The Child’s Journey
Launch Event 23 June version
The Child’s Journey
Meeting Children’s Needs: a model for identifying needs and delivering
integrated working to improve outcomes for children, young people and their
families in Torbay.
Torbay Safeguarding Children Board
June 2011
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The Child’s Journey
Launch Event 23 June version
Context
Torbay’s Children’s Trust Delivery Board has an agreed vision, driven by key corporate
ambitions to ensure that Torbay has strong families, strong schools, strong children’s
services and strong communities. The development of integrated and localised services
focused on early intervention, together with effective targeted service for children and
young people with additional needs, is a key element for improving outcomes for children
and young people.
Torbay’s Safeguarding Children Board (through its Early Intervention Sub-Group) has
undertaken a critical review and refresh of early intervention and integrated working
arrangements at all levels. We are working with our partners, local communities, children,
young people and their families to reshape the delivery of integrated early and
preventative interventions and to ensure that there is a smooth continuum with specialist
and statutory services. The development of this guidance, a comprehensive Family
Information Service that includes a Service Directory and associated practitioner tools, and
the implementation of the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) underpin the changes
underway in how we can work together more effectively.
The use of this summary guidance and associated tools will promote:
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children and young people’s experiences of the integrated working process will be
the same regardless of which partners are involved;
improved planning of service provision meeting the needs of all children, young
people and their families;
greater clarity when working to deliver services;
greater clarity for practitioners on the transfer of information;
the requirement for multi-agency high end intensive support will be reduced.
How do I fit in?
As a member of Torbay’s children’s workforce you have a responsibility to ensure your
practice meets the minimum standards set out in this guidance. These are common across
services and agencies to enable and support a common and consistent response to
children, young people and families who need support at any level.
By sharing information, combining professional expertise and knowledge, and involving the
child or young person and family throughout, practitioners can identify needs earlier and
work together to secure better outcomes for children with additional needs.
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The Child’s Journey
Launch Event 23 June version
Model of Assessment
Torbay has adapted the well established “windscreen” model to visually demonstrate how
a child or young person could have changing levels of need over time, and how the
responses to those needs should be managed.
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The Child’s Journey
Launch Event 23 June version
Principles
This guidance recognises the investment that partners have already made in developing
and implementing the Common Assessment Framework locally and the activities that have
been undertaken through local partnership to overcome operational challenges.
The guidance has been developed to ensure that a child or young person should
experience a seamless response whenever they may need to access services in Torbay.
The following 6 standards have been identified as the minimum standards that the
children’s workforce across Torbay should consistently meet to support effective integrated
working.
All local partners through Torbay’s Safeguarding Children Board have agreed to sign up to
and uphold them.
Standard 1
The integrated working practices and processes set out in this Guidance describe a
minimum set of standards to be followed by all partners across Torbay.
Standard 2
The Torbay Levels of Need should be used to identify when children or young people
have additional needs.
Standard 3
Where a child / young person has additional unmet needs the Common Assessment
Framework and Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families
processes, as described in this Guidance should be followed. Where children may have
suffered significant harm practitioners should additionally follow the Local Safeguarding
Children Procedures (see South West Safeguarding & Child Protection Procedures).
Standard 4
Information Sharing - all agencies working with children, young people and families will
share information in accordance with the HM Government Information Sharing
Guidance (Revised 2009) as described in the South West Safeguarding & Child
Protection Procedures June 2010.
Standard 5
Systems and processes for securely sharing information across partner boundaries and
services need to be clearly and consistently understood and adopted by practitioners.
Standard 6
The use and application of the Common Assessment Framework and Framework for the
Assessment of Children in Need and their Families will be underpinned by robust
management oversight and Quality Assurance & Audit Framework, ensuring that both
are applied to a high and consistent standard at all times.
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The Child’s Journey
Launch Event 23 June version
A common approach
Children, young people and their families want, and deserve, a consistent and common
approach that reduces duplication and supports a coordinated and integrated response to
their needs.
This common approach should follow the four stages of assessment, planning,
intervention & review (APIR).
Assessment
Planning
Review
Intervention
Stage 1: Assessment This requires you to gather information and form judgements about
a child’s needs and the ability of the family to meet those needs within any given set of
circumstances. At times, this will also require you to consider the likely level of vulnerability
of a child where there are concerns about the circumstances the child is living within.
The assessment process includes a number of activities:
Information gathering using the assessment framework domains (child’s
developmental needs, parenting capacity and family & environmental factors). You
will need to consider whether additional support or intervention is needed if the child
is to be kept safe, experience healthy outcomes and to ensure that their
developmental needs are adequately met. The CAF Common Assessment Form
should be used for information gathering in the first instance.
Identification and analysis of need and vulnerability factors which impact on
the child. When undertaking an analysis of the information gathered, the first thing
to do is identify those factors which are causing you to be concerned that a child
may be liable to harm or poor outcomes:
Need & Vulnerability Factors are defined as those in the child’s world which are
likely to increase the likelihood of harm occurring, such as:
- Lack of protective factors
- Poor prognosis of change in circumstances
- Compounding factors emanating from the environment
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The Child’s Journey
Launch Event 23 June version
Protective & Resilience Factors are those factors in the child’s world which may
be seen as containing a protective component, such as:
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School-teacher, after school club, breakfast club
Relatives / adults other than parents who provide care / positive experiences
Temperament and personality - do adults like the child
One supportive parent
Sibling support
Sense of humour in child
Good social skills and intelligence
The child’s ‘experience’ should be considered - families where there is ‘low warmth / high
criticism’ are particularly vulnerable.
Whereas vulnerability is increased by the presence of need and vulnerability factors, the
presence of protective factors provides the potential for increased resilience.
Once protective and vulnerability factors have been analysed, the process requires an
assessment of the likely impact of these factors on the child. Both the CAF Assessment
Form and the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families (Initial
& Core Assessment) provides a structure for this analysis, depending on levels of need.
Finally, the analysis must consider what needs to change if the level of vulnerability is to
be reduced and outcomes for the child improved.
Stage 2: Planning One of the key benefits of effective integrated working is the use of a
single plan that draws together the needs of the child, reflecting the assessment and
analysis that has taken place. The single plan should also set out clearly the desired
outcomes being sought. This approach reduces the need for a series and variety of plans
which could occur if there was no coordination of assessment and planning service
involvement.
Stage 3: Intervention In the more straightforward cases, the practitioner leading the
assessment may have enough knowledge of services to specify which ones will best meet
the assessed needs and desired outcomes. In more complex cases, discussions with a
manager, Integrated Working Co-ordinator or sometimes attendance at a Panel meeting
may be necessary to determine the most appropriate plan, actions and involvements.
Stage 4: Review The child’s plan must be subject to regular interagency review in
partnership with the child (if old enough) and the family. The plan must outline what needs
to change for the child to achieve their potential and what the agencies and the family will
do to help the child achieve this. As a child’s needs are met, practitioners should vary their
responses accordingly.
For example once the child’s needs have been met through a child protection plan, the
conference will decide whether to discontinue the CP plan and proactively offer support by
means of a Child in Need or a CAF plan.
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The Child’s Journey
Launch Event 23 June version
Levels of Need
Torbay has agreed a tool to describe the four levels of need illustrated in the windscreen to
support practitioners making decisions about the most appropriate and proportionate
response and which process (“care pathway”) to follow in the first instance.
The descriptions are given to differentiate between the levels and reflect the domains and
dimensions of the Common Assessment Framework and the Framework for the
Assessment of Children In Need and their Families. The descriptions are illustrative and
are not exhaustive.
Children’s needs rarely fit into neat categories. Their needs often change over time and
may cross different levels, i.e. high on one domain and low on another. The age of the
child and protective factors that may enhance resilience also need to be taken into
account. These can be understood by referring to the universal level descriptors.
The aim of using this approach is to encourage a practitioner to think about all
dimensions of children’s lives and for all practitioners to use the same framework and
language as a starting point in their assessment and analysis.
Different practitioners will bring different areas of knowledge and strengths to their
assessments and it is not expected that all will be able to comment on every aspect of the
domains. However, research and good practice points to the fact that families appreciate
being able to explain the issues in the way they see them and not to segment issues
according to the way in which agencies work.
The overarching aim of the professional assessment, aided by the use of the tools
described in this guidance, is to determine:
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If a child is vulnerable or in need
His/her level of needs
Which needs must be met as a priority
Which is the most appropriate service to meet these needs?
Remember!
The Levels of Need tool is a guide to help staff judge what level of need
a child or young person may be at
Professional judgement is always the key
If unsure always seek advice from MASH
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The Child’s Journey
Launch Event 23 June version
The following table summarises the processes to be followed to manage a child’s
journey:
Level 1 - Children with no additional
needs
Children whose developmental needs are met by
universal services
No additional assessment is required
Children should access universal services in a
normal way
Level 2 – Children with additional needs
These children have additional needs that may be
short-term and that might be known, not clear, not
known or not being met
The concerned professional should identify the
strengths & needs of the child and determine
whether a single service response is sufficient to
meet their needs. This may be a service available
within the concerned professionals own agency in
which case simply “get on with it”.
Alternatively it may require another service to
become involved via a service request.
The common assessment process may also be used
as supporting evidence for specialist activity such as
Children’s Social Care, SEN Statutory Assessment,
Youth Justice or Attendance proceedings
Response: Common Assessment Framework
The Torbay Children’s Services Needs Matrix
should be completed to indicate the level and area(s)
of need.
The Common Service Request Form should be
used to request the involvement of a specific single
other service.
In all other circumstances the CAF Assessment
Form should be completed with the child & family to
identify their strengths and needs and to inform the
CAF Action Plan.
The CAF Assessment and Action Plan will support
the identification and engagement of appropriate
services.
Level 4 – Children in Need of Immediate
Safeguarding including Protection from
Significant Harm
Level 3 - Children with additional
multiple and/or complex needs
These children have additional needs that are
multiple and/or complex and are likely to require
longer term intervention requiring multi-agency
involvements, a Single Plan, Lead Professional and
Team Around the Child to prevent escalation to a
higher level of need.
These children will be eligible for a child in need
assessment and may consequently be eligible for
services and are at risk of moving to a higher level of
risk if they do not receive this early help.
Children experiencing significant harm that requires
immediate statutory involvement such as child
protection or legal intervention.
These children may also need to be accommodated
by the local authority either on a voluntary basis or
by way of Court Order
These children will require specialist / statutory
integrated support
This level will also include children who are not
effectively engaging in the common assessment
process.
Agencies should make a verbal referral to the MultiAgency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) accompanied
by a written referral within 48 hours.
A social worker is most likely to act as the Lead
Professional.
Where appropriate a completed (and recent) CAF
Assessment Form should be used for this
purpose
The concerned professional must contact the Multi-8-
The Child’s Journey
Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) with their
concerns in writing. Where a current CAF
Assessment Form exists this should be attached.
Response:
The Torbay Children’s Services Needs Matrix
should be completed to indicate the level and area(s)
of need.
Usually, Children’s Social Care will undertake a child
in need Initial and/or Core Assessment under the
Framework for the Assessment of Children in
Need & their Families) balancing risk with
protective factors to evidence and confirm whether
the child has a level and range of additional and/or
complex needs that require the involvement of
children’s social care. The majority of children with
this level of need should have already received
support through the CAF process at Level 2.
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Children’s Social Care staff will always be the Lead
Professional at this Level of Need
Response: Framework for the Assessment of
Children in Need & their Families
The Torbay Children’s Services Needs Matrix
should be completed to indicate the level and area(s)
of need.
The CAF Assessment Form (where it exists) can
be used as supporting evidence and will be built
upon by children’s social care
Children’s social care staff will lead assessment and
case management activity at this level using the
Initial and Core Assessment
Additional support will be provided by other services
as determined by the case plan and the principles of
integrated working.
The Child’s Journey
Launch Event 23 June version
Level 1 – Children with No Additional Needs
This describes children and young people who are thriving and making positive progress
and therefore have no additional needs, i.e. those whose developmental needs are met by
universal services. These children receive appropriate universal services, such as health /
nursery / education / leisure facilities / housing or voluntary services.
The following factors may be evident at Level 1:
Developmental Needs
Learning / Education
- On track to achieve potential
- Good attendance at school/college/training
- No barriers to learning
- Planned progression beyond statutory school age
Health
- Good physical health with age appropriate
developmental milestones including speech and
language
Social, Emotional, Behavioural, Identity
- Good mental health and psychological well-being
- Good quality early attachments, confident in social
situations
- Knowledgeable about the effects of crime and antisocial
behaviour (age appropriate)
- Knowledgeable about sex and relationships and
consistent use of contraception if sexually active (age
appropriate)
Family and Social Relationships
- Stable families where parents/carers are able to meet
the child’s needs
- Has positive sense of self & relationships
- Initiates & sustains positive relationships with peers,
adults & family
Self-Care and Independence
- Age appropriate independent living skills
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Family & Environmental Factors
Family History and Well-Being
- Supportive family relationships
Housing, Employment and Finance
- Child fully supported financially
- Good quality stable housing
Social and Community Resources
- Good social and friendship networks exist
- Safe and secure environment
- Access to consistent and positive activities
Parenting Capacity (incl. Carers)
Basic Care, Safety and Protection
- Parents able to provide care for child’s
needs
Emotional Warmth and Stability
- Parents provide secure and caring
parenting
Guidance Boundaries and Stimulation
- Parents provide appropriate guidance and
boundaries to help child develop
appropriate values
The Child’s Journey
Launch Event 23 June version
Level 2 – Children with Additional Needs
For children and young people who appear to have needs at Level 2 the concerned
professional should use the Torbay Children’s Services Needs Matrix to indicate the
level and area(s) of need. This will assist the concerned professional in validating their
concern and confirming whether it is appropriate to respond at this level.
If on completing the Matrix it becomes apparent that a Level 2 response is not appropriate
the concerned professional should consider whether their response should be at a
different level, taking appropriate advice.
Having completed the Torbay Children’s Services Needs Matrix and confirmed that a Level
2 response is appropriate the concerned professional has the following options:
1. The needs of the child or young person can be met by a service available to
the concerned professional within their own service / agency – in which case
they simply “get on with it”
2. The needs of the child or young person can clearly be met by a specific single
service but which is not within their own agency – in which case they request the
appropriate service to respond using the CAF Common Service Request form.
3. In all other circumstances a full CAF Assessment is required. Advice on
completing the CAF Assessment Form can be sought from your manager /
professional lead or the Integrated Working Co-ordinators.
4. If the concerned professional is unsure about what action is most appropriate
they should take advice (e.g. from their manager / agency child protection
advisor / integrated working coordinator / etc)
The CAF Common Service Request form includes the opportunity to capture some basic
information about the child and family, the desired outcome(s) sought as well as recording
their consent to share information, and therefore supports a more proportionate response
for single service needs.
The CAF Common Service Request form will replace the various current referral forms to
ensure there is a simple and common approach to requesting services to meet the needs
of children and young people.
It is good practice to find out whether other practitioners are already involved – you can
ask the family, or obtain their consent to make enquiries about other involvements.
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The Child’s Journey
Launch Event 23 June version
The following factors may be evident at Level 2:
Developmental Needs
Learning / Education
- Occasional truanting or non attendance
- Identified language and communication difficulties
- Reduced access to books, toys or educational
materials
- Few or no qualifications and/or not in education,
employment or training (NEET)
Health
- Slow in reaching developmental milestones
- Missing routine immunisations or checks (incl. dental)
- Minor health problems which can be maintained in a
mainstream school
Social, Emotional, Behavioural, Identity
- Low level mental health or emotional issues requiring
intervention
- Occasional challenging behaviour (in school or
elsewhere)
- Pre offending behaviour and attitudes
- Coming to notice of police on a regular basis for antisocial behaviour
- Received fixed penalty notice, reprimand, or
diversionary intervention
- Early onset of offending behaviour or activity (10-14)
- Coming to notice of police through low level offending
- Victim of crime including discrimination
- Expressing wish to become pregnant at young age
- Early onset of sexual activity (13-14)
- Sexually active (15+) with inconsistent use of
contraception
- Low level substance misuse (current or historical)
- Poor self esteem
Self-Care and Independence
- Lack of age appropriate behaviour and independent
living skills that increase vulnerability to social
exclusion
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Family & Environmental Factors
Family and Social Relationships and Family
Well-Being
- Parents/carers have relationship difficulties
which may affect the child
- Parents request advice to manage their
child’s behaviour
- Children affected by difficult family
relationships or bullying
Housing, Employment and Finance
- Unsuitable (affordability, quality, location,
overcrowding)
- Families affected by low income or
unemployment
Social and Community Resources
- Insufficient facilities to meet needs e.g.
transport or access issues
- Family require advice regarding social
exclusion e.g. hate crimes
- Associating with anti social or criminally
active peers
- Limited access to contraceptive and sexual
health advice, information and services
Parenting Capacity (incl. Carers)
Basic Care, Safety and Protection
- Inconsistent care e.g. inappropriate child
care arrangements or young inexperienced
parent
Emotional Warmth and Stability
- Inconsistent parenting, but development not
significantly impaired
Guidance Boundaries and Stimulation
- Lack of response to concerns raised
regarding child
The Child’s Journey
Launch Event 23 June version
Level 3 – Children with Additional Multiple and/or Complex Needs
This smaller group of children require more intensive help and support to meet their needs.
This group includes those children who require an assessment to determine whether or
not they are children in need, those that have been assessed as children in need and
those who may be at risk of suffering significant harm.
Children may be defined as being “in need” under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989.
The criteria for meeting Section 17 are those children whose vulnerability is such that they
are unlikely to reach or maintain a satisfactory level of health or development, or their
health and development will be significantly impaired, without the provision of services plus
those who are disabled.
Where a child or family has given consent a concerned professional can share those
concerns with MASH with a view to a decision about how best to proceed.
If consent is not given then the concerned professional will need to determine, in
consultation with MASH, whether the requirement for parental consent should be
overridden by the need to protect the child.
You should complete the Torbay Children’s Services Needs Matrix to indicate the level
and area(s) of need. The concerned professional must contact MASH with their concerns
in writing. Where a current CAF Common Assessment Form exists this should also be
attached. MASH decision makers will then determine what action should take.
Usually, Children’s Social Care will undertake a child in need assessment (Initial and/or
Core Assessment) under the Framework for Assessment of Children in Need and their
Families, balancing risk with protective factors to evidence and confirm whether the child
has a level and range of additional and/or complex needs that require the involvement of
Children’s Social Care. The majority of children with this level of needs should have
already been receiving support through the CAF process.
The assessment must be done in conjunction with the child or young person (age
appropriate) and their family. Other involved professionals including those in universal
services should also contribute to the assessment but only with the consent of the child,
young person or family.
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The Child’s Journey
Launch Event 23 June version
The following factors may be evident at Level 3:
Developmental Needs
Learning / Education
- Short term exclusions or at risk of permanent
exclusion
- Persistent truanting
- Child significantly underachieving
- Limited parental support for / no access to books,
toys or educational materials
- No parental support for education
- Chronic non-attendance, truanting
- Permanently excluded, frequent exclusions or no
education
Health
- Physical and/or learning disability requiring
specialist support to be maintained in mainstream
setting
- Physical and emotional development raising
significant concerns
- Chronic/recurring health problems
- Missed appointments - routine and non-routine
- High level physical and/or learning disability which
cannot be maintained in a mainstream setting
Social, Emotional, Behavioural, Identity
- Under 16 and has had (or caused) a previous
pregnancy ending in still birth, abortion or
miscarriage
- 16+ and has had (or caused) 2 or more previous
pregnancies or is a teenage parent
- Under 18 and pregnant
- Evidence of regular/frequent drug use which may
be combined with other risk factors
- Evidence of escalation of substance use
- Evidence of changing attitudes and more
disregard to risk
- Mental health issues requiring specialist
intervention in the community
- Significant low self esteem / distorted self image
- Known to be part of gang or post code derived
collective
- Teenage parent under 16
- Complex mental health issues requiring specialist
interventions
- Under 18 and has committed offences being dealt
with by the Criminal Justice System
- Young people experiencing current harm through
their use of substances
- Failure or rejection to address serious
(re)offending behaviour
- Frequently go missing from home for long periods
- Young people with complicated substance
problems requiring specific interventions and/or
child protection
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Self-Care and Independence
- Lack of age appropriate behaviour and
independent living skills, likely to impair
development
- Severe lack of age appropriate behaviour and
independent living skills likely to result in
significant harm e.g. bullying, isolation
Family & Environmental Factors
Family and Social Relationships and Family
Well-Being
- Risk of relationship breakdown with parent or
carer and the child
- Child who is a Young Carer
- Child appears to have undifferentiated
attachments
- History of domestic violence (child present).
Domestic Abuse Protocol Level 2
Housing, Employment and Finance
- Severe overcrowding, temporary
accommodation, homeless, unemployment
- Likely to be of no fixed abode or homeless
- Family unable to gain employment or in extreme
poverty
Social and Community Resources
- Family require support services as a result of
social exclusion
- Parents socially excluded, no access to local
facilities
- Child or family need immediate support and
protection due to harassment /discrimination and
no access to community resources
Parenting Capacity (incl. Carers)
Basic Care, Safety and Protection
- Physical care or supervision of child is
inadequate
- Parental learning disability, substance misuse or
mental health impacting on parent’s ability to
meet the needs of the child
- Parental non-compliance with professional
advice / support
- Parent is unable to meet child’s needs without
support
Emotional Warmth and Stability
- Inconsistent parenting impairing emotional or
behavioural development
- Parents unable to manage and risk of family
breakdown
Guidance Boundaries and Stimulation
- Parent provides inconsistent boundaries or
responses
- Parent does not offer good role model e.g.
condones antisocial behaviour
The Child’s Journey
Launch Event 23 June version
Level 4 – Children in Need of Immediate Safeguarding including
Protection from Significant Harm
Immediate Safeguarding
Level 4 includes those children where there is a need for immediate safeguarding as they
may have suffered or be at risk of suffering significant harm. These children will require an
immediate referral to Children’s Social Care via Torbay’s Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub
(MASH) without undue delay.
Significant Harm
Some children are in need because they are suffering, or likely to suffer significant harm.
The Children Act 1989 introduced the concept of significant harm as the threshold that
justifies compulsory intervention in family life in the best interests of children (as opposed
to consensual involvement through CAF), and gives Local Authorities a duty to make
enquiries to decide whether they should take action to safeguard or promote the welfare of
a child who is suffering / likely to suffer significant harm.
Once the immediate safety of the child has been achieved the needs of the child or young
person can be met through the integrated working arrangements at Level 3.
Where a child or family has given consent a concerned professional can share those
concerns with MASH with a view to a decision about whether the threshold for significant
harm is met and how best to proceed with a child protection investigation.
If consent is not given then the concerned professional will need to determine, in
consultation with MASH, whether the requirement for parental consent will be overridden
by the need to protect the child.
It is important to be as clear and specific about the reasons for the concerns as is possible.
Telephone referrals to MASH can be made for immediate safeguarding concerns, but must
be followed up in writing within 48 hours. Other safeguarding concerns (but less
immediate) must be supported in writing. If the concerns are about a child or young person
currently subject to the CAF process then the existing CAF information (CAF Assessment
Form) should be shared with MASH.
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The Child’s Journey
Launch Event 23 June version
The following factors will indicate when there is a need for a safeguarding response
at Level 4:
Circumstances in which an immediate referral to MASH and response from Children’s Social Care is
necessary:
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Children at immediate risk of significant harm
including physical, sexual, emotional harm and
neglect
-
Children who are remanded
-
Children who allege abuse
-
Children with unexplained injuries, suspicious
injuries or where there is an inconsistent
explanation of the injury
-
Children whose parents are unable to provide
care whether for physical, intellectual, emotional
or social reasons
-
Children from families experiencing a crisis likely
to result in a breakdown of care arrangements
-
Where there are serious concerns regarding the
risk of significant harm to an unborn baby
Other factors that may be evident at Level 4 that indicate possible significant harm, but not requiring
an immediate response:
Developmental Needs
Family & Environmental Factors
Learning / Education
Family and Social Relationships and Family WellBeing
- Evidence that child is deliberately being stopped
from attending school
- Suspicion of physical, emotional, sexual abuse or
neglect
Health
- High levels of domestic violence that put the child
- Concern about non-accidental injury (actual or
at risk. Domestic Abuse Protocol Level 3.
likely)
- Evidence of home being used for purposes of
- Indications of fabricated or induced illness
prostitution
- Indications of non-organic failure to thrive
- Parents are unable to prioritise the care of their
- Indications of repeated urinary tract infections
child because of their mental health, drug and
(UTI’s)
alcohol use and/or learning disabilities
- Serious physical and emotional health problems
- Children who need to be looked after outside of
- Persistent evidence of infestation – e.g. fleabites,
their own family
head lice
Social and Community Resources
Social, Emotional, Behavioural, Identity
- Child / family hidden from sight
- Challenging behaviour resulting in serious risk to
Parenting Capacity (incl. Carers)
the child and others
Basic Care, Safety and Protection
- In sexually exploitative relationship
- Under 13 engaged in sexual activity
- Unacceptable level of physical or emotional care
- Indications of repeated self harm / suicide
or supervision
attempts
- Child abandoned (including through imprisonment
- Fearful in presence of particular family members
of parent) incl. vulnerable children who are left
or extended family “friends”
alone (incl. young people aged 16-17)
- Children displaying sexually harmful behaviour
- Child emotionally rejected
- Unaccompanied asylum seeking children
- Child who is Privately Fostered, or has an
imprisoned parent
Emotional Warmth and Stability
- No emotional warmth or stability given by parents
Guidance Boundaries and Stimulation
- Lack of boundaries and stimulation puts child at
risk of harm
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The Child’s Journey
Launch Event 23 June version
Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH)
The Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub is a new service developed in conjunction with Devon
& Cornwall Constabulary and other key partners and provides a new approach to
intelligence and decision making with regards to adult and children safeguarding.
MASH will provide the highest level of knowledge and analysis of all known intelligence
and information across the safeguarding children and adult’s partnerships in Torbay to
ensure all safeguarding activity and intervention is timely, proportionate and effective.
It will include a responsibility to determine whether the threshold for safeguarding children
(or adults) at risk is reached by collating and sharing information known to individual
agencies and determining the multi-agency response then given.
Thus any professional concerned about a child with Level 3 or Level 4 needs should
contact MASH without undue delay. MASH will request information from partner agencies
and receive this back within defined timeframes, depending on the urgency:
RED:
AMBER:
GREEN:
information returned and decision made within 3 hours
information returned and decision made by end of next working day
information returned and decision made within 5 working days
The decision made within these RAG timescales will be about what happens next. The
options available are:
- A child protection enquiry under Section 47 of the Children Act 1989 led by
children’s social care (i.e. Level 4 needs)
- A Child In Need assessment under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 undertaken
by children’s social care (i.e. Level 3 needs)
- A CAF assessment, which may be undertaken by the original referrer (i.e. Level 2
needs)
MASH staffing includes Social Care and Integrated Working Decision Makers as well as
seconded representatives from key agencies including primary, acute and mental health,
police, probation and children’s services. The Decision Makers will determine what action
is required.
Information Sharing
As with any other personal information, a practitioner undertaking an assessment should
only share information with a third party with the explicit consent of the child, young
person and/or family, unless in the practitioner’s judgement there is sufficient concern for
the child’s safety to share information without that consent.
Good practice indicates that the child, young person and/or family should be aware of how
information may be shared. This should be noted on the assessment and/or recorded in
the practitioners own agency’s case notes (or similar).
Practitioners should only share information with a third party where they have confirmation
that the requesting practitioner has a legitimate reason for requiring that information and
the consent of the child, young person and family, unless they judge there is sufficient
public interest as above.
Where there are any doubts the practitioner should take advice from their manager,
agency child protection advisor, information governance officer or MASH.
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Each partner agency has its own responsibility for ensuring staff are familiar with and
comply with current information sharing practice as promoted by HM Government
Information Sharing Guidance (updated 2009).
Five key points about information sharing
1. Explain to people openly and honestly what information you will share, with whom
and why. The only time that you should not do this is, if letting them know, will leave
someone at risk of significant harm.
2. You should respect the wishes of family members if they do not want information
shared unless someone will be placed at risk of significant harm if you don’t share
the information.
3. If in doubt speak to your manager or have a general discussion with children’s
services, by which we mean, one where you do not necessarily share the name of
the family.
4. Make sure that the information that you are sharing is accurate, up to date,
necessary for the purpose for which you are sharing it and only shared with those
who need to know it. The information should also be shared securely. Having
decided to share information you need not tell everyone everything.
5. You should always record the reason for your decision; whether you shared the
information or not.
Common Assessment Framework (CAF)
The CAF is a process to help practitioners gather and understand the complete picture
about a child’s additional needs at an early stage, based on discussions with the child their
family and other practitioners as appropriate. This is carried out with the agreement of the
family.
The framework as used in Torbay:
-
includes a simple Needs Matrix to help practitioners determine what level and
area(s) of need a child or young people may have and therefore which response is
most appropriate
-
can be used for children and young people of any age, including unborn babies
-
includes a standardised assessment to help practitioners record and where
appropriate share with others the findings from the assessment in terms that are
helpful in working with the family to find a response to unmet needs
-
provides a structured action plan and review process that helps practitioners and
the child/young person and their family record and monitor decisions, actions and
responsibilities and progress achieved
-
is supported by a CAF Common Service Request form that reduces the need for
services to have their own referral forms.
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The CAF assessment can be undertaken by any member of the children’s workforce
providing they have undertaken locally agreed CAF training.
Family Support Meetings
It is good practice to ensure that the child or young person and their family are fully
engaged with and clear about the plan and practitioner / agency involvements. This can be
facilitated through regular Family Support Meetings and Reviews coordinated by the Lead
Professional.
Role of the Lead Professional (LP)
When a child needs a package of support, experience shows they and their family benefit
from having one person who can help them through the system and ensure they get the
right service at the right time. Where a child has additional or complex needs, the lead
professional acts as a co-ordinator. They help create a partnership, not just with their
colleagues but with the child and young person and their family too.
Initial Assessment
A brief assessment of each child referred to children’s social care with a request for
assistance to be provided
An initial assessment should be undertaken and completed within 10 working days of the
referral decision. An initial assessment considers the child or young person’s development
in the context of the parenting capacity of the parents/carers and the wider community. It
will also involve all the agencies relevant to a child, and will be undertaken by a qualified
social worker. The consent of the child, young person and family is not essential but will
always be sought and encouraged unless judged to be not in the child’s best interests.
Once a referral is taken, referrers will be informed of the name of the allocated social
worker and later informed of the outcome of the initial assessment.
Core Assessment
A core assessment is an in-depth assessment, which addresses the central or most
important aspects of the needs of a child and the capacity of his or her parents as
caregivers to respond appropriately to these needs within the wider family and community
context.
If a core assessment is necessary it should be completed within 35 working days from the
end of the initial assessment and/or when the decision was made to start the core
assessment. The assessment is led by a qualified social worker in Children’s Social Care
but it is essential that key agencies contribute information they have about family
members, specialist knowledge or advice and potential and ongoing support to the family.
Once again, the consent of the child, young person and family is not essential but will
always be sought and encouraged unless judged to be not in the child’s best interests.
Child Protection Enquiries (“Section 47”)
If at any time there is evidence that a child or young person has suffered or is likely to
suffer significant harm, or there is reason to believe a crime has been committed against a
child, an initial discussion must take place with the police. This may decide that the
threshold has been reached for a child protection enquiry, and a formal strategy discussion
will take place between the police, social workers, and other professionals to discuss the
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instigation of the joint child protection procedures and how the process will be managed to
secure the safety and wellbeing of the child or young person.
The core assessment process will always be followed if a child becomes subject to the
child protection procedures. In these circumstances the consent of the child, young person
and family is not essential but will always be sought and encouraged unless judged to be
not in the child’s best interests.
Conclusion
This summary guidance provides an overview of the continuum of needs of all children in
Torbay. It provides simple guidance on the minimum standards and processes in working
with children, young people and their families according to their needs.
It is acknowledged that decisions about how and who is best to meet a child’s needs are
based on individual judgements and involves professional and personal values.
Further Information
Additional detailed guidance, the relevant forms and procedures to support this summary
guidance is available on www.torbay.gov.uk/fis
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