In some cases, there may remain concerns about the child’s safety and welfare despite there being no real evidence. It may be appropriate to put in place arrangements to monitor the child’s welfare. Monitoring should never be used as a means of deferring or avoiding difficult decisions. The purpose of monitoring should always be clear, that is, what is being monitored and why, in what way and by whom. It will also be important to inform parents about the nature of any ongoing concerns. There should be a time set for reviewing the monitoring arrangements through the holding of a further discussion or meeting.
