Abbreviations

Sometimes you might see a shortened title or phrase being used. It can be difficult to know what these mean.

In the table below we have included lots of common abbreviations you might see. We have included common jargon words and phrases too.

ADD	Attention Deficit Disorder	A neurodevelopmental condition affecting attention and concentration levels in a child or adult.
ADHD	Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder	A neurodevelopmental condition affecting attention and presenting with increased levels of hyperactivity, (related condition to above).
ADM	Agency Decision Maker	A senior professional who reviews all relevant assessments, recommendations, and evidence and makes the final decision on whether someone is approved as a kinship foster carer.
ASD	Autism Spectrum Disorder	Autism Spectrum Disorder, sometimes also called Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC).
ASGSF	Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund	A government fund for therapeutic assessments and support. For kinship children subject to a SGO, CAO, or RO.
CAMHS	Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service	NHS service overseeing children and young people's mental health. They also provide diagnostic services for Autism and ADHD.
CAO	Child Arrangement Order	A legal order stating who a child will live with.
CIC	Child in Care	A child who is under the legal care of the local authority.
CIC Review	Child in Care Review	A regular meeting to review a looked after child's care plan. The review makes sure the plan is up to date. The team will discuss if any actions are needed to ensure education, health and welfare needs are met.
CIN	Child in Need	A child who is at risk of harm if support from children's social care is not offered.
CO	Care Order	A legal order under Section 31 of the Children Act 1989, which places a child under the care of the local authority.
CP	Care Plan	A formal plan outlining the child’s individual needs, including where they live, alongside their education, health, and longer-term goals. The plan is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains up-to-date.
CP	Child Protection	The process used to protect children from harm.
CRO	Child Residence Order	A former legal Order stating who a child will live with. This Order has now been replaced with a Child Arrangement Order (CAO).
CSW	Child’s Social Worker	A social work professional who works with the child.
CYPS	Children and Young People’s Service	Newcastle's children and adolescence mental health service
DLA	Disability Living Allowance	Welfare benefit for children with disabilities, additional needs or serious health conditions. Only available for children aged 0-16 years old.
DSP/ DSL	Designated Safeguarding Person/Lead	A senior person who has responsibility for safeguarding children and young people.
DT	Designated Teacher	The designated teacher is responsible for promoting the educational achievement of all the looked after and previously looked after children who attend their school. Every school should have at least one designated teacher.
DV	Domestic Violence	Violence between two adults that occurs in the home.
DVA	Domestic Violence and Abuse	Violence and/or abuse between two adults at home.
EBSA	Emotionally based School Avoidance	Term used for children who avoid school due to anxiety.
EDT	Emergency Duty Team	The out of hours duty team. They cover social work duties over evenings and weekends.
EH	Early Help	Early Help describes support given from professionals when difficulties arise.
EHCP	Education Health Care Plan	A legal document for children with special educational needs. The plan outlines the child's needs and provision.
EOTAS	Education other than at School	Individualised service for children with special educational needs. Education is provided away from the school environment. It is funded by the local authority.
FC	Foster Carer	An approved person who looks after child in care.
FCA	Fostering Comprehensive Assessment (Form F)	An in-depth form that must be used to assess people who want to foster.
FGC	Family Group Conference	A voluntary meeting that includes extended family, friends, and wider support network. They are used by children's social care to discuss issues and seek solutions for vulnerable children.
FNSP	Family Network Support Package	This is part of the Kinship Zone Pilot. The package provides practical or financial support to a child's wider family network. The aim is to prevent a child coming into care. More information here: Family Network Support Package
FP	Foster Panel	A team that discusses foster carer applications and registration reviews.
FPT	Foster Panel Team	A panel made up of professionals and independent people.
HAF	Holiday Activity Fund	A government funded programme providing activities and food during school holidays. More information here: Holiday Activity Fund
ICPC	Initial Child Protection Conference	A multi-agency meeting to discuss if a child is at serious risk of harm. The team will decide if a Child Protection Plan is needed.
IRO	Independent Reviewing Officer	The professional responsible for overseeing a looked after child’s care plan, chairing care reviews and ensuring the child’s needs are met.
IRS	Initial Response Service	This is the team that receives and screens safeguarding concerns in Newcastle. Sometimes this is called the 'front door' service.
LAC	Looked After Child(ren)	A child who is in the care of the local authority. This can be through a care order or voluntary agreement under Section 20 of the Children Act 1989.
KCA	Kinship Care Assessment (Form K)	An in-depth form that must be used to assess people who want to become kinship carer. This only applies when the child they will look after is a child in care.
LADO	Local Authority Designated Officer	A regular statutory meeting to review the child’s care plan, chaired by the IRO and involving key professionals, carers and the child (if appropriate).
LAC Review	Looked After Child Review	A regular statutory meeting to review the child’s care plan, chaired by the IRO and involving key professionals, carers and the child (if appropriate).
MASH	Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub	This is a team of professionals from different agencies. These include Children's Social Care, Police, Health, and Education. They share information, assess risk and make safeguarding decisions. They help ensure that children and families receive the right support or protection quickly.
NEET	Not in Education, Employment or Training	A term used to describe young people aged 16-25 years old who are not in education, employment or training.
PEP	Personal Education Plan	A plan required for all children aged 3-18 who are in the care of the local authority. The plan outlines all the child’s educational support needs and should be reviewed termly within their nursery, school, or college.
PIP	Personal Independence Payment	A welfare benefit for adults aged 16-65 with significant disabilities or serious health conditions.
PLAC	Previously looked after child(ren)	A child who has been in the care of a local authority in the past. Who have now been adopted or are now cared for under a special guardianship order, or a child arrangements order.
PP	Pupil premium	A sum of money paid to maintained schools for some pupils on benefit related free school meals.
PP+	Pupil Premium Plus	Additional money for schools for children who are looked after or were previously looked after by the local authority. Children who are adopted or subject to a SGO, CAO or RO may be eligible.
PPP	Police Power of Protection	An emergency measure allowing a police officer to urgently remove a child from danger.
PRO	Police Protection Order	Another term sometime used for the legal power described above. This is not a court issued order.
PR	Parental Responsibility	A legal term used to describe the person or people who can make decisions for a child.
PRP	Placement Review Panel	A formal meeting to review a looked after child's living arrangements. The team discuss whether this continues to be the best place for the child to live.
RO	Residence Order	A legal order that specifies who a child will live with. This order has been replaced by the Child Arrangements Order. More information here: Residence Order
ROSH	Risk of Significant Harm	When a child is considered at risk of significant harm, this is the threshold for children's services and the police to make as Section 47 Enquiry. If the child is in immediate risk of harm the police or courts can remove the child straight away.
ROTH	Risk Outside The Home	A term used for children at risk of grooming or exploitation from criminals including organised crime.
SEMH	Social, Emotional and Mental Health	An term often used in educational settings, describing children with social, emotional or mental health needs.
SEND	Special Educational Needs and Disabilities	SEND is the most commonly used definition for a child or young person with additional learning needs or disabilities.
SGO	Special Guardianship Order	The legal order giving a kinship carer parental responsibility for a child until they reach their 18th birthday, without severing legal ties with birth parents.
SW	Social Worker	A trained professional who helps support individuals and families. The social work has a duty to protect children and vulnerable adults. They try to improve well-being and resolve challenges.
SSW	Supervising Social Worker or Senior Social Worker	Supervising social workers supports kinship foster families. Senior social workers are those with experience in a senior position in the social work team.
TAF/ TAC	Team Around the Family / Child	The team of professionals working with the family
VA	Viability Assessment	A short assessment to see if a relative or family friend can be considered.
YOT/YJS	Youth Offending Team / Youth Justice Service	A team that work with young people who have been in trouble with the police.
YP	Young person	Term used to mean teenagers and young adults.

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