Guidance

Simulated practice preparation materials – practitioners

Published 19 June 2019

This guidance was withdrawn on 6 February 2023

The NAAS programme closed in March 2022. Children’s social care: Stable Homes, Built on Love was published on 2 February 2023 and sets out details of a new early career framework and integrated assessment for social workers post-qualification.

Applies to England

Overview

The simulated practice assessment will be based on 2 different scenarios.

We’ve reproduced one example scenario here to help you prepare. The steps below explain how you’ll be expected to use the scenario in the assessment.

1. Read the 2 scenarios.

2. Complete 2 different simulated practice scenarios with an actor.

3. Complete a written assessment based on one of the scenarios you’ve read.

You’ll also complete a reflective assessment as part of the simulated practice assessment. You do not have to read any scenarios for the reflective assessment.

Scenario

You have been asked by your team manager to respond to an important new development in the Aadash Patel case, as you are the social worker on duty for the team.

The allocated social worker is on sick leave and the team manager is not sure when they will be back in work. You are likely to become the allocated worker.

Aadash is an 11-year-old boy who is currently placed in Mill Hill Children’s Home but for whom suitable foster parents have been identified. To help gather information for the change in care plan you have been asked by your team manager to visit Aadash’s residential support worker (M. Shaw) who has been a key worker for Aadash whilst at the children’s home. The key aim of this meeting is to gather any important learning from Aadash’s placement that will support his transition into foster care.

Aadash has special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). He came into care when his parents were adamant they could no longer look after him due to his challenging behaviour, which includes, amongst other things, aggressive tantrums and occasional faecal smearing. In response to this behaviour, Aadash’s father has frequently resorted to physical punishment and this was escalating to be a serious risk and so Aadash was placed in a children’s home under section 20 of the Children Act 1989. Aadash has no other family that can look after him and has been living in the children’s home whilst a more long term, permanent arrangement could be found. During his time in the children’s home Aadash’s parents have visited him frequently, but they often miss appointments or arrive late.

You have been made aware that the foster carers who are available appear well-placed to take Aadash, as they have a successful record of fostering a child with SEND. They live close to his school and to some of Aadash’s family members. However, according to the residential support worker, Aadash has settled well in his current children’s home. Details from the case summary show that staying at the children’s home is not appropriate or sustainable due to his young age.

In this simulated practice assessment you will:

• meet Aadash’s residential support worker who has been the key worker for Aadash whilst at the children’s home
• gather information to support Aadash’s transition from the children’s home into foster care

Candidate preparation

In preparation for your meeting with M. Shaw, you will have reviewed the case summary for Aadash that has been prepared for you. This is set out below.

Overview

Aadash Patel is a child looked after under section 20 of the Children Act 1989, currently placed in children’s home whilst suitable foster carers are found.

Panel recommendation

Aadash requires a stable family environment to support his development and foster carers that have been deemed capable of providing this support have been identified.

Case summary

Aadash was referred to children’s social care following continued challenging behaviour at home which was escalating in nature. Despite both parents being at home and in a committed relationship they did not feel they could manage his behaviour which included frequent aggressive tantrums and occasional faecal smearing. In response to this behaviour, Aadash’s father frequently resorted to physical punishment which was escalating to serious risk of harm. All possible alternative interventions were explored before the agreement was made to accommodate Aadash away from his home and into alternative accommodation. For a variety of reasons, no one from Aadash’s direct family were able to take Aadash (In line with section 20 of the Children Act 1989). Aadash became a child who is looked after and was placed in Mill Hill Children’s Home until willing and able foster carers could be identified.

Current placement

Whilst at the children’s home, Aadash’s behaviour has improved significantly (as reported by visits from different professionals). He has made good relationships with the staff, particularly M. Shaw with whom he has formed a close bond. His tantrums have reduced and are less violent and his smearing behaviour is far more infrequent than it was when he was at home.

Details of Aadash’s current care plan

The care plan for Aadash has been in place for 8 months following his placement in the children’s home. The plan involves routine contact from both parents (although they have not been consistent in turning up for appointments), Aadash’s school welfare officer and Aadash’s social worker. Other key professionals involved are Aadash’s paediatrician and school teacher. Though the current plan is for Aadash to be placed in a foster care placement, we need to also consider the possibility of Aadash returning home, subject to his parents making the changes outlined.

Summary of current placement

Mill Hill Children’s Home, where Aadash has been living for 8 months. Mill Hill is a considerable distance from Aadash’s parents home, making contact more challenging, and school. This placement is not seen by Aadash’s child in care team or the resource panel as sustainable, and the plan is to find long-term foster care. It is also important to try to improve the relationship and contact with his parents.

Case for continuation of current intervention

Evidence of Aadash being more settled, less aggressive and building positive relationships within the home, smearing behaviour reducing although not stopped completely.

Case for transition towards permanency

It is the shared view of the child in care team that Aadash would benefit from being in a settled family environment to support his development. This plan was discussed at his most recent looked after children review 2 weeks ago and everyone was in agreement, including his parents (please note M. Shaw was invited but was not able to attend this meeting). Suitable foster carers have been found and appropriate checks have been completed. Consideration also needs to be given to the legal status and if care proceedings should be initiated. The parents need to be involved in supporting the move and committing to contact.

Child in care team manager comments

All necessary steps must be taken to ensure transition to foster care takes account of Aadash’s needs. It is agreed across the team that Aadash’s behaviour has improved significantly whilst being in Mill Hill Children’s Home, and so there is important learning that must be taken from staff and other individuals that have been involved in making the placement a success. Given his legal status, the parents must be fully involved.

Rationale for decision not to provide continued funding for placement at Mill Hill Children’s Home

This placement is an intermediary measure until suitable foster parent placement could be identified. Whilst the support home have done a brilliant job in caring for Aadash, a more permanent solution to Aadash’s care needs is required. Aadash requires a stable family environment to support his development, and foster carers that have been deemed capable of providing this support have been identified. Aadash’s long term needs require a family based-placement; secondary to this, from a financial perspective, the current arrangement is not viable in the long-term, in light of the positive reasons for changing placements and the vastly higher cost (5 times higher than foster care).

Written practice assessment

Your supervisor has now asked you to write a transition plan to support Aadash’s move from the children’s home to foster care.

You may want to include:

• an overview of the child’s needs and associated risks
• how the child’s needs might be met in foster care
• a provisional support plan for the transition

Knowledge and skills statement (KSS) areas

The areas covered by the KSS are:

• KSS 1
• KSS 2
• KSS 6
• KSS 7