A non-statutory child safety plan

1. Does your local authority consider a non-statutory child safety plan (i.e., a voluntary safety plan that is not part of a Child Protection Plan court order) to be capable of being breached?

2. If so, please provide your definition of what constitutes a breach of a non- statutory safety plan.

3. If not, please explain how your authority describes situations where a family does not follow the expectations set out in a voluntary safety plan.

4. Please provide any internal policies, guidance, training materials, practice standards of your local authority that address:

a. the status of non-statutory safety plans,
b. expectations of parental compliance,
c. the terminology used to describe non-compliance,
d. escalation pathways linked to safety plans. 

5. Please confirm whether your authority distinguishes between:

a. a voluntary safety plan
b. a Child in Need plan
c. a Child Protection Plan
d. a court directed agreement

6. If so, please provide the definitions used.

1. This may be the case however it is wholly dependent on the nature of the issue/concern and what has occurred. In general the word breach is not used, failing to follow the agreed safety plan is language more likely to be used.

2. See above this is child and family/concern specific.

3. See 1 above however every situation is individual and response are tailored to that situation.

4. Our practice model is signs of safety which includes safety planning and provides learning and materials. See signs of safety website.

5-6. As 1 above safety plans are developed with families and will reflect the individual needs and risks in each case. There is no set format or template for a safety plan as they are developed individually with families.

*Please note the FOI Act is for recorded information only