Glossary: Lead Professional

Under the Common Assessment Framework, where children receive multiple services, requiring support from more than one professional or practitioner, a Lead Professional should be identified, rather like the Lead Social Worker for children subject to Child Protection Plans.

The Lead Professional acts as a single point of contact that the child or young person and their family can trust, and who is able to support them in making choices and in navigating their way through the system.

The Lead Professional should co-ordinate services from differing agencies, ensuring children receive appropriate interventions when needed, which are well planned, regularly reviewed and effectively delivered.

The Lead Professional may be a child's social worker, but not necessarily. It should be the person who is best placed to undertake the role.

(Definition provided by tri.x)