Family support

 Family Support encompasses a range of approaches and measures to promote the well being, safety and good outcomes for vulnerable children, young people and their families in the community.

This page gives further information and links to

• policies and procedures for providing family support in Suffolk. New policies are first, followed by others listed in alphabetical order
• links to procedures regarding children and young people who are living in the community under particular legal arrangements;
• the Family Support Network in Suffolk;
• further sources of support for vulnerable children and young people and their families;
• other sources of information for practitioners.

Policy and Procedures in Suffolk

OPERATIONAL from 1 May 2008

• Policy and guidance regarding children who are privately fostered (PDF, 184Kb)
• The Private Fostering Panel - terms of reference, procedures and flowchart  ( PDF 77Kb )

This policy defines private fostering and outlines the duties of the Local Authority and partner agencies towards privately fostered children. The Declaration regarding suitability to foster children privately (including consent for a Criminal Records Bureau check) and the template for the Written Agreement between a Private Foster carer and Suffolk county council are attached. The Private Fostering Panel makes recommendations regarding private fostering arrangements. 
Further information about private fostering (list of leaflets).

OPERATIONAL from 1 April 2008

• Children In Need: Policy, Principles and Guidance

This new multi-agency policy for working together for good outcomes for children and young people in need is operational from 1 April 2008.

These materials support the implementation of the Children In Need Policy:

• Introduction to the Children In Need policy, principles and guidance (PDF, 317Kb) A presentation for social care staff to use flexibly to create awareness and discussion about the policy in practice
• At A Glance Guide to the Children In Need policy, principles and guidance (PDF, 95Kb) A quick reference to the policy including a flowchart

Template letters – to be adapted as appropriate

• to invite parents to Initial CIN Planning Meeting (Word, 33Kb)
• to invite a young person to Initial CIN Planning Meeting (Word, 28Kb)
• to invite professionals to Initial CIN Planning Meeting (Word, 28Kb)
• to invite parents to Review CIN Meeting (Word, 28Kb)
• to invite a young person to Review CIN Meeting (Word, 27Kb)
• to invite professionals to Review CIN Meeting (Word, 28Kb)

For support with using the Integrated Childen's System (ICS) including the Statement of Needs, Care Plan and Review, please go to the Recording page of this Good Practice Guide. Further user guides for Compass and ICS are available to staff on COLIN.

The Family Support Implementation Board will continue to monitor how the Policy is working and to resolve issues arising.

Written Agreements contribute to good outcomes by clarifying the agreed goals and actions.The template for Written Agreements ( PDF 55Kb ) should be adapted as required. This At a Glance Guide ( PDF 30Kb ) provides further information about using Written Agreements.

Domestic violence

"Children may suffer both directly and indirectly if they live in households where there is domestic violence..." Working Together 2006 11.45

• More information about domestic violence and the help available in Suffolk.
• Suffolk Safeguarding Children Board website.

The Family Assessment and Support Team (FAST)

This team provides a multi-agency short term and intensive intervention with children aged 11- 17 years who are on the edge of Local Authority care with the aim of diverting them from becoming looked after and enabling them to live within their families.

• Referral criteria and process for FAST
• Leaflet for families about FAST
• Leaflet for professionals about FAST

Family Carers Assessments

Family Carers provide a 'substantial amount of care on a regular basis' to a disabled child or adult. Guidance for undertaking Family Carer Assessments. For staff working with disabled children and their families. This should be read in conjunction with General Guidance for undertaking Family Carers Assessments 
Where a carer's assessment is needed for carers of a disabled child it is normally undertaken by the allocated social worker.
The Format for Carers's Assessments (This format is currently being used for carers of both adults and children. A specialised format for carers of disabled children and young people is being developed)
This web page has further information about Family Carers

Family and Friends Policy

 The family and friends policy aims to support children and young people who are at risk from family breakdown, by enabling them to remain and be supported within their communities and kinship networks and outside the public care system.

The family and friends policy and procedure is currently being updated. Until the new version is agreed, you should continue to use the information given below. For further queries about this, please email: goodpracticeguide@socserv.suffolkcc.gov.uk:

• Family and Friends: Care Policy (PDF, 145Kb)
• Family and Friends App A1 - Practice Guidance (PDF, 19Kb)
• Family and Friends App A2 - Flowchart for payments expected to last beyond 4 weeks (PDF, 41Kb)
• Family and Friends App A3 - Payment Amounts (PDF, 18Kb) These amounts are being updated and the new figures will be available as soon as possible. Please contact your finance officer, if you have an urgent query.
• Family and Friends App A4 - Locality Expenditure Approval form (PDF, 46 Kb)
• Family and Friends App A5 - Financial Declaration Form (PDF, 46Kb)
• Family and Friends App A6 - Written Agreement (PDF 22Kb) 

Mental Capacity Act 2005.

The Act provides a statutory framework to empower and protect vulnerable people who are not able to make their own decisions. Most of the provisions of the Act apply to 16 and 17 year olds. Follow this link www.suffolkas.org to the Code of Practice and Suffolk’s Policy and Guidance. The Professional Advisor for the Mental Capacity Act is Dominic Nasmyth-Miller.

Mental Health Needs of children

Children with Mental Health Needs: (PDF, 72Kb) This Protocol is to improve information sharing and joint planning with the ASW service and CAMHS, when children and young people require assessment under the Mental Health Act, or are placed in Health Service accommodation for longer than three months.Other sources of information for practitioners

Young people with housing needs

Young Person's Housing Protocol

Procedures regarding children and young people who are living in the community with family members or others under particular legal arrangements

	Residence Order - This guidance should be used when working with children who are subject of a residence order Guidance for Social Workers on Residence Orders (PDF, 40Kb) Residence Order Allowances Review (PDF 72Kb) The latest rates can be obtained from your finance officer.
	Children and young people placed at home with their parents under a Care Order, Interim Care or Emergency Protection order. Use Placement with regulations 1991.
	Children subject to Special Guardianship. Details of policy and procedures for Special Guardianship in Suffolk are on the Corporate Parenting page.Here is the Every Child Matters web page for Special Guardianship.
	Children who are privately fostered. Please follow this guidance: Children who are privately fostered.

The Family Support Network in Suffolk

A Family Support Practice Network was created in 2007 with the aim of sharing and promoting best practice in Family Support in Suffolk. The Family Support Practice Network website is a developing resource to support the aims of the Network. It brings together a wide range of practice information and provides a focus for family support activity in Suffolk and nationally. Email familysupport@cyp.suffolkcc.gov.uk to suggest additions to the website and to find out more about the Network

Sources of Support for Vulnerable Children, Young People and their families in Suffolk

	Early Years and Child Care Service is responsible for helping develop good quality early education and child care in Suffolk and also manages the Suffolk Child Care information Service.
	Children's Centres provide a range of support services for families in their local areas.
	Family Group Conferencing is where family members get together with the child or young person and family and friends talk, make plans and decide how to resolve a situation.  Follow the link for more details.
	Parent Partnership provide support and information for parents and carers of children with a wide range of Special Educational Needs.
	The Children's Fund aims to respond to the needs of children and young people aged 5-13 at risk of social exclusion.  Follow the link for more details.
	The Connexions Service is a one stop shop for young people in Suffolk.
	Follow the link for more information and details of the Young Carers Project in Suffolk.

This toolkit from Alcohol Concern gives information for practitioners working with families where parents misuse alcohol.