R&A - Referral and Assessment
This Service will manage the initial response to all enquiries into the department within 24 hours; undertake Initial Assessments (IA) on new referrals and all re-referrals (no time limit on closure) and undertake Core Assessments in respect of new Section 47 Enquiries (child protection enquiries). |
- The service will undertake Initial Assessments on all new referrals and re-referrals to determine any further intervention or course of action.
- This will include referrals of children with disabilities which upon completion of IA will be transferred for a specialist assessment to CIDS, and will include referrals for OT/sensory impairment.
- This will include referrals of concern for unborn babies. The initial assessment for babies referred to be relinquished for adoption will be jointly undertaken by R&A and the Adoption Team. They will be transferred to the Adoption Team, once enquiries have confirmed there are no concerns.
- This will include referrals of UASC (unaccompanied asylum seeking children) which upon completion of IA to confirm status will be transferred to Permanency/in Care or Leaving Care Teams for a specialist assessment. Where an immediate age assessment is required a discussion will be had between managers to decide how to proceed and which team will undertake this task.
- The service will undertake a Section 47 Enquiry and complete the Core Assessment on these cases retaining case responsibility up to the first Child Protection Review Conference.
- IA’s concluding the need for a Child in Need Plan will be transferred to the CIN service for Core Assessment.
- IA’s or section 47 enquiries of referrals that proceed to legal intervention – EPO/ICO application will be managed up to the 1st hearing and R&A will arrange the Legal Planning Meeting and provide the 1st Statement.
- The service will undertake to complete Section 37 Reports to the court on children referred and not known or open to the Department. If recommending intervention, transfer will be managed according to needs identified and services recommended.
- The service will undertake to complete Section 7 Reports to the court on children referred and not known or open to the Department. If recommending intervention, transfer will be managed according to needs identified and services recommended.
- This service will manage referrals and IA’s where there is a risk of a child coming into care and who is not known to the Department and manage the “Threshold of Care Panel” meeting process. Transfer will be managed in accordance with the diversionary/support services identified at the meeting.
- This service will manage the statutory process surrounding a child remanded to care or PACE placement and work in conjunction with YOS.
- This service will manage “Allegations against Professionals” in accordance with the procedures of the Local Safeguarding Children Board where any children identified are not known to the Department.
|
CIN - Children in Need
This service will manage the assessment, service delivery and review of Child in Need Plans (CIN plans) to all children identified as Children in Need (CIN) to prevent and divert them from compulsory statutory intervention. |
- This service will undertake Core Assessments on those children requiring one, identified as section 17 CIN through an IA at Referral and Assessment.
- This service will manage the planning, implementation and review of CIN plans.
- This service will undertake to complete Section 37 Reports to the court on children open to the Team. If recommending statutory CP/Legal intervention, transfer will be managed according to the first hearing principle.
- This service will undertake to complete Section 7 Reports to the court on children open to the Team. If recommending statutory CP/Legal intervention, transfer to assessment & care planning will be managed according to the first conference/hearing principle.
- This service will undertake Section 47 Enquiries on children open to the team. If recommending statutory CP/Legal intervention, transfer to Assessment and Care Planning will be managed according to the initial conference/hearing principle. At the discretion and agreement of the managers of both services, cases can be retained by the CIN service where it is in the child’s best interests.
- This service will manage children accommodated under section 20 where it is part of a clear support plan and permanency is not part of the care plan. (example: respite)
- This service will manage Supervision Orders/Family Assistance Orders once granted by the court and are part of a clear support plan for the child.
- This service will oversee the needs of CIN identified in privately fostered placements.
- This service will manage “Allegations against Professionals” in accordance with the procedures of the Local Safeguarding Children Board where any children identified are open to this service.
|
A&CP - Assessment and Care Planning
This service will manage the assessment, statutory intervention, monitoring and review of Child Protection Plans, and legal proceedings in respect of children requiring compulsory statutory intervention from the Department. |
- This service will manage, monitor and review all children subject to a Child Protection Plan (CP plan) from the first Child Protection Review Conference.
- This service will manage all legal processes and care planning processes for children subject of proceedings from first hearing to final hearing.
- This service will manage the care planning processes for children subject of section 20 accommodation (not a support plan) until a decision on permanency is made. (example sec 20 as part of a CP plan)
- This service will manage the adoption/permanent placement process after final hearing for children whose placement has been identified.
- This service will undertake to complete Section 37 Reports to the court on children open to the Team.
- This service will undertake to complete Section 7 Reports to the court on children open to the Team.
- This service will undertake Section 47 Enquiries on children open to the team.
- At the final hearing, children whose permanent placement has not been identified and for whom family finding is required will normally be transferred to the Permanency and in Care team. At the discretion and agreement of the managers of both services, cases can be retained by the Assessment & Care Planning Service where it is in the child’s best interests.
- This service will manage “Allegations against Professionals” in accordance with the procedures of the Local Safeguarding Children Board where any children identified are open to this service.
|
CIDS – Children’s integrated Disability Service
This service will manage the assessment, service planning and statutory intervention for children with disabilities who meet the current eligibility criteria for this service. This will include social care, sensory impairment and occupational therapy. |
- This service will undertake Core Assessments and specialist assessments for children fulfilling the eligibility criteria for the service – currently severe and profound.
- This service will manage and co-ordinate care packages for children with disabilities and will include children with disabilities in care and those receiving short breaks.
- This service will undertake Section 47 Enquiries on children open to the Team, and manage legal hearings in respect of them.
- This service will undertake to complete Section 37 Reports to the court on children open to the Team.
- This service will undertake to complete Section 7 Reports to the court on children open to the Team.
- This service will manage, monitor and review children with a disability, who meet the criteria for service, who are subject of a Child Protection Plan, from the first Child Protection Review Conference. The eligibility criteria will need to be applied to determine this and if the criteria are not met the circumstances will be managed by another service appropriate to the child’s needs. (Not all children with a disability require additional services for the disability)
- This service will manage ancillary services for families of children with disabilities including direct payments and carers assessments. (under review)
- This service will manage the services for children requiring specialist OT assessments.
- This service will manage the services for children requiring specialist sensory impairment assessments.
- This service will manage the statutory transition work with adult services for children with a disability and will offer an advisory role to services responsible for children with moderate disabilities who are in transition.
- This service will offer an advisory/consultative role to other services working with children with disabilities but for whom it is not the presenting issue – such as Child Protection and Children in Care.
- This service will manage “Allegations against Professionals” in accordance with the procedures of the Local Safeguarding Children Board where any children identified are open to this service.
|
ART – Access to Resources Team
This service will manage the resources for fieldwork services – placements and diversionary support services, including externally commissioned assessments and services.
(Subject to change as outcome of current review Aug’08)
|
- This service will provide a single point of referral for placements and commissioned resources.
- This service will manage the procurement of specialist assessments in respect of placements identified for children overseas.
- This service will manage the brokerage, monitoring and payments for all placements, assessments, adoption and kinship support financial arrangements (Residence Orders/Special Guardianship/Adoption)
- This service will oversee (but not decide) the Joint Funding Process for the department.
- This service will oversee (but not decide) the “placement support meeting” process for the department.
- This service will manage the Placement Planning Meeting required within 72 hours of all new placements made.
- This service will co-ordinate with the responsible team, in the procurement of contact supervision from independent providers.
- This service will participate in the Threshold of Care Panel process.
- This service will participate in the “Placement Support” process.
- This service will provide the management information relating to the department’s placement strategy analysing targets, performance and trends.
- This service will maintain a database of all in-house and external placements.
- This service will maintain a financial spreadsheet for all brokerage services.
|
P& IC - Permanency & In Care
This service will provide a comprehensive service to Children in Care, from birth to 16 yrs, whose Care Plan is for permanency. |
- This service will manage the Care Plans and fulfil all statutory responsibilities for children in care subject to section 20 where a plan for permanency has been agreed. (2nd Child Care Review)
- This service will manage the Care Plans and fulfil all statutory responsibilities for children in care subject to a section 31 Care Order once the final hearing has been judged and the plan is for long-term substitute care (fostering or residential)
- This service will manage the Care Plans and fulfil all statutory responsibilities for children in care subject to section 31 where a Placement Order has been made and an adoptive placement has not been identified due to delay or complex needs. (discretion agreed between managers will apply)
- This service will undertake to complete Section 37 Reports to the court on children open to the Team.
- This service will undertake to complete Section 7 Reports to the court on children open to the Team.
- This service will undertake Section 47 Enquiries on children open to the team.
- This service will manage the arrangements for children and young people placed at home with parents as part of a permanency plan, in accordance with the regulations.
- This service will manage the arrangements for children to return home, whose permanency plan has changed due to significant changes in the family circumstances.
- This service will manage the discharge of Care Orders.
- This service will manage “Allegations against Professionals” in accordance with the procedures of the Local Safeguarding Children Board where any children identified are open to this service.
|
Leaving Care
This service will provide a comprehensive service to young people aged 16 – 21 and up to 24 if still in education, who are in care, or who have been in care and eligible for support as Eligible Young people, Relevant Young People or Former Relevant Young People.” |
- This service will manage the Pathway Plans and fulfil all statutory responsibilities for young people who are in care and subject to a section 31 Care Order between the ages of 16 and 18years.
- This service will manage the Pathway Plans and fulfil all statutory responsibilities for young people who are eligible, relevant or former relevant in accordance with the Leaving Care Act 2000.
- This service will manage the age assessment and asylum process surrounding Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Young People.
- This service will undertake the revocation process where applicable for young people subject to a Care Order that is no longer necessary.
- This service will manage a range of accommodation provision for young people including supporting lodgings, independent tenancies and hostel provision.
- This service will provide a range of direct support services to young people leaving care.
- This service will collaborate with other services such as Connexions, Housing Options and YOS to provide integrated services to young people.
- This service will undertake Section 47 Enquiries on young people open to the team.
- This service will provide support within statutory guidelines to young people who are parents of a child subject to the child protection process.
- This service will offer an advisory/consultative role to other services in respect of young people.
- This service will manage “Allegations against Professionals” in accordance with the procedures of the Local Safeguarding Children Board where any young people identified are open to this service.
|
Fostering
This service will manage the assessment, supervision and support to a range of “in house” fostering placements for children and young people, within the legislative framework and national minimum standards. |
- This service will collaborate with the corporate communications department to develop a sustainable recruitment strategy for prospective foster carers.
- This service will manage the initial visits, preparatory training and assessments of all prospective foster carers in accordance with the legislative, regulatory and national minimum standards framework.
- This service will provide the ongoing supervision and support to approved foster carers in accordance with the legislative, regulatory and minimum standards framework.
- This service will manage the statutory fostering panel, approval and review process.
- This service will participate in the management of approved carers under investigation, in accordance with procedural requirements including the management of support to the carers being investigated.
- This service will manage the above processes for carers approved for the Link scheme and short-term breaks.
- This service will manage the assessment and support of family and friends carers in accordance with the Regulation 38 procedure and guidance.
|
Adoption
This service will provide a range of services including the recruitment, assessment and post placement/order support for Adoptive carers and adults affected by adoption. The service will also manage the assessment and support of permanent alternative kinship arrangements including private fostering, and special guardianship. |
- This service will manage the legal and support processes surrounding babies to be relinquished for adoption after completion of the joint IA with Referral and Assessment.
- This service will manage the legal and assessment processes surrounding step parent adoption.
- This service will manage the recruitment and assessment of adoptive placements for children whose best interests are met by adoption, in accordance with the placement strategy.
- This service will manage the process surrounding the identification of potential adopters to be “matched” with children.
- This service will manage the provision of post placement and post order support and contact for children and their adoptive families.
- This service will manage the provision of services to adults affected by adoption currently or over time in accordance with the legal and statutory requirements.
- This service will manage the assessment and support of kinship arrangements for children who are subject of Special Guardianship Orders or Residence Orders.
- This service will manage the development of policies and procedures in respect of private fostering including the notification, assessment and registration of private fostering placements. (CIN will oversee the needs of the child)
|
FAST – Family Assessment and Support Team
This service will provide crisis intervention, direct work, specialist assessments and contact supervision to children and their families in need and in care who are referred by the social work team with case responsibility. |
- This service will provide crisis intervention through a rapid response service to families and children on the edge of care.
- This service will provide a supervised contact service for children and families. (under review)
- This service will provide a range of specialist assessments to inform care planning and court decision making processes.
- This service will provide a range of family support services to Children in Need and their families.
- This service will provide a range of direct work with children and young people including children in care.
|
QAST – Quality Assurance and Safeguarding Team
This service will manage the Child Protection Conference process and statutory Child Care Review process within the legislative and procedural framework.
It will co-ordinate the Quality Assurance function for children's services and provide management reports where appropriate.
The service oversees the complaints service, and the Independent Visitors Service. |
- This service will convene all Child Protection Conferences, Child Care Reviews and Secure Accommodation Reviews.
- This service will provide an independent person to chair Child Protection Conferences and Child Care Reviews and undertake role of adviser to the SAR.
- This service will produce and distribute minutes from Child Protection Conferences within timescales
- This service will produce and distribute notes from Child Care Reviews and Secure Accommodation Reviews within timescales
- This service will collect quality assurance data from Child Protection Conferences and Child Care Reviews
- This service will provide an advisory/consultative role to other professionals working in the field of child protection or children in care
- This service will escalate issues from Child Care Reviews using the guidance in the Independent Reviewing Officer protocol
- This service will provide a critical friend approach via auditing/monitoring and independent management overview.
- This service will provide a bespoke complaints service.
- This service will provide recruitment, training and supervision of Independent Visitors.
|
