2.1 Initial Contacts and Referrals |
Contents
- Initial Contacts
- Referrals
- Timescales
- Screening Process
- Initial Disposal of Referrals
- Recording of Referrals
1. Initial Contacts
An Initial Contact is made where Children and Families Service is contacted about a child, who may be a Child in Need, and where there is a request for general advice, information or a service. At any time, an Initial Contact may become a Referral if it appears that services may be required for a Child in Need. All contacts that are made in the form of a CAF (Common Assessment Framework) should be treated as a referral - see Section 2, Referrals.
Any significant information received about a child who is an open case should be regarded as an Initial Contact, passed to the child's allocated social worker and recorded on the electronic database.
In all other cases, at the point when an Initial Contact is made, the duty worker should establish whether the enquiry can be dealt with by the provision of information and advice or re-direction to other agencies or services.
Where the Initial Contact appears to be a request for services addressed to the appropriate office, the duty worker or team administrator should take basic information from the person making the contact.
The duty worker should also check the electronic database records to see if the child or family is known and, if known, retrieve information on them. Any such information should be passed to the duty social worker.
2. Referrals
An Initial Contact will be progressed to a Referral where the social worker or manager considers an assessment and/or services may be required for a Child in Need.
Referrals from other agencies (except the Police) will either be made on Form CMO1 or in the form of a CAF (Common Assessment Framework), unless made in an emergency, in which case the Form or CAF will be sent within 48 hours of the Referral. All Referrals must be acknowledged (in writing or by telephone) within one working day.
The duty social worker will arrange to visit or contact the referrer and obtain as much of the following information as possible:
- Full names, dates of birth and gender of children
- Family address and, where relevant, school/nursery attended
- Identity of those with Parental Responsibility
- Names and dates of birth of all members of the household
- Ethnicity, first language and religion of children and parents
- Any special needs of the children
- Any significant recent or past events
- Cause for concern including details of allegations, their sources, timing and location
- The child's current location and emotional and physical condition
- Whether the child needs immediate protection
- Details of any alleged perpetrator
- Referrer's relationship with and knowledge of the child and his or her family (when this is a CAF, the Lead Professional)
- Known involvement of other agencies
- Information regarding parents' knowledge and agreement to referral
3. Timescales
Any member of staff who receives information relating to a child, who may be a Child in Need, must redirect the information to the Initial Assessment Team or allocated social worker, if known. The information must be redirected immediately and within one hour at the very longest.
Once received by the appropriate team, all Referrals must be written up and a decision made about their disposal within 24 hours.
4. Screening Process
These procedures for the screening of Referrals apply to new cases of children previously unknown to the authority, and to closed cases.
The process of Referrals must include screening against the Prioritisation Criteria that is explained in Children in Need, Definition and Criteria Guidance with internal and agency checks undertaken as necessary. The child's name must be checked against the electronic database to establish whether the family is previously known, and whether there is a Child Protection Plan in relation to the child or that they are a Child in Care.
The screening process should establish:
- The nature of the concern
- How and why it has arisen
- What the child's needs appear to be
- Whether the concern involves Significant Harm
- Whether there is any need for urgent action to protect the child or any children in the household
This process will involve:
- Discussion with the referrer
- Consideration of any existing records, including whether the child is the subject of a Child Protection Plan
- Involving other agencies as necessary
If there are indications that a child may be at risk of Significant Harm, the manager may authorise whatever actions are necessary to protect the child or others in the household from Significant Harm, which may result in the immediate provision of services.
If there is suspicion that a crime may have been committed including sexual or physical assault or Neglect, the Police must be notified immediately.
Personal information about non-professional referrers should not be disclosed to the parents or other agencies without the referrer's consent.
The parent's Consent should usually be sought before discussing a referral with other agencies unless this may place the child at risk of Significant Harm, in which case the manager should authorise the discussion of the referral with other agencies without parental knowledge or consent. The authorisation should be recorded with reasons.
5. Initial Disposal of Referrals
The initial disposal of a Referral, which must be authorised by the manager, may be:
- That the child does not appear to be a Child In Need (Level 1 of the Prioritisation Criteria see Children in Need, Definition and Criteria Guidance; which will result in one of the following: the provision of information, advice, sign-posting to another agency and/or no further action
- That the child appears to have a low level of needs or risks which are unlikely to escalate (Level 2 of the Prioritisation Criteria). In these circumstances the manager may authorise an Initial Assessment
- That the child appears to have moderate to high needs (Level 3 or above of the Prioritisation Criteria). See Children in Need, Definition and Criteria Guidance, which must initiate an Initial Assessment
- That it is suspected that the child is suffering or is likely to suffer from Significant Harm (Level 4 of the Prioritisation Criteria see Children in Need, Definition and Criteria Guidance. In these circumstances, the Manager must arrange an Initial Assessment, with a view to conducting a Strategy Discussion, prior to Child Protection Enquiry and Core Assessment commencing
Professional referrers should be advised of the disposal of the referral.
Feedback on the outcome of the Referral should also be provided to non-professional referrers in a manner consistent with respecting the confidentiality of the child.
6. Recording of Referrals
All Initial Contacts and Referrals should be recorded on the electronic database and a Referral and Information Record commenced.
End