The National Social Care Framework emphasises the importance of creating a context for practice that enables safe and effective interventions. This includes having clear roles and responsibilities, robust oversight, and a commitment to continuous improvement. By expanding the role of the CP Chair to include chairing ISO reviews, we are ensuring that experienced professionals are leading these critical meetings. This brings added value to the social work team by providing additional support and enhancing the work of Locality Practice Supervisors. The CP Chair's oversight and chairing role help to ensure that plans are thorough, evidence-based, and focused on achieving the best outcomes for children.

At the conclusion of court proceedings, there are three possible outcomes:

1. No Order: If the proceedings conclude with no order, recommendations will be made regarding the level of ongoing support the child and family need.
2. Supervision Order: If a Supervision Order is made for 6 or 12 months, the Locality CP Chair will continue to review the Supervision Order Plan at 3, 6, and 9 months in close liaison with the Practice Supervisor and the Locality Team Manager. (see Section 9, Handover Process for Supervision Orders below);
3. Care Order, Special Guardianship Order, or Private Law Order: If the proceedings conclude with a Care Order, Special Guardianship Order, or a Private Law Order, the Locality CP Chair and the Social Work Practice Supervisor will agree on how the Chair can best support the transition of the plan to either the Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) service, back to the team, or to end their involvement.

Where a child has been subject to Care Proceedings and had the oversight of an IRO, and the proceedings conclude with the making of a Supervision Order; the child's IRO will arrange a handover to the Locality CP Chair so they can become familiar with the child's history. A Supervision Order is managed as Child in Need; however, the Locality CP Chair will establish and oversee a formal review pattern of chairing multi-agency meetings at 3, 6, and 9-months. CP Chairs share the Lead Child Protection Role with the Locality Practice Supervisors, and it is hoped that by requiring the CP Chairs to lead the Supervision Order reviews, at these key points, county wide consistency will improve, and families will feel empowered by the independent oversight.

This guidance ensures that the transition from a CP Plan to an ISO plan is managed effectively, with the child's safety and well-being as the primary concern and a transition from care proceedings to a SO is also managed effectively. We know from all our practice experience that a multi-agency approach ensures that all decisions can be made collaboratively and in the best interest of the child. The driver for this process is the belief that independent oversight provides an extra layer of quality assurance to ensure the supervision plan is positively impacting on the day-to-day life of the child.