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.