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Referral and assessment

All new requests for a Children's Social Care Service, including urgent child welfare concerns, should be made to:
Customer First
Telephone: 0808 800 4005 (freephone from landlines and some mobiles) Professionals' Telephone: 08456 066 167
Postal Address: PO Box 771, Needham Market, Ipswich, IP6 8WB
Email: Customer.First@suffolk.gov.uk
Fax: 01449 723127

For urgent requests out of office hours which cannot wait until the next working day, please contact the Emergency Duty Service
Telephone: 01473 299669.

Referrral and assessment

This section of the Good Practice Guide gives procedures and guidelines for:

  • Making a referral for a Children's Social Care Service, including urgent referrals
  • Responding to referrals which are received in the Children's Social Care teams
  • Assessment of need in Children's Social Care Services, including specialist assessments

For further information about related policies and procedures, please email: goodpracticeguide@suffolk.gov.uk

Making a referral for a Children's Social Care Service

This flowchart for professionals who wish to make a referral for a social care service shows the process professional workers should follow and the requirements for sharing information if a child or young person may need additional services, including where there are urgent welfare concerns.

The Referral form for a social care service is now combined with the Common Assessment Framework (CAF). Follow the guidance on the front of the form to carry out a Common Assessment Framework or to make a referral to Children's Social Care Services, including an urgent referral. 

 “What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused” gives further information, from the Department for Children, Schools and Families, about making a referral. The full safeguarding policies and procedures are found on the Suffolk Safeguarding Children Board website.

The Children In Need, Policy, Principles and Guidance ( PDF, 270Kb ) gives the requirements for working with Children In Need under the Children Act 1989

Here is further information about The Common Assessment Framework ( CAF ) in Suffolk


Responding to referrals which are received in Children's Social Care teams

This Referral and Initial Assessment flowchart ( PDF,38.45KB) gives the process for responding to and recording referrals received in social care teams and carrying out Initial Assessments for best outcomes and performance.  

Guidance for Social Care Managers and Duty Managers in dealing with referrals of children about whom there are concerns from Suffolk Police ( PDF 23KB ).This guidance should be used in conjunction with the Referral and Initial Assessment flowchart 2009  

Where correspondence is received concerning a child or young person the Policy for handling Correspondence (PDF, 27KB) and the Log for recording correspondence (excel document) should be used.

The Procedures for Children’s Social Care to Provide Feedback to Referrers should be followed when informing agencies, members of the public and family members who have made a referral, of the decision made by Children’s Social Care following consideration of the referral.

The following letter templates can be used when providing this feedback to agencies:

  • Letter 1: To be used when other services have been signposted
  • Letter 2: To be used where onward referral should be made to CAF Panel/ Integrated Teams
  • Letter 3: To be used when services will be provided under Child In Need Procedures( s17 Children Act 1989)
  • Letter 4: To be used when an Initial Child Protection Conference is Planned
  • Letter 5: To be used when there are any other circumstances for feedback

Assessment of need in Children's Social Care Services

Assessment of need following referral will be undertaken according to the flowchart above and  Assessment Framework: Inter agency Protocol and Guidance ( PDF, 162Kb) and clearly recorded on the Integrated Children's System ( ICS) on Carefirst 6. This is a Quick Guide to Core Assessments in Suffolk.

Here is full government guidance on using the Assessment Framework and its scales and questionnaires.

The Referral and Initial Assessment Checklist, (PDF, 49Kb) should be completed by the social worker and countersigned by the manager.

A chronology ( PDF, 35Kb ) is an important tool in assessment. One should should be started once an Initial Assessment is completed and there is a decision to provide social care services. This At a Glance Guide ( PDF, 30Kb ) gives guidance about completing chronologies

Assessment in specific circumstances
 
Assessing pre-birth
The template for assessment before birth is part of the Integrated Children's System ( ICS ). Further guidance is available from the Suffolk Safeguarding Board

Assessing neglect
The Graded Care Profile ( PDF, 80Kb ) is a multi-agency and multi purpose assessment tool especially useful for assessing and re-assessing neglect. These are the instructions for use ( PDF 46, Kb) and further guidance and information ( PDF, 34Kb )
Here is additional practice guidance on assessing and monitoring where emotional abuse and neglect occur together ( PDF,113Kb )

For further information and guidance about assessment, particularly in specific circumstances go to the Family Support Practice Network webpage
or consult "The Child's World" Edited by Jan Horwath published by DOH 2001. Copies are available from Suffolk Libraries.
Good practice