Multi Agency Guidance for Thresholds of Need and Intervention - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Multi Agency Guidance for Thresholds of Need and Intervention

Multi Agency Thresholds • “...the right help is given to the child at the right time.” (Working Together 2018) • The threshold framework supports multi- agency working in determining which service is best placed to respond to the needs of the child or young person. • http://www.wlscb.org.uk/

Safeguarding multi-agency Thresholds

Thresholds for Support • Children and young people have different needs and will need different types and levels of support to ensure that they meet their full potential both as children and later as adults. • Children rarely “fit” neatly into categories • Their circumstances do not always change in predictable or sustained ways

Identifying Risk • Risk is often cumulative and a single risk factor on its own may mean that you do not need to be overly concerned • The presence of a number of indicators, relatively minor in themselves, when put may together pose a significant risk • Similarly, just one factor may be serious enough in itself to warrant a more specialist or intensive service • At all levels of risk, consent/informing parents and carers and children and young people if they are Fraser competent is required

Application of Thresholds • Ofsted Sept 2017 - referrals from professionals are timely, a high proportion either do not meet the threshold for statutory intervention or are insufficiently detailed for managers to make a decision about the next steps. • From June 17 – May 18, MASH have received 12,047 referrals and of these only 5,201 have met the threshold for Children’s Social Care intervention = 43% therefore 6,846 (57%) of referrals by professionals into MASH are not appropriate. • Multi agency audits undertaken by the MASH Management Board, which comprises of health, police, mental health, education, women’s aid, the Beacon, early help and children’s social care have found that threshold decision making by MASH is good.

Level 3 ~ co-ordinated multi agency support Advice and Guidance Single agency referral Lead Professional Think Family Level 1

Level Three – Multi-Agency Co-ordinated Intervention • Practitioners working in universal services feel that coordinated additional input from other agencies is necessary to ensure the child's needs are met • Referral to the Early Help Hub is required – consent required • An holistic assessment is needed to develop a planned package of multi-agency support which will be coordinated by a lead professional ; may include Specialist Targeted Support • Most children and young people will only need to be supported for a short period of time until they are strong and resilient enough to only require additional single agency support or universal services

Locality Family Support Hubs Locality Families Information Panels Service Targeted Parenting Youth Offer Support

Early Help Hub Early Help Hub Functions: • Receive contacts through the 0300 number option 1 & also those screened by MASH as not meeting the level of intervention for Children’s Social Care • Advice and guidance on services and support, this includes step downs from: – Child and family assessment – Child in Need plan • Taking Referrals for Early Help Support and broker support single agency or through a multi agency Lead Professional • Advice regarding Funded 2,3, 4 year old child care places • Referring parents to parenting programmes • Referrals for Short Breaks

Level 4 Statutory Intervention

Level 4 Statutory Intervention • A small minority of highly vulnerable children will need specialist interventions to protect them from or risk from serious abuse or neglect • “significant harm” the legal threshold at which compulsory intervention in family life is in the best interests of children - S47 Children Act 1989 • It gives local authorities a duty to make enquiries to decide whether they should take action to safeguard or promote the welfare of a child • The duty to promote welfare includes children who are deemed to be a ‘child in need’ S17 Children Act 1989 • Informing parents is still required unless doing so significantly increases the risk to the child. This means you must inform the parent that you are contacting social services significantly increases the risk to the child. This means you must inform the parent that you are contacting social services

MASH • MASH is the M ulti A gency S afeguarding H ub and comprises of: children’s services, early help, police, health, probation, education and women’s aid, the Beacon. • Multi agency systems can be accessed if parental consent is available on receipt of the M ulti A gency R eferral F orm – MARF • The only time when consent will be dispensed with, is when the referral is clear that the child is suffering or at risk of significant harm.

MASH • MASH will screen all contacts, collating all relevant agency information to inform level of intervention. The following will be the outcome of MASH screening:  No further role for children’s service – advice and guidance given – NFA  Support by Early Help  Referral for completion of a Child & Family Assessment – S17  Referral for a Child Protection Enquiry – S47 • MASH have 24hrs to make a decision on a contact however if there are child protection concerns then a strategy meetings must be convened in 2 hours of the receipt of the contact.

Useful Information www.mywalsall.org Advice on 2,3,4 yr funding, Menu of Childrens Services, Locality Panel advice 0300 555 2866 Early Help Hub advice and guidance – Option 1 Locality Panel Locality Chair contact North Locality – Blakenall, Bloxwich, Leamore Ann Page – 07956 613 866 East Locality – Aldridge, Brownhills, Pheasey David Hughes – 07908 163 662 South & Central – Palfrey, Pleck, Alumwell, Birchills Joanne Philips & Donna Ricketts – 07506 092 870 West Locality – Darlaston, Willenhall, Kerry Hinks & Kelly-Anne Perry – 07539 466 957

Questions? www.wlscb.org.uk