Child in Need (CIN) process
What is a Child in Need?
A Child in Need is defined under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989. A child is considered to be “in need” if:
- They are unlikely to achieve or maintain a reasonable standard of health or development without the provision of services
- Their health or development is likely to be significantly impaired without support
- They are disabled
The Child in Need (CIN) process is designed to provide targeted support to children and families where there are additional needs, but where the threshold for child protection intervention (significant harm) is not met.
CIN is a statutory process, but it is primarily supportive and preventative in nature.
When does the Child in Need process take place?
The CIN process may begin:
- Following a referral to Children’s Social Care
- Following an assessment which identifies unmet needs
- Following Section 47 enquiries where concerns are not substantiated but support is still required
- Where a child is stepped down from a Child Protection Plan
The process ensures that children receive the right level of support at the right time, with the aim of preventing escalation of risk.
How does the Child in Need process work?
The CIN process is led by Children’s Social Care and involves:
- Assessment of need
- A social worker will assess the child’s needs, strengths and risks
- This includes direct work with the child and engagement with the family
- Information is gathered from partner agencies
- Development of a Child in Need plan
- A multi‑agency plan is put in place to meet the child’s needs
- This includes clear outcomes, actions, responsibilities and timescales
- Review and monitoring
- CIN Review meetings are held regularly (typically every 6–8 weeks)
- Progress is assessed and plans are updated as needed
The focus throughout is on improving outcomes for the child and supporting the family to make and sustain change.
Who is involved?
The CIN process is multi‑agency and will include:
- Children’s Social Care (lead professional)
- The child, where appropriate
- Parents and carers
- Education providers
- Health professionals
- Other relevant agencies involved with the child and family
All agencies involved with the child have a responsibility to contribute to the process.
Roles and responsibilities
Children’s Social Care
- Lead the assessment and planning process
- Coordinate the Child in Need plan
- Monitor progress and review outcomes
- Ensure the child is seen and their voice is captured
Partner agencies
- Share relevant information to inform assessment
- Contribute to the development of the CIN plan
- Deliver actions agreed within the plan
- Attend CIN meetings and reviews
- Monitor the child’s progress in their setting or service
All professionals
- Maintain accurate records
- Share information lawfully and promptly
- Identify and escalate any changes in risk
Safeguarding partners retain a shared responsibility to ensure that children’s needs are met effectively through coordinated multi‑agency working.
Child and family involvement
Children and families must be actively involved throughout the CIN process.
This includes:
- Being informed about concerns and the purpose of support
- Contributing to assessment and planning
- Sharing their views, wishes and feelings
- Participating in CIN meetings and reviews
The plan should be developed with the family, not for them.
Where appropriate, support such as advocacy or interpretation should be considered to enable meaningful participation.
What does a Child in Need plan include?
A CIN plan is a structured, multi‑agency plan which sets out:
- The identified needs of the child
- Desired outcomes for the child and family
- Actions required to achieve those outcomes
- The professionals responsible for each action
- Timescales for delivery and review
The plan should be clear, outcome‑focused and based on the child’s lived experience.
Possible outcomes of the Child in Need process
Following assessment and review, outcomes may include:
- Continued support under a Child in Need plan
- Step down to Early Help where needs can be met at a lower level
- Step up to Child Protection processes where risk increases and significant harm is suspected
- Closure where outcomes have been achieved and support is no longer required
All decisions must be based on a clear multi‑agency assessment of need and risk.
How are plans and decisions communicated?
Clear communication is essential throughout the CIN process.
Children’s Social Care will ensure:
- The Child in Need plan is shared with all relevant professionals
- Parents and carers understand the plan, expectations and outcomes
- The child is informed in an age‑appropriate way
- Meeting outcomes and decisions are recorded and circulated
Communication should clearly set out:
- What support is being provided
- What each agency is responsible for
- What changes are expected
- When progress will be reviewed
Expectations for partner agencies
All agencies involved in the CIN process are expected to:
- Engage actively with the plan
- Deliver agreed actions within timescales
- Share information where there are changes in risk or need
- Attend CIN meetings and contribute to reviews
- Maintain a focus on the child’s outcomes
Failure to engage or deliver actions should be escalated in line with local safeguarding procedures.
Consent and information sharing
- The CIN process is based on partnership working with families, and consent will usually be sought for involvement and information sharing
- However, if there are safeguarding concerns, information may be shared without consent where necessary to protect a child
Information sharing must always be lawful, proportionate and focused on safeguarding the child.
What if professionals disagree?
Where there is disagreement between professionals:
- Concerns should be raised with the lead social worker
- Escalation should take place through line management or safeguarding leads
- The Safeguarding Children Partnership escalation procedures should be used where required
Constructive challenge is an essential part of effective safeguarding and helps ensure robust, evidence‑based decision making.
Key principles for practice
- The child’s needs and lived experience must remain central
- Support should be proportionate, timely and effective
- Multi‑agency collaboration is essential
- Families should be engaged as partners wherever it is safe to do so
- Decisions must be clearly recorded with rationale