What is a Care and Support Plan?
If an assessment has concluded that your family would benefit from or is eligible for having specific support, we will create a ‘Care and Support Plan’. It sets out what your child needs to thrive, what support will help, and how everyone involved – including you, your family, and professionals – will work together.
The plan is more than words on paper. It’s something that’s put into practice to support your child in real, everyday life.
We begin by gathering everything we’ve discussed during your assessment — your views, your child’s wishes, and input from other involved professionals. This helps us build a plan that reflects what matters to your child and your family’s unique story and needs.
The plan sets out:
- What outcomes you and your child want to achieve
- What support is needed
- Who will do what and when
- How we’ll work together day‑to‑day
Your child’s wishes and feelings shape both the plan and how it is delivered in practice. This might include what makes them feel safe, what they want to happen, or what support they prefer. Their voice stays part of the process throughout.
We include the people around you who can help – like family members, friends, neighbours, or other trusted people. We don’t just write their names in the plan; we talk about what they can realistically do and how they can support you day‑to‑day.
A Care and Support Plan is about action, not just paperwork. In practice, it can include things like:
- Supporting your child in school, at home, or in the community
- Helping you access services like parenting support, health appointments, financial advice and others
- Supporting your wider family or network to play an active role
- Agreeing how and when progress will be reviewed
The plan is there to guide everyday support — it shapes what we all do, not just what we write.