1.5 Step Down: Framework for Continuing Support to Vulnerable Children

Introduction
Principles
The Role of the Step Down Lead Professional
Step Down from a Care Plan
Step Down from a Child Protection Plan
Step Down from a Child in Need Plan
Step Down from an Initial Plan
Step Down from Referral to the Initial Response Service

1. Introduction

The Framework for Continuing Support to Vulnerable Children (or Step Down) promotes a framework of a defined (and gradually decreasing) level of support to children and their families where they have previously received the highest level of support in Specialist Services. It is a model of support that can be delivered on a locality basis.

Staff in our partner agencies will be familiar with the concept of thresholds for access to services and with the framework of a "step-up" approach to the apex of the triangle (Child Concern Model). The introduction of the Child Concern Model (CCM) in 2002 and the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) in 2006 has led to a recognised path for children with an escalating level of needs/concerns.

Where there are early indications of a child and family encountering problems, professionals begin to allocate resources from a variety of agencies to try to prevent the situation from deteriorating. Support is given to bolster the family's efforts to help itself. From a learning mentor to the CAF Lead Professional, a variety of levels of support are put in place within the remit of Targeted Services.

Children who are the most vulnerable and in the greatest need will receive services through a Child Protection Plan or via a Care Plan for a Looked After Child within Specialist Services. Work is planned and coordinated and may involve professionals from many agencies, both statutory and voluntary.

At the point of discharge from the care system or when a Child Protection Plan is no longer required to meet a child's needs, then that level of support with its attendant monitoring and review processes is removed immediately. In relation to the Child Concern Model levels, they have gone from Level 3 to at least Level 1(if not Level 0) in terms of support offered.

Whilst a child may no longer require to be Looked After or to have a Child Protection Plan, it is highly likely that they will have needs that make them vulnerable. Their families should be supported in caring for them. They need a period of "hand holding" whilst stepping down to Universal Services.

In Children's Services, we believe that the more robust the discharge plan (from the public care system or child protection system), the more we will assist these children to achieve improved outcomes through their increased resilience and that of their families.

Detailed Step Down arrangements will ensure that the pattern of multi-agency/integrated working now developing well in Walsall is sustained whilst children and families' needs are met and lessen.

2. Principles

"To make growing up in Walsall as good as it can be" is the Council's vision and is the foundation of all that is contained within the Children and Young People's Plan.

This model represents another aspect of work that makes a reality of this vision for Walsall's children.

This framework is underpinned by the following principles:

The child's welfare and safety is paramount.
Children are best cared for by their parents within their family.
Intervention in family life should be at the least intrusive level and should avoid duplication and repetition of processes.
All agencies embrace a similar Risk Assessment Model.
Inter-agency collaboration is necessary to improve outcomes for young people.
Support is given as quickly as possible where additional needs exist in order to maintain the shift from intervention to prevention.
Services should be delivered at a local level.
Existing initiatives and programmes will be used wherever possible.
The child and family should be consulted with and should participate in the development of plans to support them.
At any point in this model, action via the child protection process can be accessed.
The specific needs of black and minority ethnic children will be identified and supported in the plans at any stage in the "Step Down" continuum.
The child and family's consent to the Step Down arrangements is required.

3. The Role of the Step Down Lead Professional

The Lead Professional within CAF is increasingly understood and deployed within Walsall. In considering the development of Step Down arrangements, it seems appropriate to build on this existing model.

The involvement of a Step Down Lead Professional offers many positive advantages to the child:

A single point of contact.
Monitoring of the interventions/services and ensuring a review of the child's circumstances.
Reduces overlap between several professionals and decreases inconsistency in approach to the child and family.
Brings knowledge of local services.

What follows is a description of a Step Down process from each stage of involvement with Specialist Services followed by a matching flowchart.

4. Step Down from a Care Plan

When a young person leaves the Looked After system to return home, a Core Assessment (if the previous one is more than six months old) will be carried out within 35 days by Corporate Parenting. Where a recent Core Assessment is in place, Corporate Parenting will develop a return home support package as Step Down support and monitor for a minimum of 35 working days. This means the social worker who knows the child when they were Looked After will be able to judge if there are any obstacles to meeting the child's needs within the family or to note signs of imminent breakdown in the return home arrangements. This person will be better placed to be sensitive to any changes in the child's behaviour and wishes and feelings.

Whilst undertaking the Core Assessment or developing the support package, the social worker will liaise with other agencies to ensure the required services are put in place. The social worker will negotiate with Spurgeons about the remit for their involvement.

The Family Support Panel will be used to access any other resources required.

Upon completion of the Core Assessment and/or having offered a minimum 35 working days of involvement, the Corporate Parenting Service will organise a Care Plan Step Down meeting before they withdraw. Other agencies with significant involvement with the child will be invited.

A Lead Professional for the next stage of Step Down will be identified. Where possible, the family should be involved in this meeting and any remaining issues/support needs should be outlined to all the relevant agencies delivering targeted and/or universal services.

The Step Down Lead Professional will monitor the child's welfare and any services to the family for a period of 5 -13 weeks (time scale to be agreed at meeting).

After that time, the child and family will revert to the use of Universal Services and any targeted services they still need, but there will be no further monitoring by the Step Down Lead Professional. By this stage, the family will have been supported and monitored for a minimum of 12 weeks and a maximum of 26 weeks following discharge from the care system.

From the point of the involvement of the Step Down Lead Professional and thereafter, the Child Concern Model and CAF process can be used again if necessary to ensure the child's needs are met and outcomes for the child are improved.

Click here to view Step Down from a Care Plan Flowchart

5. Step Down from a Child Protection Plan

At the conference which identifies a child as no longer requiring a Child Protection Plan, a meeting will be held with the family where a Child in Need Plan will be proposed. A worker from Vulnerable Children's Services (VCS) will be identified to monitor and review that plan for a period of 4-6 weeks.

Before the end of that period, the VCS worker will at a Child Protection Step Down meeting identify an appropriate Step Down Lead Professional to monitor the child's circumstances on the next stage of Step Down. At this point, Children's Social Care will cease its involvement with the child and family.

The Lead Professional will monitor the child's welfare and any services to the family for a period of 4-8 weeks.

At this point, the child and family will revert to the use of Universal Services and any targeted services they still need, but there will be no further monitoring by the Step Down Lead Professional. By this stage, the family will have been monitored and supported for a minimum of 8 weeks to a maximum of 14 weeks.

Click here to view Step Down from a Child Protection Plan Flowchart

6. Step Down from a Child in Need Plan

Prior to the end of a Child in Need Plan, the Vulnerable Children's Services (VCS) worker will organise a Child in Need Plan Review meeting to be attended by the family and agencies who have/will have significant involvement on an ongoing basis.

At this meeting, the Step Down Lead Professional will be identified and any targeted services support to meet the child's needs. VCS involvement will end at this point.

The Step Down Lead Professional will remain involved for 6-8 weeks.

At the end of the involvement of the Step Down Lead Professional, the child and family will revert to the use of Universal Services and any Targeted Services they still need, but there will be no further monitoring by the Step Down Lead Professional.

Click here to view Step Down from a Child in Need (CIN) Plan Flowchart

7. Step Down from an Initial Plan

An Initial Plan is set up following an Initial Assessment to meet needs which are of a short-term, straightforward nature. As the involvement from Vulnerable Children's Services (VCS) will thus be purposeful but brief or less complex, it follows, therefore, that the Step Down arrangements will be brief and simple.

At the end of the Initial Plan (and if a further plan is not needed), VCS will advise the CAF Team/ Lead Professional.

A Step Down Lead Professional should be identified to provide supportive contact to the child and family for 2-4 weeks with their agreement and if necessary.

If the child's circumstances are satisfactory at the end of 2-4 weeks, then the child and family will use Universal Services.

If the child's circumstances require support, then the Child Concern Model and the CAF process should be used to increase Targeted Services support to meet the child's needs.

Click here to view Step Down from an Initial Plan Flowchart

8. Step Down from Referral to the Initial Response Service

Following a referral of a child to Specialist Services, it may be decided either at the point of referral or after an Initial Assessment, that referral to another agency is most appropriate to meet the needs of the child.

The Initial Response Service should advise the CAF Team/Lead Professional of the outcome as well as the Referring Agency.

Targeted Services accessed through a CAF or the Child Concern Model remains available to the child and family.

Click here to view Step Down from Referral to Specialist Services Flowchart

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