The Role of the Lead Professional's Manager

The lead professional's manager/supervisor has a vital role in managing the progress of the case and supporting the lead professional.

The manager/supervisor should:

Attend Initial Child Protection Conferences and Review Child Protection Conferences as necessary
Read and countersign Conference Reports and Child Protection Plan
Arrange for support of the lead professional to enable the first Core Group meeting and subsequent meetings to be chaired effectively. In complex cases there may be a need for a peer to attend the meeting with the role of support to the lead professional, or for the team leader, deputy manager, or manager to attend.
Confirm the visiting frequency of the lead professional and the frequency of Core Group meetings
Read and countersign all significant recordings and assessments on the child's file
Discuss the progress of the Child Protection Plan and any concerns in supervision, including the need for any further risk assessment
Review the Child Protection Plan with the lead professional when unexpected developments or crises occur and together make a decision whether to recommend:
- - what immediate action is needed, i.e. extensive monitoring, voluntary reception into care, exclusion order, emergency child protection order, etc.
  - what further action is needed, i.e. referral to the Convenor or the Juvenile Court (following a Legal Threshold Meeting)
  - and/or that a Child Protection Review Conference date be brought forward
Arrange cover for the lead professional in case of sickness and ensure arrangements are in place when the lead professional is on annual leave and training