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1.2.1 Guidance on the Relationship between Children’s Social Care, Common Assessment Arrangements and the Team Around the Child

SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER

The purpose of the guidance is to:

  • Describe how Social Workers in LA Children's Social Care can use the Common Assessment Framework (CAF);
  • Help explain when LA Children's Social Care will become involved in working with children and their families
  • Help manage expectations of partner agencies regarding the involvement of Social Workers in the Team around the Child (TAC).

It should be used in the context of the following guidance:

Common Assessment should not be used where there is a risk of Significant Harm.  The Dudley Safeguarding Children Board Procedures must be followed in these circumstances.


Contents

  1. Meeting Children and Young People's Needs - The role of Children's Social Care
  2. Referral Pathways and Services
  3. Child Appears to have Additional Needs
  4. Step Up Procedure - Referral to Children's Social Care
  5. Step Down Procedure - Continuing Support following closure of a case to Children's Social Care


1. Meeting Children and Young People's Needs - The role of Children's Social Care

1.1

The majority of children, young people have a number of basic needs that can be supported through a range of universal services. These services include education, early years, health, housing, youth services, leisure facilities and services provided by voluntary organisations. However, some children may have additional needs for which they need support in order to achieve the five Every Child Matters outcomes (being healthy, staying safe, enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution and achieving economic well-being).  Within this group, a small proportion will have more complex needs which meet the threshold for statutory involvement by Children's Social Care. These are:

  • Children and young people who need a child protection assessment or are the subject of a Child Protection Plan
  • Looked After children and young people
  • Care leavers
  • Children and young people for whom adoption is the plan
  • Children and young people with complex disabilities or complex health needs
  • Children and young people who are Privately Fostered


2. Referral Pathways and Services

2.1

Requests for services regarding concerns about a child typically fall into three categories:

  • Early intervention and prevention - using the Common Assessment Framework
  • Child in Need - Section 17 Referrals
  • Child Protection - Section 47 Referrals
2.2 Children's Social Care operates under a legal framework which sets out the cases that they must work with and what services can be offered.  In summary, they work with Child in Need and Child Protection Referrals using the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families (see paragraphs 2.3 and 2.4 below). This enables Children's Social Care to assess the level and type of need and any services required.  Early intervention and prevention is carried out by a wide range of other agencies using the Common Assessment Framework - this work is not processed through Children's Social Care.
2.3

The Children Act 1989 states that a child shall be considered to be in need if:

  • She/he is unlikely to achieve or maintain, or to have the opportunity of achieving or maintaining, a reasonable standard of health or development without the provision of services by a local authority;
  • Their health or development is likely to be significantly impaired, or further impaired, without the provision of such services; and/or
  • She/he is disabled.

Before referring a child to Children's Social Care under Section 17, professionals should ensure that a Common Assessment under the Common Assessment Framework has been completed (with a Lead Professional identified where appropriate).  A referral should be considered if the Section 17 criteria appear to be met and attempts to improve the situation have been unsuccessful.  The referral must be made with the consent of the child/family.
2.4

Child Protection:  It should be noted that Safeguarding Children Board Procedures must always be followed and a referral made to Children's Social Care in the following circumstances:

  • Where there is evidence the child is suffering or at risk of suffering Significant Harm; or
  • Where there is reasonable cause to believe a child may be suffering or at risk or Significant Harm; or
  • To prevent Significant Harm to children and young people or serious harm to adults, including through the prevention, detection and prosecution of serious crime.
2.5 The above referral pathways are shown on the following diagram which indicates when a Common Assessment should be undertaken and when a referral should be made to Children's Social Care.  Whenever targeted support is provided to meet additional or complex needs, the aim is to meet needs as early as possible and return to the point where children can enjoy health and wellbeing without the need for additional support whenever this is possible.

Click here to view the Information Sharing between Practitioners Diagram

The following scenarios are a guide for Social Workers and other practitioners. They do not replace practitioner judgement and there may be exceptions.


3. Child Appears to have Additional Needs

3.1 Where a child or young person appears to have additional needs, the relevant partner agency will complete a Common Assessment to identify the nature of any support required. They will hold a 'Team Around the Child Meeting' where this is needed to effectively meet the needs of the child or young person.
3.2 It should be noted that Social Workers will not attend or contribute to 'Team Around the Child Meetings' (TAC) if the child or young person is not known to Children's Social Care. There may be some exceptions to this where a Social Worker is based in a universal service e.g. a Children's Centre.
3.3 In cases where the practitioner undertaking a Common Assessment is aware that Children's Social Care have been involved in the past, they may consult with the Duty Social Worker for information gathering purposes, subject to consent from the young person or person with parental responsibility.
3.4 If the Common Assessment and, where it is held, the TAC meeting, identifies complex or specialist needs which appear to need the statutory involvement of Children's Social Care (as set out in paragraphs 2.3 to 2.4 above), a referral should be made for an Initial Assessment.  A copy of the Common Assessment, any Action Plan and the outcome of the TAC meeting should be provided with the referral information.


4. Step Up Procedure - Referral to Children's Social Care

4.1 Where there appears to be a risk of Significant Harm, partner agencies will make an immediate referral to Children's Social Care as set out in the Safeguarding Procedures (paragraph 2.4 above). Private fostering situations will also be notified directly.
4.2 In other situations which appear to be urgent, the relevant partner agency will contact Children's Social Care to discuss the need for their involvement prior to the completion of a Common Assessment. Children's Social Care will then advise on whether the referring agency should proceed with the Common Assessment.
4.3 In all other situations, a Common Assessment will be completed prior to referral as set out in paragraph 3.4 above.
4.4 The Social Worker receiving the referral will request the name and contact details of the current Lead Professional. Where it is agreed that an Initial Assessment is appropriate, the Social Worker will use information from the Common Assessment to inform the Initial Assessment and will become a member of the 'Team around the Child' (TAC) whilst the case is open. Should it be determined that the needs of the child do not require the involvement of Children's Social Care, advice will be provided as appropriate, including consultation with the Integrated Services Manager.
4.5 If the Initial Assessment identifies the need to provide a Social Work Service, a service planning meeting will be consolidated with the 'Team around the Child' (TAC) and the Social Worker will assume the Lead Professional role.
4.6 Should a Social Work Service not be offered, the Social Worker will share information and recommendations from the Initial Assessment with the Lead Professional, subject to consent from the young person or person with parental responsibility.


5. Step Down Procedure - Continuing Support following closure of a case to Children's Social Care

5.1 Social Workers should ensure that children and young people have adequate and appropriate support in place when a case is closed.  Consideration will therefore always be given to the need for a support package to meet the child or young person's identified needs at the point of closure. This will be developed through the existing 'core group' who are involved through the previous Child Protection Plan, Child in Need Plan or Looked After Care Plan.
5.2 Should it be identified at the point of closure that the child or young person has continuing additional needs which require integrated support, the 'Core Group' (Team Around the Child) Meeting will identify the most appropriate practitioner to undertake the role of Lead Professional and this role will transfer from the Social Worker. The Social Worker will provide an updated action plan and other relevant documentation, subject to the consent of the child or young person or person with Parental Responsibility, so that effective support can be provided.  In some situations the targeted support of a single professional may be the appropriate option. The Integrated Services Manager will be contacted for support as needed.

Click here to view the Chart of Common Assessment and Social Care Processes

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