What is a TAC?
A team around the child (TAC) is the name used for the child, family and other services who come together to meet any unmet wellbeing needs or address risks. A TAC is not just a meeting. It is the body of people who are able to feed into and make decisions for and with a child/young person.
- TAC meetings should consider the rights of the child/young person (UNCRC) and decision making should be child/young person centred.
- TAC meetings should be inclusive of children/young people and their families at every age and stage of intervention.
- Families should be supported to understand the aims and principles of the Team Around the Child and TAC meetings.
- TAC meetings should be strengths based while acknowledging risks and concerns.
- TAC meetings should be considered as part of universal service and as an early intervention tool to help foster family/agency partnerships.
- TAC meetings should always produce a clear plan for the child/young person which gives services explicit and accountable actions and is understood and agreed by the child/young person and their family.
When to call a TAC meeting?
If you have used the GIRFEC 6 key questions and identified an unmet need that your service cannot meet alone, then you should carry out an assessment of the child’s needs with the child and their parents using the national practice model. The assessment will identify the strengths and needs and help to identify any additional services that need to be part of a team around the child. Once the assessment is done to identify needs, any professional working with a child/young person and/or their family can request a TAC meeting. If you are not the named person, you should speak with the child and family to share this information with their named person and have them as part of the TAC meeting.
Who should be invited to a TAC?
- The child/young person (age dependent). If the child is not old enough or doesn’t want to attend then their views must be represented in the meeting regardless of age.
- Parents/carers
- A supporter for the family if the family request (especially for first time meetings)
- Social Work if assigned (duty SW should be requested if required)
- Professionals already working with the family
- Agencies that may be required for the family (if possible)
- Administrative staff should also be arranged if possible for minute taking.
Professionals meetings should only be held in rare exceptions if agencies need to resolve operational issues relating to the child’s plan delivery. Families should be made aware why a professional meeting needs to happen and reassured it is not to consider the assessment or plan without them.
