View LCP Procedures View LCP Procedures

1.6.1 Transfer and Allocation of Work Between Children's Social Care Services Teams (Team Protocols)

SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER

This document sets out the roles, responsibilities and relationships between the social work teams of the Children and Families Service in Ealing. It incorporates the protocols regarding transfer of cases between teams as well as interface with SAFE services.

For FWi processes on transfer please refer to FWi help page to access relevant guide

Review due: August 2011


Contents

  1. Introduction          
  2. Transfer of Cases
  3. Referral and Allocation of work between Social Care Teams and SAFE 0-19 Services
  4. Referral And Assessment Team Role and Function
  5. Children In Need Team Role and Function
  6. Looked After Children's Team Role and Function
  7. ESCAN Social Care Team Role and Function
  8. Hospital Social Work Team - Maternity and Paediatrics
  9. Leaving Care Team Role and Function
  10. Children's Housing Support Team
  11. Child Protection Advisors and Safeguarding/ Quality Assurance Service


1. Introduction

1.1 The protocols contained here offer descriptions of the roles, responsibilities and relationships between the social care teams within  Ealing Children and Families Service and the SAFE service They should be used as a reference point in ensuring consistent practice across the teams and enabling staff in those teams to have a clear understanding of their role within this structure. They are intended to address most situations that might be encountered in our day-to-day work situations but can not be expected to cover all possible scenarios. To be effective they rely on team managers and practitioners using sound professional judgement and good sense in their interpretation.
1.2 The underlying principle throughout should be that where there is a measure of doubt the course of action that will best meet the needs of the child should be adopted. Where possible, transfer of cases across teams should be kept to a minimum. Managers should consider the need for children and young people to have continuity in their lives in terms of the professionals involved with them. As such when considering protocols, a longer-term view of the care plan should be demonstrated.
1.3 The protocols should be used as a working tool by team managers and social work staff.  Where areas of disagreement cannot be resolved between team managers the issue should be referred to the Operations Manager responsible. If this cannot resolve the matter then the issue should be referred to the Director of Children and Families who will be the final arbiter.


2. Transfer of Cases

2.1 The following principles should be used in all handovers of case responsibility between teams.
  2.1.1 It should be emphasised that cases likely to meet the criteria for transfer should be identified at an early stage and notification given to the receiving team manager at the earliest possible point of the likelihood of the case being transferred and a date agreed for this to occur.
  2.1.2 In all cases the transferring team manager should give a minimum of seven days notice to the receiving team manager of the intention to transfer the case. This should be confirmed in writing via email as evidence. In those seven days the receiving manager should view the file(s) and any tasks/actions for completion by transferring teams using the checklist format - this should be highlighted to the transferring team manager 48 hours prior to the handover meeting.
  2.1.3 A specific day and time should be identified in the week when the transfer meeting will take place. This should remain consistent and only be altered in exceptional circumstances
  2.1.4 The transfer meeting should be conducted between team managers- this should be seen as a priority task for managers. If a manager is absent e.g. on leave, a deputy manager will attend the meetings - if it is possible they should be briefed by the team manager in advance.
  2.1.5 The Audit form (on Frameworki) will be discussed at the transfer meeting and any outstanding tasks identified and agreement reached on how these will be achieved. A timescale must be agreed for completion of these tasks - five working days maximum - and recorded in writing.
  2.1.6 If at the point of handover there is found to be outstanding tasks to be completed this should not be reason to delay transfer unless it made it impossible to actively work the case. This should be reported to the Operations Managers for both teams.
  2.1.7 At the transfer meeting it will be agreed when the last social work visit was made and recorded on Frameworki and when the next visit is due and who will complete this. Particular attention must be paid by managers to the requirement to meet statutory visiting requirements- including ensuring children are seen alone where appropriate. The transfer process can never be used as an explanation for delay in visiting requirements being met.
  2.1.8 The date of transfer will be the date of the handover meeting. The case should be recorded on the database system to the receiving team on this day.
  2.1.9 The only basis for refusing to accept a case will be if a case is not felt to meet the criteria for the receiving team or where there is disagreement on the care plan being proposed.
  2.1.10 Where agreement cannot be reached on the transfer, the matter must be referred to the Operations Manager for the transferring team immediately and a decision made regarding the transfer within 24 hours. In circumstances where the relevant Operations Manager cannot reach agreement, the matter will be referred to the Assistant Director for a decision within 48 hours of the transfer meeting date. This will then be the date recorded for transfer and relevant recoding take place on the database system.
  2.1.11 Cases that involve Looked After Children, Child Protection Plans, court proceedings and complex Child in Need Plans should be discussed in detail with the receiving manager at the earliest possible point. It is important to ensure that the receiving team manager has the opportunity to discuss and influence any plans and packages of care being proposed that his/her team will be asked to implement.
  2.1.12 Once agreed that a case meets the criteria for transfer, it should be transferred regardless of issues such as staff shortage, difficulty to allocate etc
  2.1.13 All cases where children are subject to a child protection plan will transfer from Referral and Assessment teams at the first Core Group meeting. This Core Group will be chaired by a manager or deputy from the receiving team. It is also expected that a manager or deputy from the receiving team will attend all initial child protection case conferences to ensure they have input to decisions and plans their team will be asked to implement
  2.1.14 Cases where children have become looked after will transfer to the Looked After Children Team at the first review. The latter team must be notified of the date of the review at the earliest possible point.
  2.1.15 Cases where legal proceedings are initiated in the Referral and Assessment or CIN teams should transfer at the first interim care order hearing. All documents for this hearing will be prepared by the Referral and Assessment or CIN teams (including Chronology).
  2.1.16 Requests from the Court for S7 reports will be transferred straight to the Children in Need teams unless another team has had recent and extensive involvement with the case. In this context, it means the case has been open within the last three months and the involvement has involved social work visits and assessment rather than simply advice and guidance.
  2.1.17 Cases transferred from other authorities where children are subject to a child protection plan should transfer directly to Children in Need teams at the transfer CPCC in Ealing. Similarly 'child in need' cases transferring from other authorities where there is a defined child in need plan and core assessment, should transfer directly to the Children in Need team. The above protocol for transfer should be implemented with the transferring authority. Cases transferring from other authorities involving Supervision Orders and Family Assistance Orders should similarly be transferred straight to Children In Need teams using this protocol.
  2.1.18 It is important that families and young people are involved in the transfer process and informed of any changes being made. Where possible the new social worker should be introduced to  the family/young person by the previous social worker. Written confirmation of the new social worker's contact details should be sent in writing to the family/young person and all relevant professionals at the earliest possible point.


3. Referral and Allocation of work between Social Care Teams and SAFE 0-19 Services

3.1

Thresholds of need and allocation
  3.1.1 All decisions on the appropriateness of referring families between the SAFE 0-19 service and Social Care teams will be based on the continuum of need outlined in Ealing Integrated Working and Multi-Agency Thresholds of Need Guide.
  3.1.2

Contacts to the Referral and Assessment(R&A) teams will be screened by the duty manager who will identify those which require allocation for either initial or core assessments.

  1. Those contacts which appear to meet the threshold for SAFE 0-19 services will be passed to the SAFE 0-19 duty worker in the R&A team on a daily basis who will identify those which meet the threshold for that service. Any which do not will be passed back to the R&A duty manager to decide further action within 24 hours of receipt of the contact.
  2. For cases identified for the SAFE 0-19 service the duty manager will use the 'SAFE Team Involvement' episode to task to the SAFE 0-19 duty worker who will have authority to accept the task as a case for their service.
  3. If it is agreed that there is no further involvement required from Referral & Assessment the duty manager will then close the case on Framework I identifying that SAFE 0-19 are now involved with the family.
  4. Any cases of disagreement on referrals between the duty manager and SAFE 0-19 duty worker will be passed to their respective line managers to resolve within 24 hours of the referral being received. If agreement can still not be reached then the matter should be passed to the Operations Manager for R&A and SAFE 0-19 Strategic Manager/Head of Service to resolve.
  5. Where an Initial Assessment has been completed and it has been identified that SAFE 0-19 would be an appropriate service for the family then the R&A team manager should discuss with the SAFE 0-19 duty worker.  Wherever possible the R&A social worker should have obtained the consent of the parent to a referral to SAFE being made. If it is agreed that SAFE 0-19 will take on responsibility for supporting the family then the case will be closed by the R&A manager on Framework I identifying that SAFE 0-19 are involved. The closing episode will be completed on Framework I  by the R&A social worker prior to this.
  6. If a case previously worked with by the SAFE 0-19 service and closed is referred back to R&A it will be discussed between the R&A duty manager and SAFE 0-19 duty worker. If it is agreed that there is no requirement for an initial or core assessment then the case will be referred to the SAFE 0-19 service following the procedure outlined above.
  7. Where SAFE 0-19 accepts a referral from R&A but is unable to engage with the family or allocate subsequently they will notify the original referrer and discuss, given the failure to engage, how and by whom the child's welfare will be monitored. A network meeting should be convened and both SAFE 0-19 service and R&A representatives attend with other relevant professionals to determine the most appropriate way to monitor the welfare of the child. A written record of any decisions should be kept on both the SAFE 0-19 and R&A case record for the child.
3.2

Statutory Casework
  3.2.1

Children subject to statutory regulations will be allocated to a social worker in one of the Social Care teams. Examples of statutory regulations are:

  • Looked After Children
  • Section 47 Enquiries and children subject to a child protection plan:
  • Private Fostering
  • Section 7 reports or Section 37 reports for court
  • Child with a disability that is deemed to be 'severe and profound'
  • Child subject to a Supervision Order
  • Child subject to a Special Guardianship Order assessment
  • Families with 'no recourse to public funds' or those deemed 'intentionally homeless - ie where the family have no means of ongoing subsistence without provision of sec 17 payments. This is an area under discussion at this point and revised guidance may be issued.
  • Children meeting the threshold for a Child in Need Plan
3.3 In cases of Sec 7 or Sec 37 reports where SAFE 0-19 workers are already working with a family they will collaborate with the allocated social worker in the production of the report.

3.4

Emergency Placements
  3.4.1

In the event of an emergency requiring :

  1. Emergency action to remove a child from a situation of significant harm - which may require legal action including presentation in court
  2. Emergency placement of children under section 20 where parents or extended family are unable to provide immediate care.
  3.4.2 Using the Threshold of Need guidance the SAFE 0-19 manager or senior social worker will alert the R&A duty manager who will arrange for a social worker from their team to be allocated immediately to undertake the key worker role in undertaking these statutory duties. In the absence of the SAFE 0-19 manager or senior social worker the SAFE 0-19 Strategic Manager should be contacted who will then liaise with the R&A duty manager.
  3.4.3 The allocated SAFE 0-19 worker will work jointly with the R&A social worker to support the child(ren) through the immediate process of removal/placement
  3.4.4 Subsequently the R&A manager will make arrangements for any future transfer of the case to Children in Need or Looked After teams according to agreed transfer protocols.
  3.4.5 If subsequently there is no longer a need for statutory involvement the relevant Social Care team manager will discuss with the SAFE 0-19 manager the appropriateness of  them assuming responsibility of the case again. If this is agreed the case is closed to the Social Care team as per the above procedure.
3.5

Child Protection
  3.5.1

In the cases of children allocated within SAFE 0-19 teams where their level of need appears to be approaching that which would require a statutory intervention (i.e. concerns for care that might require a Section 47 Enquiry there should be an early discussion between the SAFE 0-19 manager and the R & A  team manager for the area where the child resides. This should establish the following

  1. Is the level of need requiring an immediate statutory intervention i.e. should a strategy meeting be convened to consider need for a Section 47 Enquiry?
  2. If not requiring immediate statutory intervention what actions and support might be taken to reduce this level of need and hence the future need for statutory intervention. This should be added to the plan for the child.
  3. If not requiring immediate statutory intervention what further factors might indicate in the future that the threshold for statutory intervention is met.
  4. What further discussion will be needed to review this situation.
  3.5.2

If there is a concern within the SAFE 0-19 service that a Section 47 Enquiry should be undertaken there should be a discussion between the SAFE 0-19 manager or Senior social worker and the R & A duty manager. If it is agreed it appears that a Section 47 Enquiry should begin then the SAFE 0-19 manager will open a 'Child Referral' episode on Fwi with appropriate details of the areas of concern for the child. (In the case of the SAFE 12-19 team they will refer using the multi agency referral form until they are fully utilising the Framework I system). The R & A manager will then ensure that a sec 47 episode is opened on Fwi and a Strategy Meeting is convened with all relevant professionals in accordance with London Child Protection procedures.

  1. The strategy meeting will be chaired by the R & A manager or deputy manager.
  2. The SAFE senior social worker or manager should attend alongside the allocated worker within the SAFE 0-19 team who will present the information that led to the strategy meeting being convened.
  3. An allocated social worker from the R & A team should attend
  4. If it is concluded that a Section 47 Enquiry should commence this will usually be undertaken by the R & A team social worker who from that point becomes the Lead Social Worker worker and the Framework I episode updated to reflect this.
  5. The only exception to the above would be where a strategy meeting is required on a case that has been transferred to SAFE 0-19 by a Children in Need team less than three months previously. In this case the strategy meeting will be convened and chaired by the R&A team but a representative of the Children in Need team should attend. A decision should be taken at this meeting whether it is appropriate for the Children in Need team to assume case responsibility from that point based on the principle of ensuring the greatest continuity of practice for the child.
  6. The  SAFE 0-19 worker(s) will remain involved with the family throughout the investigation and subsequent process if the needs of the family indicate this and the family agrees. They will become members of the Core Group if the child is made subject to a child protection plan in order to ensure their work with the family is consistent with the overall child protection plan
3.6

EDT (Emergency Duty Team) Referrals
  3.6.1 If  EDT have contact regarding a child that is allocated within a SAFE 0-19 team they will ensure that the details of their contact with the child and family are passed to the relevant SAFE 0-19 team at the earliest opportunity. Following receipt of this information from EDT the SAFE 0-19 team manager should consider whether the level of need has risen as a consequence and whether it now meets the threshold for a statutory social work team. If so, the SAFE 0-19 manager should ensure that the above procedures for referring to the R&A teams are followed.

3.7

Liaison between the teams
  3.7.1

There should be monthly meetings between the SAFE 0-19 managers and the R  & A  manager  for that area that should enable

  1. A review of the process of referral to SAFE 0-19 from the duty system including any individual cases causing concern
  2. Discussion of cases in SAFE 0-19 that are nearing the threshold for statutory intervention to alert the R&A manager to specific case issues
  3. To address any issues of concern regarding the transfer of work between the teams.
  4. There should also be a monthly meeting between the SAFE 0-19 managers and the Children in Need team manager for the area to enable discussion of cases within Children in Need teams where the level of need has decreased and referral to the SAFE 0-19 service might better support families to sustain long term change
3.8

SAFE 0-19 & Children in Need teams
  3.8.1

Where it is agreed between the SAFE 0-19 manager and the Children in Need team manager that a case should be referred to the SAFE 0-19 team the following should apply :

  1. The case is closed on Framework I to the Children in Need team and identified as having been referred to the SAFE 0-19 service
  2. A closing episode is completed by the Children in Need social worker with an updated  Child in Need Plan
  3. A SAFE 0-19 service referral form is completed by the Children in Need team social worker.
  4. The allocated worker within SAFE 0-19 begins the e CAF process for the child.
  3.8.2 If a case is referred back to Social Care within three months of transfer to the SAFE 0-19 team on the basis that a child's needs have significantly increased (though not child protection) then the R&A team should convene a network meeting of relevant professionals. The Children in Need team should attend this meeting and a decision should be made as to which Social Care team should assume case responsibility - based on the principle of providing the greatest continuity in practice for the child.
3.9

Joint working arrangements
  3.9.1

Where it is felt that a case allocated to a social worker within the Social Care teams would benefit from SAFE team involvement the following should apply:

  1. The allocated social worker should have a discussion with the SAFE 0-19 duty worker at the area office to discuss the suitability of their involvement and to confirm a parent/carer has given consent to SAFE 0-19 becoming involved
  2. If it is agreed that it appears appropriate then a SAFE 0-19 referral form is completed and passed to the team
  3. This referral will be considered at the SAFE 0-19 team's next allocation meeting
  4. The referring social worker will be informed within 5 working days of the decision regarding allocation
  5. If there is disagreement between the Social Care team and SAFE 0-19 team regarding allocation of the work then the matter should be referred to the social worker's line manager who will contact the SAFE 0-19 manager to discuss and resolve within 48 hours. If they can not resolve the issue then it will be passed to the Operations Manager for the Social Care team and the Strategic Manager SAFE 0-19 team who should resolve the issue within a further 48 hours
  3.9.2

Where a SAFE 0-19 worker is assigned to work on a case allocated to a Social Care team their role should be clarified at the outset and included in either the Child in Need Plan or the Child Protection Plan for each child in the family.

  1. The SAFE 0-19 worker will be included within the professional network and attend all relevant professionals meetings, core groups, statutory reviews and child protection conferences.
  2. The SAFE 0-19 worker will continue to receive supervision from within their own service. However, there may be occasions when joint supervision sessions with the allocated social worker may be deemed valuable and will be agreed by respective supervisors.
  3. Any decision to cease the involvement of the SAFE 0-19 worker should be taken following consultation with the Social Care team by the SAFE 0-19 line supervisor.
  4. Any disagreement or concerns regarding the involvement of the SAFE 0-19 worker should be referred to the SAFE 0-19 manager who will discuss with the Social Care team manager. Failure to resolve at this level should result in the matter being passed to the Operations Manager for the Social Care team and the Strategic Manager Safe 0-19 Service who should resolve the issue within 48 hours.


4. Referral And Assessment Team Role and Function

4.1 The Referral and Assessment team will deal with all children and family initial referrals from other agencies that present to Children and Families and decide on action within one day
4.2 The Referral and Assessment team will deal with children and young people between the ages of 0 - 18 where families ordinarily reside in the London Borough of Ealing
4.3 The Referral and Assessment team will respond to all initial child protection referrals:
  4.3.1 Where a child is believed to be at risk of Significant Harm.
  4.3.2 Where a Section 47 Enquiry under the Children Act 1989 is required to ascertain the safety of a child or children.  (Cases allocated in other teams where there is subsequently a Section 47 Enquiry on a child in the family will remain with that team with the exception of unborn babies in the Leaving Care team - see below).
  4.3.3 Where a Section 47 Enquiry is required to ascertain the safety of a child or children where there is alleged abuse by professional organisations or agencies, this includes foster carers.
  4.3.4 Allegations against professionals investigations regarding harm to the child
  4.3.5 Assessment of persons presenting a risk or potential risk to children
4.4 Initial assessments under Section 17 Children Act 1989 (excluding short break care requests for children with disabilities).
4.5 Carer's assessments (excluding those eligible for ESCAN services)
4.6 Where there is a request for a child to be accommodated under Section 20 (Children Act 1989).
4.7 Where a young person has been remanded in to the care of the local authority (Sec 23 1969 Children and Young Person's Act). This will be discussed with the Housing Support Team first
4.8 To provide information and advice to members of the public and professionals as appropriate.
4.9 Referral and Assessment teams do not accept referrals of the following;
  4.9.1 Unaccompanied minors aged 0-18 years of age will be re-directed immediately to the Unaccompanied Minors team who will undertake assessment of their needs
  4.9.2 Requests for S7and S37 reports will be referred immediately to the Children in Need Team.
4.10

Referrals
  4.10.1 The Referral and Assessment team will take referrals from members of the public, professional agencies and voluntary agencies.
  4.10.2 All telephone referrals will be routed through the Customer Contact Centre based at Perceval House. They will complete the  referral form on FWi on cases not currently open to the areas and pass this electronically to the duty manager at each area site. The duty manager will action this referral within twenty four hours.
  4.10.3 Child protection referrals will be passed immediately from the Customer Contact Centre to the duty manager for action within one hour. The Customer Contact Centre will also precede these written referrals with a telephone call to the duty manager to alert them that the referral is being made
  4.10.4 Professional referrers cannot remain anonymous. Customer Contact Centre staff will inform professionals of this and also the need to obtain the consent of parents to disclose information in all cases except where there is a child protection investigation being undertaken.
  4.10.5 Members of the public will be informed that their referrals will remain anonymous if they so request.
  4.10.6 All cases referred will have a completed Referral form with the exception of those identified as being 'contact only'
  4.10.7 Where, on receipt of a referral, further assessment is indicated by the duty manager, this will be undertaken using the Framework for Assessment. Those cases identified for initial assessments will be allocated a worker. Where a core assessment is indicated this will be completed by the Referral and Assessment team. Upon completion of the core assessment and where a threshold is met for allocation to another team the case will be transferred to the relevant team
  4.10.8 In those cases where a child is subject to a child protection plan the case will transfer to the Children in Need team at the first core group meeting following the initial child protection case conference. The Core Assessment will be completed at this point. The Children in Need team manager/deputy team manager should chair the first core group where the case is formally transferred.
  4.10.9

The only exception to the above principle will be in the following circumstance:

  1. Where the Referral and Assessment team manager agrees that the case should remain with the R&A worker beyond the core assessment in order to complete tasks to enable the case to be closed. 
  2. In the case of referrals regarding unborn babies where a pre-birth core assessment should be completed. Another core assessment should be completed once the baby is born incorporating assessment of parenting capacity. On completion of the post birth core assessment the protocol for transfer to the appropriate team applies.
  3. In the case of babies (including unborn) where mothers are wishing to relinquish their children for adoption on a voluntary basis the case should be transferred to the Looked After Children's team on completion of an initial assessment to ensure a fast track route to adoption.
  4.10.10 In the rare situation that following assessment a young person becomes looked after at age 15 years plus the case will transfer to the Leaving Care Team on completion of the core assessment (the first statutory review should have been completed). Young people aged 15 - 18 eligible for S24 support will be referred immediately to the Leaving Care team.
4.11

Re-Referrals
  4.11.1 Cases that are re-referred less than 3 months after the case has been closed and where the re-referral relates to a similar issue to that previously will return to the team in which it was allocated. It will usually return to the worker who was allocated the case, but this will be a decision taken by the team manager.


5. Children In Need Team Role and Function

5.1 The Children in Need Team will be responsible for services to children in need living in the community, who do not suffer from a severe or profound disability. This includes 
  5.1.1 Children and young people subject to a child protection plan.
  5.1.2 Children previously looked after who have returned to live with their families and where further work is required to secure their reunification
  5.1.3 Cases identified following an initial or core assessment where there is a need for ongoing family support work and where the threshold for CIN is clearly identified.
  5.1.4 Children with disabilities or suffering from severe illness that do not meet the criteria for allocation to ESCAN or Hospital teams.
  5.1.5 All requests for Section 7 and Section 37 reports.
  5.1.6 Family Assistance Orders.
5.2

Interface
  5.2.1 Cases involving children and young people subject to a child protection plan where there is a continuing need to allocate the case will be transferred from the Referral and Assessment team at the first core group following the initial child protection conference. The team will complete the core assessment. The team manager or deputy team manager should attend the initial child protection case conference and identify a named social worker who can also attend.
  5.2.2 Cases of Looked After Children previously subject to Sec 20 where reunification has taken place will be transferred from the LAC team within 12 weeks of placement with the family - the timing of this transfer to be agreed between team managers well in advance of this.
  5.2.3 Cases held in the Children in Need team, where the child or young person has become looked after and it is clear a long term plan needs to be made, will be transferred to the LAC team at the next statutory review.
  5.2.4 In the case of children who have become subject to Interim Care Proceedings and are not residing with family/friends the case should transfer to the LAC team at the first statutory review.
  5.2.5 Cases where the threshold for CIN is agreed following a core assessment by the RAT team. 
  5.2.6 Cases of children with disabilities, which do not meet the criteria for allocation to ESCAN following a core assessment by the RAT team
  5.2.7 All requests for Section 7 and Section 37 reports will be passed directly to Children in Need Team Manager for allocation.
  5.2.8 Cases where ongoing work is identified that meet the threshold for SAFE services should be transferred to relevant SAFE team.


6. Looked After Children's Team Role and Function

6.1

The Looked After Children's team will be responsible for services to all children and young people below the age of sixteen who are placed in residential or foster care or with relatives or friends who are approved as long term carers. If placed with relatives under fostering regulations the case will remain allocated according to the address of the birth parents.

6.2 Looked After Children who have severe or profound disabilities, will receive a service from the ESCAN.
6.3 Children remanded into local authority accommodation will be transferred into the LAC team on the same basis as other Looked After Children.
6.4

Interface
  6.4.1 The Looked After Children teams will receive cases from the Referral and Assessment team after completion of a Core Assessment (the first statutory review also having been completed).
  6.4.2 Where an application has been made for an Interim Care Order the case will transfer from the Referral and Assessment team or Hospital team at the initial Interim Care Order hearing (unless the child remains placed with family/friends in which circumstance the case is transferred to the Children in Need team)
  6.4.3 The team will receive cases from the Children in Need teams at the first statutory review (unless a Core Assessment is being completed in which case at the point of completion of the assessment). Cases referred from the Children in Need teams where an application for an Interim Care Order has been made will also transfer at the first statutory review. (Team managers may wish to agree a period of joint working over the transition period).
  6.4.4 In the case of unborn babies of families whose case is held in the LAC team these will be referred (using the Referral form) to either the Hospital team (if booked in for ante-natal care there) or Referral and Assessment team for completion of initial and core assessments. Close liaison should occur between the two teams and the LAC social worker should attend all relevant meetings and provide a detailed chronology for use by the new social worker.
  6.4.5 Upon reaching the age of 14 1/2 years, the Team Manager of the Leaving Care Team will be notified of the need for a planned transfer and a member of that team will be invited to attend the young person's Statutory Reviews. Consideration should be given to the timing of transfer according to the needs of the young person and the Leaving Care team will accept transfer of the case once the young person is 15 years old. In the (rare) event that legal proceedings are still underway these should be concluded prior to transfer.
  6.4.6 In the cases of children who are subject to Care Orders where the plan is to place them home with parents, extended family or friends (subject to the Placement of Children with Parents Regulations). It will be the LAC teams' responsibility to fulfil the assessment under those regulations and the case will be transferred to the Children in Need team at the first Statutory Review after the child is placed home. It would generally be expected that there should be an active plan to ensure the order is discharged at the earliest possible point and each statutory review should document planning for this
  6.4.7 In the case of Interim Care Orders the LAC team should continue to hold the case until the final hearing even if the child has returned to live with family/friends. A worker from the Children in Need team should be identified prior to this who will begin the process of transition, attend the court and assume case responsibility immediately following the hearing. 
  6.4.8 Children and young people who are discharged from accommodation and requiring further support will be transferred to the Children in Need Team at a date agreed between the managers but within four weeks of leaving the authorities' accommodation. 
  6.4.9 If the conclusion of Care Proceedings for an existing LAC results in a Supervision Order, the LAC Team will hold until the Order expires or they decide to apply to renew the Order.

.
7. ESCAN Social Care Team Role and Function

7.1 The ESCAN social care team will be responsible for referrals of children with a severe or profound disability. The definition of this will be
  7.1.1 "Severe" - unable to perform tasks without aids and assistance most of the time, functioning around one half the level expected for developmental age.
  7.1.2 "Profound" - completely dependent on carer to perform tasks, functioning around one-third the level expected for developmental age, no developmental progress expected.
  7.1.3 This will include children with physical disability; and/or learning disability; and or health needs; and/or Autistic Spectrum Disorder.
7.2

Cases included in this category will be
  7.2.1 Children with disabilities where there are safeguarding concerns and all assessments and work involved in Child Protection process.
  7.2.2 Children with disabilities looked after in long-term accommodation.
  7.2.3 Children with disabilities looked after for short-break arrangement
  7.2.4 Reviews of funding for holiday play schemes for children with disabilities.
  7.2.5 Undertaking assessments where a request is received for short break care or Direct Payments because of needs arising from a child's disability.
  7.2.6 Carer's assessments where the child meets eligibility for ESCAN social care team support.
  7.2.7 Cases of children with severe illness that meet the 'severe and profound' criteria where the condition is unlikely to improve and that are referred from Hospitals other than Ealing Hospital (this is covered under protocol for the Hospital team below).
7.3

Interface
  7.3.1 The majority of referrals of children with disabilities will be received by the Referral and Assessment teams (R & A team). If the presenting level of need meets the above criteria for allocation to the ESCAN team the case will be immediately referred to that team. In cases where eligibility is not immediately clear there should be a manager to manager discussion before referral on.
  7.3.2 Where a new referral is received in the R & A team of a family with disabled and non-disabled children, the R & A team will call a strategy meeting and ensure the ESCAN social care team manager is informed and invited to attend
  7.3.3 The managers of ESCAN social care team and managers of CIN teams should be informed immediately of any S47 enquiry and where they may be required to attend a strategy meeting. Information about the concern and reason for their attendance must be shared prior to the meeting.
  7.3.4 Once it is clear that the case belongs to ESCAN an Initial Assessment will be completed. Where a core assessment is completed and where allocation on a longer-term basis is required the case will remain with the ESCAN team whilst the predominant presenting need relates to the disability of a child within the family
  7.3.5 It may be that in the course of work with the family it is identified that there are further issues relating to other children in the family necessitating social work involvement. In these cases ESCAN will take on responsibility for all children within the family where this has been agreed by Operations Managers that the case best placed in ESCAN. Where concerns relate only to the child with disabilities the cases of the sibling/s will be closed.
  7.3.6 If a new case presents to the area teams where the presenting issue concerns the sibling of a disabled child then responsibility for the case will remain in the area team not ESCAN but ESCAN are expected to attend any relevant meetings.
  7.3.7 If children are accommodated and all siblings placed together, the LAC social worker and ESCAN social worker will co-work and come to an agreement about their respective roles. If children are placed separately the LAC social worker and ESCAN social worker will remain responsible for their respective child and will communicate and work jointly where necessary.
  7.3.8 In the case of requests for Short breaks, if it is established that the predominant need relates to the child with a disability, the referral will be passed immediately to the ESCAN team.   If a written request for short breaks is received this will be immediately faxed to the ESCAN team who will complete the Referral form in full.
  7.3.9 The Leaving Care Team will be party to transition planning for ESCAN cases once the young person reaches 15 and will provide any relevant support services as part of the Leaving Care package for the young person.
  7.3.10 Adult Services should become involved once the young person is 14 as part of the normal transition planning process and a referral made to them at an appropriate time during the transition process. Upon reaching the age of 18 years, the young person with a disability will become the responsibility of the team for Adults with Learning Disabilities, or the team for Adults with Physical Disabilities. Arranging appropriate transfer at this stage will be the responsibility of the ESCAN team manager.


8. Hospital Social Work Team - Maternity and Paediatrics

8.1 The Hospital Social Work team will be the first point of referral for all maternity and paediatric staff at Ealing Hospital.  The child could be referred from casualty, or could be an inpatient or outpatient, or the mother could be pregnant and a referral could be made from the ante-natal services. Referrals from other hospitals (where the above does not apply) will be assessed by the Referral and Assessment team for the families home address.
8.2 In addition, the hospital team take referrals directly from the Leaving Care team, on unborn babies, where young people are resident in the LB Ealing and booked to have their baby at Ealing Hospital. These referrals are to be as early as 10-12 weeks of the mother-to-be's pregnancy gestation.
8.3 If a child/young person has been transferred from Ealing Hospital to a regional hospital like St Mary's or Great Ormond Street Hospitals, then the case will similarly transfer to the appropriate area team unless the Hospital social worker has completed a significant part of the assessment. In this case the assessment should be completed by the hospital team and then arrangements made to transfer to a long term team in the usual way outlined above.
8.4 The Hospital Social Work team will be responsible for:
  8.4.1 Undertaking assessments of referrals received from Hospital staff where the case has not been open to the Area teams within the last three months for a similar presenting issue
  8.4.2 Where an initial or core assessment is indicated this will be completed by the Hospital Social Work team.
  8.4.3

On completion of the core assessment and where continued allocation of the case in a long-term team is indicated the case will be transferred to the appropriate area team as per the protocols outlined above for the Referral and Assessment teams.   The only exceptions will be:

  1. In those cases where the predominant presenting issue relates to the health needs of a child and where there is ongoing contact with Ealing Hospital. The case should remain open to the Hospital Social Work team until such time as the contact with the hospital ceases or a decision made to close the case.
  2. In cases where a child becomes allocated to the Hospital Social Work team due to his/her parent receiving services as an inpatient at Ealing Hospital. The case remains with that team until the parent ceases to receive ongoing treatment from the Hospital or the case is closed.
  3. In the case of unborn babies who become subject to a child protection plan, the case will transfer to the appropriate Children in Need team at the first review case conference following birth (a core assessment will have been completed).
  4. Care leavers who are pregnant (see 9.3.6 below)
8.5

Parenting Assessment Service
  This service will currently take referrals for court directed parenting assessments.


9. Leaving Care Team Role and Function

9.1 The Leaving Care team will be responsible for services to all young people 15 years of age and over. Also, those who have been or are LAC between the ages of 15 and 21 who are eligible for services under the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000. Up until their 16th birthday young people will receive the same services as any looked after child. (Those looked after young people of this age group with severe disabilities are the responsibility of the ESCAN team).
9.2 The services offered to young people will include:
  9.2.1 Preparation and reviewing of Pathway Plans for all young people
  9.2.2 Provision of appropriate accommodation and financial support for young people
  9.2.3 Provision of personal advisors to young people
  9.2.4 'Keeping in touch' with young people who move away from the area
  9.2.5 Provision of vacation accommodation
9.3

Interface:
  9.3.1 Cases will transfer from the LAC teams at aged 15 years.
  9.3.2 In some cases a period of joint working between the teams will be required to effect a smooth transition of responsibilities.
  9.3.3 If for some reason the case is transferred from LAC after the young person's 16th birthday the LAC team will be expected to have completed the Pathway Plan for the young person.
  9.3.4 Representatives of the Leaving Care team will be invited to attend reviews of young people aged 141/2 and over. Copies of these reviews and the young person's care plan should be passed to the Leaving Care Manager at the time of notification of the likely transfer. 
  9.3.5 Where young people are referred to the Referral and Assessment team and identified as eligible for Sec 24 services they will be immediately transferred to the Leaving Care team for continued support.
  9.3.6 In the case of care leavers who are pregnant and where there are concerns for the unborn baby the Leaving Care team will complete a referral form and pass to the Referral and Assessment team who will conduct an initial assessment. If it is felt that a core assessment is required as part of a Sec 47 investigation or a child in need assessment this will be completed by the Hospital team (if young person booked into Ealing Hospital) or the Referral and Assessment team. If it is identified that the case requires allocation to a long-term team the case will transfer to the relevant Children in Need team. The Leaving Care social worker should, however, participate in appropriate planning meetings for the baby such as child protection conferences and core groups and provide a detailed chronology for the new social worker. Consideration must also be given to the wishes of the young person themselves regarding the involvement of their own allocated social worker in such assessments.


10. Children's Housing Support Team

The Children's Housing Support and Unaccompanied Minors Team have a remit to work with

  • Homeless Families
  • Unaccompanied and Accompanied Minors
  • Persons from abroad with no recourse to public funds
  • Private Fostering Arrangements
  • 16/17 year olds in Secure Accommodation (or about to leave it) referred by YOS and those deemed Homeless
10.1

Homeless Families
  10.1.1

The Housing Support team accepts cases from the area Referral and Assessment teams where homelessness is the predominant presenting issue on referral and where the authority has an obligation to undertake an assessment under Sec 17 Children Act 1989. This will include

  • Cases where a family has been deemed intentionally homeless and therefore not entitled to accommodation from Ealing's Housing department.
  • Cases where a family is not entitled to public housing as a consequence of their legal status in this country. This will include 'persons from abroad'.
  10.1.2

Where an area Referral and Assessment team receives a referral that meets the above criteria they will immediately redirect that case to the Children's Housing Support Team.  Referrals to the team may also come directly from staff in the Homelessness team within Housing. When a referral is received by the team they will ensure the following:

  1. A referral is taken and an initial assessment is conducted on all cases to assess the family's eligibility for section 17 services.
  2. Where indicated a core assessment is completed and recommendations made for services to be provided to meet identified need.
  3. Where there is a continuing need to allocate the case following assessment the case will remain in the Children's Housing Support Team with the exception of the following:
    • Where child protection concerns are identified and it is agreed that a Section 47 Enquiry should be undertaken, then this will be completed by the appropriate Referral and Assessment team.
    • Where a subsequent decision is made to place children's names on the child protection register then the case should remain with the appropriate Children in Need team and the protocols outlined above will be followed. Responsibility for housing and subsistence support will remain with the Children's Housing Support Team. All responsibility for child protection issues remains with the area team. Staff from the Children's Housing Support Team should attend all relevant child protection forums - case conferences, core groups and strategy meetings.
    • Where a young person requires being accommodated the team will undertake this and complete a core assessment prior to transferring to the area LAC team (the first statutory review should also be completed). Any remaining responsibilities for housing and subsistence support to other members of the family will remain with the Children's Housing Support Team.
    • Cases where following a core assessment a high level of family support is identified as required (determined as meeting the high need category of the department's eligibility criteria). Cases in this category will be transferred to the Children in Need team after discussion between the team managers. The Children's HST will retain responsibility for housing and subsistence support only.
  10.1.3

The relevant area team to refer the above cases to will be determined by

  1. If the family had previously resided in the Borough then their last local address will be taken as the determining factor or
  2. If the family had not previously lived in the Borough their surname will determine allocation (East - surnames A-K: West L-Z)
  10.1.4 In the above cases there will be a need for regular liaison and sharing information between teams jointly working cases which may include joint visiting of families where appropriate
  10.1.5 If children's names are subsequently removed from the child protection register or they cease to be looked after the case should transfer back to the Children's Housing Support Team if the original criteria in terms of homelessness is still met. This will follow the same protocol as laid down for transfer to the Children in Need teams. If the family no longer meet the 'homelessness' criteria the case should transfer or remain in the Children in Need team as per the above protocols.
10.2

Unaccompanied Minors/Accompanied Minors
  10.2.1 The team works with those children and young people who have arrived in the UK and are claiming asylum (either accompanied or unaccompanied). Referrals come from the Home Office.
  10.2.2 The team carries out assessments (including age disputed assessments) and if the child is 'in need' will provide accommodation and support as required under legislation
  10.2.3 All accompanied minors provided remain with the Unaccompanied Minors Team
  10.2.4 Those unaccompanied minors who become looked after under sect 20 are referred on to a LAC or Leaving Care team. Unaccompanied minors provided with support under section 17 remain the responsibility of the Unaccompanied Minors sub-team
  10.2.5 Child Protection referrals are passed to a Referral and Assessment team via the Customer Contact Centre.
  10.2.6 The team undertakes all relevant statutory reviews - LAC review and CIN reviews for those eligible for services from the team.
10.3

Private Fostering
  10.3.1 The Housing Support Team now has responsibility for the assessment and support of all new private fostering arrangements unless there are CP investigations underway or the child is subject to a child protection plan
  10.3.2 Notifications of private fostering arrangements may come via the Customer Contact Service or any other team and should be discussed immediately with the Team Manager of the Housing Support Team to establish that it is an appropriate referral to the team.
  10.3.3 Once established that the Housing Support Team will take responsibility for the case, they will carry out assessment of the arrangement and take responsibility for ensuring CRB checks are completed.
  10.3.4 The Housing Support Team will carry out all subsequent support and visiting requirements.
10.4 16/17 years olds
  10.4.1 The Housing Support Team will assess 16/17 year olds who are deemed homeless and complete an assessment of their level of vulnerability with reference to the Southwark Judgement
  10.4.2 The Housing Support Team will deal with all cases of 16/17 years olds in Secure Accommodation (and those about to leave) referred to Children's Social Care by the Youth Offending Service


11. Child Protection Advisors and Safeguarding/ Quality Assurance Service

11.1 This section of the protocol has been written to clarify the role and remit of the Child Protection Service and Independent Reviewing Officers/Child Protection Advisors (IRO/CP Advisors) in relation to the interface with Social Workers and Team Managers. It sets out how advice and consultation can be obtained re: Child Protection matters and what the expectations are of social workers, team managers and others, once advice has been given.
11.2 The team has recently restructured. The Service Manager for Safeguarding Children and Quality Assurance (formerly known as Safeguarding Children Manager) is the strategic head of service and will have an overview of safeguarding practice both within social care and with multi-agency partners and the ESCB. The Service Manager holds the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) responsibilities and all allegations against professionals need to be discussed with the LADO.
11.3 The Team Manager for Child Protection /Independent Reviewing Team (formerly known as the Deputy Safeguarding Manager) has the main responsibilities for managing the day to day work of the IRO/CP team and manages the IRO/CP Advisors (formerly known as Child Protection Advisors). The five IRO/CP Advisors will continue to chair Child Protection Conferences, strategy meetings concerning allegations against staff, offer advice and consultation and provide training and service development.
11.4 The Multi-agency posts in the Domestic Violence Risk Assessment Service will continue to be based within the Safeguarding/QA team. This service contains the DV practitioners who offer risk assessments/consultation re Domestic Violence.
11.5 Social workers and team managers can seek advice of the IRO/CP Team (i.e. the Team Manager for IRO/CP team or one of the IRO/CP Advisors or Domestic Violence Advisor) by phone, email or in person. Advice and consultation can be sought on particularly complex child protection matters or where guidance on policy or procedure needs clarification.
11.6 Social workers are first expected to discuss cases with their managers/ Operations manager before seeking advice from the IRO/CP Team so that the line of case management responsibility is kept clear and consistency is maintained. In general, requests for advice on less complicated matters can be dealt with by phone or email but more complex cases will need to be discussed in person. In this case a consultation will generally need to be booked and where at all possible the social worker and a manager need to attend.
11.7 Where advice on specific cases is requested during team Case Discussion Workshops facilitated by the Team Manager IRO/CP or IRO/CP Advisors, this will be recorded and followed up in the same way as advice given during individual consultations etc
11.8 The CP/QA service will record all advice given in writing and will send this by email to the social worker and team manager (and Operations Manager where appropriate-see below) as soon as possible and at the latest by the end of the next working day.
11.9 Where the service is concerned about a risk to a child and where advice for urgent or legal action is given, this will be copied to the relevant Operations Manager as well as the Team Manager. This will act as an alert to the Operations Manager that they need to become involved.
11.10 Once the Team Manager of IRO/CP team or the IRO/CP Advisor has sent the record of their discussion along with recommendations to the social worker, it can be assumed by them, unless they hear to the contrary that the advice will be followed and that this will be monitored by the Team Manager (and the Operations Manager where they have been informed).
11.11

Disagreements

  1. It is important that the IRO/CP service maintain some objectivity and independence from the management of cases and that social workers are clear that it is their line management system who hold casework responsibility and accountability.
  2. Where a social worker decides not to follow the advice given, this must be discussed with their manager and recorded on case file.
  3. If the Team Manager disagrees with the advice given s/he will discuss it with the IRO/CP Advisor or Team Manager of IRO/CP team.
  4. If agreement cannot be reached at this stage, the Operations Manager and the Service Manager for Safeguarding and QA need to discuss the case and try to resolve the matter.
  5. It is anticipated that most disagreements about how to proceed with a case can be resolved before or at this stage and any change of plan agreed with a IRO/CP Advisor or Team Manager IRO/CP will be recorded by the IRO/CP Advisor or Team Manager IRO/CP as above
  6. Where the IRO/CP Advisor or Team Manager IRO/CP team is of the view that there is a significant risk to the child if advice is not followed, the Team Manager IRO/CP team will raise the matter with the Service Manager for Safeguarding and QA who will raise the matter with the Assistant Director of Safeguarding and Support and the Director of Children and Families.

 

End