1.1.3 Planning
This section covers the case management planning process. It contains planning standards for services provided by mandated child and family services agencies and licensed adoption agencies.
Legislation
Best Interests of the Child
Subsection 2(1) of The Child and Family Services Act and section 3 of The Adoption Act define the best interests of the child. Under subsection 2(1), the best interests of the child is the paramount consideration in all proceedings under the Act other than proceedings to determine whether a child is in need of protection. Best interests under subsection 2(1) includes the merits and risks of any plan proposed by an agency that would be caring for a child compared with the merits and risks of the child returning to or remaining with the family.
Under both Acts, best interests include the child's sense of continuity and need for permanency with the least possible disruption, and the child's cultural, linguistic, racial and religious heritage.
Authority of Service
Under section 4 of the Child and Family Service Authorities Regulation, the adult members of a family are entitled to choose an authority of service for the family. They may choose either the culturally appropriate authority or another authority.
Policy
Planning Process
At the planning stage, the case manager and the key individuals identified at the assessment stage develop ways to address the needs and issues of the family and the children. Based on the assessment, the outcomes of planning are:
- specific, measurable case goals
- service activities
- time lines
Planning also ensures that any risk factors identified in the assessment are addressed so children are safe and family functioning is strengthened.
Effective planning occurs when family members, including children, and the community are actively involved in the process and the process results in a written plan that is owned by all the partners.
Plans must be flexible, reviewed regularly and revised to recognize successes and changing needs. To recognize success, outcomes must be described in measurable ways. For example, what will the partners be able to see that will let them know a change is taking place? Successful outcomes depend on a realistic plan that matches the needs of the family or child with the resources that are available and work for them.
Planning Decisions
The case management decisions at the planning stage are:
- What outcomes can the partners agree on?
- How can these outcomes be described so everyone knows they've happened?
- What services and resources will be provided and by whom to ensure the least possible disruption?
- How will the agency coordinate and manage these services?
- What will the family be responsible for?
- Can a child be returned to his or her family? If so, when and how? If not, how can the agency address the child's needs for continuity and permanency?
Standards
Three types of plans that may be required:
Service Plan - addresses risk factors identified in the assessment phase and what will be done to strengthen the ability of a person or family to care for children including counselling, emergency assistance, and family support services. A service plan is required in all cases.
Safety Plan - a specialized plan that addresses what a child, family or community will do to ensure the immediate safety of children. A safety plan is required when there are immediate child protection concerns related to not taking a child into care or returning a child from care.
Care Plan - addresses what will be done to meet the needs of a child in care of the agency including the need for a parent-child relationship, continuity and permanency, and a cultural, linguistic, racial and religious heritage.
Service Plan
- Managing the Planning Process - The case manager:
- meets with the family within 10 working days of an approved assessment to begin the planning process,
- invites, and when possible, involves all individuals identified in the family assessment relevant to the development of a written plan for the family regardless of a child's status in care,
- involves the appropriate child and family services agency or authority in the development of the plan if the case was not transferred immediately after administering an ADP at intake,
- records reasons an individual or agency refuses to participate or is not involved in the development of the plan,
- identifies all service providers involved in the plan and which services will be provided directly by the case manager, and
- ensures that when a safety plan involves actions by a child that the child is able to take the action outlined in the plan, understands what to do and when to do it.
- Service Issues to be Addressed - The case manager ensures that the service plan specifically addresses:
- the safety of children (see Safety Plan below)
- appropriate matching for the cultural, spiritual and psychosocial needs of the child
- actions to improve the ability of parents to care for their children
- the needs of both the children and the family when the goal is reunification
- the activities to be undertaken by all the partners to enable reunification including contact between the children and family
- contact with parents, siblings or extended family when reunification is unlikely or not possible
- the need for stable, permanent family environment
- opportunities for children to establish other life-long relationships
- Service Agreements - When a parent or guardian plans to enter into a service agreement with the agency with respect to child (day) care, family support or voluntary placement services, the case manager:
- explains the service agreement under consideration in detail including the rights and responsibilities of the parent or guardian and the agency,
- advises the parent or guardian in writing of the requirement to determine parental contributions and the provincial policy relating to the reduction or waiver of fees,
- facilitates completion and signing of all required prescribed forms, and
- with respect to a voluntary placement agreement (VPA), involves the agency foster home and/or residential care coordinator to prioritize and co-ordinate an appropriate long-term arrangement.
- Updating Plans - The case manager ensures service plans, and when applicable, safety and care plans, are updated based on decisions at the review stage.
- Reviews of Plans - The supervisor:
- reviews and approves all service plans and, when applicable, safety and care plans, within five working days of receiving the plan from the case manager,
- at least three months before the child's eighteenth birthday, provides the authority of service with a copy of any plan that involves child and family services beyond a child's eighteenth birthday,
- when a child or family is transferred to the care of another agency, ensures that a plan is in place that identifies:
- who will have responsibility for providing services to the family,
- a specific date when responsibility will be transferred, and
- the actions required by both agencies, the family and any other service providers to ensure continuity of care and how any safety issues and risk factors are to be handled during the transfer process.
Safety Plan
- Initiating a Safety Plan - In the event there are concerns about the immediate safety of a child, the case manager:
- does a Safety Assessment to ensure the immediate safety of any children
- if a child is in need of protection, takes appropriate action to protect the child as may be required under subsection 18.4(1) of The Child and Family Services Act and case management intake standards
- consults with a supervisor to determine whether mediation is required or the level of risk has changed, and to determine the agency's ongoing involvement
Care Plan
- Initiating a Care Plan - When a child comes into care through a VPA, voluntary surrender of guardianship agreement (VSG), or apprehension under section 21 of The Child and Family Services Act, the case manager submits to the agency's mandating child and family services authority and the Child Protection Branch:
- a copy of the agreement and supporting documentation that may be required by the authority or the branch
- information and documents relating to the apprehension that an authority or the branch requires
- Notifying Appropriate Authorities and the Central Adoption Registrar - The case manager notifies the agency's mandating child and family services authority and the central adoption registrar at the Child Protection Branch in writing when:
- there is a voluntary surrender of guardianship or an order of permanent guardianship and the plan for the child is adoption,
- an adoptive applicant is approved, and
- a change in circumstances of either a child or an adoptive applicant may require a change in services.
- Age-of majority Planning – The case manager ensures that a plan for a child aged 16 and older includes preparations for becoming an adult such as:
- referral to appropriate adult services in keeping with the Manitoba Transition Planning Process Support Guidelines for Students with Special Needs Reaching Age Sixteen,
- extension of support services and development of other support systems (for example, extended family, others), and
- assessment and development of skills for independent living.
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