PLANNING

 Climate based plans are as child centred and outcomes focussed as standard child protection plans

1) They are built around children's needs. The use of the child protection framework is so important because it maintains a focus on their needs. The overwhelming emotional experience of the planet-wide emergency can impede effective action, and the needs of our youngest and most vulnerable can get lost:

• Maintain a focus on the children within the referral whether they are named or they are a community.
• Consider what is needed to mitigate risks and/or what adaptations are needed in order to address the  concerns named in the referral
• The plan will be developed for the area where the harm is, whether it is a school, neighbourhood, town centre or other location
• It is vital that the plan maintains awareness of how it may impact other communities. It is important that the plan protects the children in the referral, but does not do so by 'moving' the harms to other children in another community.

2) It is 'SMART'. The plan needs to include specific, measurable, agreed, realistic and time-bounded targets. Progress can then be reviewed - just as it is for any other child protection plan.

So how is it different?

1) Whilst it is probably most helpful that the assessment and conference coordination is conducted by a Children's Services social worker, the development and implementation of a plan may be more helpfully picked up by another group/ department. However, the responsibility for maintaining oversight of progress and a child-centred perspective will remain with the social worker. 

2) The actions identified will involve different people, roles and organisations than usual. This is reflected in the 'community conferencing' process- different people are invited to attend as those responsible for the protection of children regarding climate-based harms/ risks. They may have little knowledge and experience of the child protection process, the presence of a social worker to guide is important. 

3) It is important to emphasise again here, the child protection framework does not ask you to solve these global threats. It is focused on a child's family home and community. What can be done in your children's community to mitigate  (reduce risks/ harms) and adapt (build resilience) to the threats/ harms identified in the referral?