Core Group Meeting Agenda
Note
First core group following Initial Child Protection Conference to be chaired by Care Management
Deputy Team Manager.
Minutes at first core group following Initial Child Protection Conference to be taken by the Care
Management Team Business Support Officer.
Subsequent core groups to be chaired by the children’s key worker and minute taking to be
rotated between professional core group members.
1. Introductions/apologies
2. Agree on minute taker (if applicable).
3. Review of Core group membership and any updates/changes to membership.
4. Review names and ages of children subject to CP plans and the category of CP planany changes/updates to status/categories.
5. Visits since last core group/CPC; update on all announced and unannounced visits
undertaken since last core group/CPC. Update to include, who undertook visit, where
the visit took place, whether the subject child/ren was/were seen, whether child/ren seen
alone, others including parents/family members seen, and brief summary of the visit
including strengths and any concerns. If visit undertaken by core group member, has
core group monitoring form been provided?
6. Updates from Agencies- each Agency represented in the core group to give brief update
outlining their contact with the child/ren & family since last core group/Conference, to
include any strengths and/or concerns.
7. Update from family members- each family member who is part of core group to give
update on progress/significant events/any concerns since last core group/Conference.
8. Review of Child Protection Plan- plan to be reviewed to check progress and/or any
difficulties with all agreed actions in the plan.
9. Update to Child Protection Plan- plan to be updated in accordance with progress and/or
outstanding actions.
10. Agree any further actions to be carried out before next core group/Conference, to
include who will be responsible and timescale for action to be completed.
11. Safeguarding- consider whether any new safeguarding concerns have arisen, and if so,
whether any urgent protective action is required, to include who will be responsible and
timescale for action/s to be completed.
12. Dissenting views- if any core group members have a dissenting view in relation to any
actions agreed, this to be shared with core group and recorded in the minutes. If any
core group member does not agree with an action identified for them, this to be shared
with core group and escalated to Social Care Manager.
13. Date and venue of next core group to be agreed.
FIRST CORE GROUP MEETING TEMPLATE
Date of Meeting:
Family Members:
DOB:
Ethnicity:
Core Group Member?
Job Title and Contact:
Core Group Member?
Subject Child(ren)
Mother
Father
Significant others
CP Plan
Category/Categories:
Involved Agencies:
Name:
General Discussion:
Record here significant discussion that took place at the core group meeting.
Visits to the child:
Record here dates of planned and unannounced statutory child protection visits since last core group/Conference.,
If there have been failed visits, record the reasons for this.
Record here which agencies have provided core group monitoring forms.
Visits undertaken/attempted since last Core Group or Conference:
Date of
Visit:
By Whom:
Location:
Planned or
Unannounced?
Was is
successful?
If not, give
reason
Has core
group
monitoring
form been
provided
Visits to take place:
Core Group Members to agree all planned visits to take place until next core group or conference, including who
will carry out each visit.
Date of visit:
Location:
By Whom:
Child Protection Plan
Part 3 of the Child Protection Plan is attached. Record the progress against each action, the impact of this for the
child and any new actions that are required.
Actions:
By Whom
Any other significant information:
By When:
Record here any new safeguarding concerns, family issues, or dissenting views expressed at the core group.
Next Core Group Meeting:
Date/Time:
Venue:
Minutes Recorded By:
Date:
TO BE CIRCULATED TO ALL CORE GROUP MEMMBERS WITHIN FIVE WORKING DAYS OF
MEETING TAKING PLACE.
Part 3: DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRESS OF THE CHILD PROTECTION PLAN
DATE OF CORE GROUP OR NETWORK MEETING:
MEETING NUMBER (1st, 2nd etc):
The Chair of the core group or network meeting will review and update the plan at each core group or network meeting.
A lack of progress in achieving the Plan and/or a significant incident involving the young person should be discussed by the social worker with the
Child Protection Conference Chair following the core group meeting.
A copy of the Plan with Part 3 completed will be circulated to members by the Chair of the Core Group or Network meeting with the Minutes of that
meeting. The social worker will attach the updated plan to the their next report to a Child Protection conference (if applicable)
Required outcomes to
Actions to achieve
By whom ? By
Progress Are there Are new actions
ensure the young person’s these outcomes
When? made and any
required?
(NB there may be
safety and well-being
outcome recurring If so, record here and add
more than one action
for the
actions
a new outcome and
for each outcome and
child/child that are
action to this plan
more detailed actions
ren
not being
may be added by the
completed
core group to those in
?
the outline plan
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Guidance for using the standards
These standards have been developed to enable the best possible practice by social
workers and other professionals with children and their families.
The standards provide a checklist and self-assessment for social workers and other
professionals to use in their day to day work.
Managers will use these standards when carrying out quality assurance and learning and
development activity.
Measuring the standards for core group meetings will require managers to observe the
meeting. Permission to observe should be sought from the parents and children before the
meeting starts. The role of the observer should be explained at the start of the meeting and
the observer should not contribute to the meeting, unless absolutely necessary.
The observation of the core group is an opportunity for managers to receive direct feedback
from children and their families about the service being provided. This should be done at the
end of the meeting when other participants have left. A template for this purpose is attached
to this document.
Verbal feedback should be provided to the social worker as soon after the meeting as
possible using the attached template. A copy of the completed form should then be sent to
the social worker within 10 working days for them to add their comments. This is then
returned to the social worker and their line manager.
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Measurable criteria
Y
N
N/A
Where
appropriate write
not applicable
(N/A)
Meeting Arrangements
1. An email reminder is sent to attendees 10
working days before the meeting date
2. Core groups should not be cancelled
except in exceptional circumstances. Where
this is the case, the core group is rearranged within 5 working days
3. Any apologies are received 3 days
before the core group meeting and a report
is sent through
4. Attendees for the meeting arrive on time
and the meeting starts promptly
5.Introductions and the purpose of the
meeting are outlined by the chair and any
apologies are noted
6. The meeting is minuted (by a BSO if the
first group meeting (core group member if a
subsequent one)
7. Copies of the previous meeting minutes
and Child Protection plan are available at
the meeting
Review of the Child Protection plan
8. The names and ages of the children and
category of plan including any changes to
plan status or category are reviewed and
recorded
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Comments and Evidence
This column must be completed
Measurable criteria
Y
N
N/A
Where
appropriate write
not applicable
(N/A)
9. Core group members share information
(as per the core group monitoring form) on
announced and unannounced visits that
have taken place since the last core
group/conference. The reason for any failed
visits is discussed and recorded at the
meeting.
10. Core group monitoring forms are
provided by each core group member
11. Core group members share any
additional information on their contact with
the child/ren and family since the last core
group/conference, including any new
information, strengths and/or concerns
12. Family members provide their updates
on progress/significant events/concerns
since the last core group/conference
13. The CP plan is reviewed to check
progress and/or any difficulties with all the
agreed outcomes and actions in the plan
14. The core group discusses and considers
the needs and progress of each child in the
family
15. Part 3 of the CP plan is updated at the
meeting
16. Any further actions to be carried out
before the next core group/conference
including visits, are agreed and recorded
17. The meeting considers whether any new
safeguarding concerns have arisen and if
so, whether any urgent protective action is
required, by who and with timescales
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Comments and Evidence
This column must be completed
Measurable criteria
Y
N
N/A
Where
appropriate write
not applicable
(N/A)
18. If any dissenting views are expressed in
relation to the agreed actions, these will be
recorded in the minutes. If any core group
member does not agree with an action
identified for them, this is to be shared with
the core group and escalated to the
Children’s Social Care Manager. If
required, information on the Complaints
and/or Escalation procedure is given
Participation
19. The parent(s) attend and are able to
fully participate. Parents needing an
interpreter or advocate have one provided
20. The views and wishes of each child
regarding their CP plan are available at the
core group meeting
21. Non-engagement of any core group
member is recorded and followed up
Closing the meeting
22. Actions from the meeting are
summarised by the chair
23. The date and venue of the next core
group meeting and/or CP conference is
confirmed
24. The meeting minutes and updated CP
plan are circulated to Core Group members
within 5 working days
25.The updated CP plan is sufficiently
detailed and has the right actions to achieve
the desired outcomes for the child
QA following the meeting
26. The conference chair has evaluated the
CP plan within 10 working days of the core
group meeting
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Comments and Evidence
This column must be completed
Measurable criteria
Y
N
N/A
Where
appropriate write
not applicable
(N/A)
27. The progress of the CP plan, including
visits, children’s wishes and feelings and
core groups is scrutinised by the conference
chair at each review child protection
conference
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Comments and Evidence
This column must be completed
Questions for the Parents/Carers
Measurable criteria
Y
N
N/A
Comments and Evidence
This column must be completed
Guidance for using this questionnaire.
These questions are prompts that require a dialogue
with parents rather than simple yes/no responses.
Bearing in mind that many parents would rather their
child was not subject to a CP plan, it is important to
unpick negative responses to gain a clear sense of
what we are doing well and where we could do better.
1. Did you feel able to contribute to the
meeting and that your views were given
due weight? If not, what would have
helped?
2. Were you told about the meeting in
good time?
3. Do you feel confident that you and
others are making the Child Protection
plan work? If not, what needs to
happen?
4. Do you feel that the social worker is
working effectively with you? On a
scale of 1-4 where 1 is outstanding, 2
are good, 3 is ok and 4 is poor, how
would you rate the service from your
social worker?
5. Do you feel that other professionals are
working well with you and with each
other? On a scale of 1-4 where 1 is
outstanding, 2 is good, 3 is ok and 4 is
poor, how would you rate the service
overall?
6. Is there anything else that you would
like to tell us?
Feedback provided by mother/father/both/other (please specify)
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Questions for the Young Person
Measurable criteria
Y
N
Guidance for using this questionnaire.
These questions are prompts that require a dialogue
with the child rather than simple yes/no responses.
1. Did you feel able to join in with the
meeting? If no, what would have
helped?
2. Did you feel that you were listened to
and that your views were taken notice
of?
3. How well is your social worker working
with you? On a scale of 1-4 where 1 is
outstanding, 2 is good, 3 is ok and 4 is poor, how
would you rate the service from your social
worker?
4. How well other professionals are are
working well with you? On a scale of 1-4
where 1 is outstanding, 2 is good, 3 is ok and 4
is poor, how would you rate the service overall?
5. Is there anything else that you would
like to tell us?
Feedback provided by young person (initials and age)
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N/A
Comments and Evidence
This section must be completed
Case Details
Initials of children in
the family
ICS NO.
Age(s)
Ethnicity
Equality/Diversity
Issues
Name of Social
worker:
Social Work
team:
Team
Manager:
Chair of Child
Protection
conference:
Length of time on CP
plan:
Name of auditor:
Job title:
Date of
audit:
Date of previous
audit (if applicable)
Record whether
corrective actions
have been
completed
Date of re-audit:
(if required)
Overall Findings
What went well in the core group meeting?
Complete this with the social worker
What would have made the meeting more
effective? Complete this with the social worker
Learning and development needs
Complete this with the social worker
Is the core group effectively developing and
monitoring child protection plan for each of the
children in the family and contributing to
improved outcomes for them? If not, what
needs to happen to achieve this?
Is the child protection plan sufficiently detailed
about the outcomes for each child in the family
and are the actions the right ones to achieve
these outcomes?
Are the children in the family currently safe?
Have all actions been taken by all agencies to
make the children safe? (If no or uncertain, the
auditor needs to specify action to ensure the
children’s safety and make the necessary
alerts
Overall Effectiveness of the Core Group
(1=outstanding; 2= good; 3 = partially
effective; 4= ineffective) Grade:
Reasons
Corrective Actions following the audit (by
whom and by when)
Date of feedback to the social worker
Comments by the social worker
Comments by the Team Manager
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Date indexed by Auditor to ICS
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