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Child in need processes

Child in need processes

Children in need (CIN) are defined as children who need services and support in order to reach or maintain a reasonable standard of health and development. 

All children who are known to CSFH will be children in need and case management will involve the processes of assessment, planning and review.

Working in partnership with other agencies is vital for children in need, particularly in complex CIN cases where the threshold for significant harm is being approached.

The CSCP children in need guidance sets out how practitioners need to work in partnership on complex CIN cases, for example cases involving large sibling groups or multiple presenting issues and cases that may be approaching the threshold for child protection intervention.

 

Last updated: 01 April 2026