The Children with Additional Needs and Children in Need frameworks allow professionals and agencies to work together to help children and their families by providing a consistent approach to:
- Assessing
- Planning
- Intervening
- Reviewing
One of the key elements is to work preventatively with children and families. This is determining needs and strengths to protect children and maximise their potential.
The framework is being developed in terms of processes and procedures, such as:
- Advising on the implementation of the framework in all agencies.
- Providing training for staff in participation and chairing for Children with Additional Needs (CWAN) and Children in Need (CIN) meetings.
What is the philosophy of the Children with Additional Needs and Children in Need processes?
- Promoting joint working between agencies to achieve better outcomes for children and young people.
- Working preventatively with children, young people and their families/ carers before they reach a crisis point.
- Recognising and building on existing strengths, rather than emphasising weaknesses.
- Engaging children, young people and their families/carers in the process of finding out solutions.
- All Children in Need meetings take place within a set of common frameworks. These are:
- The Common Assessment framework
- The Children in Need framework
- The Area Child Protection Committee procedures
What differences can these meetings make?
- Help families when they need it most.
- Multi-agency processes to prevent children and young people ‘slipping through the net’.
- Providing support at an early stage before more serious problems occur.
- Avoid focusing on crisis interventions.
- Offer greater safeguarding and support to children and young people to maximise their potential.
What are Children with Additional Needs and Children in Need meetings?
Both of these meetings are multi-agency. They involve all relevant organisations along with the children and their families.
A meeting would be convened if an assessment indicates that the child and family have needs that require advice and support from a range of agencies.
For some families, the meetings can be an effective way of identifying the type of support available to them. This can help them through short-term difficulties that may be affecting the child’s development and progress. For others, these frameworks can be a positive way of starting to tackle wider issues such as:
- Offending behaviour
- Teenage pregnancy
- Social exclusion
- Mental and physical well being
- Anti-social behaviour
Who attends these meetings?
Children with Additional Needs meetings can be called by any organisation that has identified needs about a child or young person and their family. Children in Need meetings are called when a social worker is working with a child/ young person and their family. Either of these meetings will only be held with the agreement of the family.
Once a CWAN or CIN meeting has been arranged, consideration is given to which professionals will attend. Consultation will also take place with the child or young person and their family/carers before the meeting.
What are the advantages of having these meetings?
An effective CWAN or CIN meeting can improve outcomes for children and young people, their families and professionals.
These outcomes are:
- Being healthy
- Staying safe
- Enjoying and achieving
- Making a positive contribution
- Achieving economic well-being
We aim to ensure that families are able to:
- Identify and access the right advice, support and guidance now, and in the future.
- Have family life maintained and supported.
- Have increased awareness of resources within their local communities.
Professionals will use the framework to:
- Have a positive experience of working in partnership with other agencies.
- Have shared responsibility for specific outcomes for children or young people.
- Have an increased understanding about the range of services available.
How can I find more information about the Children with Additional Needs and Children in Need Frameworks?
You can contact the Children in Need co-ordinator, who is based in the Children's Integrated Systems Team. The team is located at Crosby House, Brumby Resource Centre, East Common Lane, Scunthorpe.
Tel: 01724 298293
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