The Norfolk Threshold. Guide.

Transcription

1 The Norfolk Threshold Guide

2 Contents Introduction 3 Norfolk s vision 4 Defining early help 5 What do we mean by thresholds? 6 Effective support windscreen 7 Levels of need table 8 Indicators of need 10 Effective support process diagram 18 Access to services Level 1 19 Access to services Level 2 20 Access to services Level 3 21 Access to services Level 4 22 Glossary of terms 25 Useful links 26 2 The Norfolk Threshold Guide

3 Introduction This guidance is for everyone who works with children, young people and their families in Norfolk. It supports Norfolk s commitment to implementing Working Together to Safeguard Children and specifically addresses the requirement that the LSCB should publish a threshold document that includes: The process for the early help assessment and the type and level of early help services to be provided; and The criteria, including the level of need, for when a case should be referred to local authority children s social care for assessment and for statutory services under Sections 17, 47, 31 and 20 of the Children Act 1989 (children in need, child protection, care orders and duty to accommodate, respectively) 1 1 Working Together 2013: p14, point 18 To do this we all need to work together in an open way with children, young people and their families to identify strengths and needs, to find practical achievable solutions and to provide the right amount of information, advice and support at the right time. In this guidance we have identified four levels of need (1-4). Early help should be provided at the point a family member identifies an additional need which may require support from wider family, community, universal provision or targeted support from voluntary/statutory services. Services for children, young people and parents/carers with additional and intensive needs are sometimes known as targeted services. By working together effectively with children, young people and their families with additional needs and by providing coordinated multidisciplinary/agency support and services for those with complex needs, we seek to prevent more children and young people requiring statutory interventions and reactive specialist services. The Norfolk Threshold Guide 3

4 Norfolk s vision We believe that all children, young people and their families have the right to be healthy, happy, and safe; to be loved, valued and respected; and have high aspirations for their future. Our pledge To ensure families receive help at the first sign of difficulties emerging; this may be at any stage in a child s life including pre birth. To take a whole family view and ensure services are in place which will support parents and carers to provide the best possible care for children and young people. All professionals who come into contact with children, young people and their families will make a commitment to do everything within their power to ensure children and young people develop within an environment which enables them to achieve their full potential. Our value base Respect for all people at all times Listening to family members and giving importance to what they say Hearing the voices of children and young people Understanding the family s individuality, values, beliefs, culture and spirituality Recognising and celebrating the importance of a child/young person s family and community Explaining what we are doing and why Honesty when giving our views about a family s situation and if we have concerns Early helpfulness doing all we can to assist A common aim to work to maintain the child/young person and their family on the universal pathway 4 The Norfolk Threshold Guide

5 Defining early help The following definition has been adopted from the Government s 2013 statutory guidance, Working Together to Safeguard Children. Providing early help is more effective in promoting the welfare of children than reacting later. Early help means providing support as soon as a problem emerges, at any point in a child s life, from the foundation years through to the teenage years. Effective early help relies upon families, communities and local agencies working together to: Identify children, young people and families who would benefit from early help; Undertake an assessment of the need for early help; and Provide targeted early help services to address the assessed needs of a child/young person and their family which focuses on activity to significantly improve the outcomes for the child, young person and their family Local agencies should have in place effective ways to identify emerging unmet needs for individuals and families. This requires all professionals, including those in universal services and those providing services to adults with children, to understand their role in identifying emerging problems and to share information with other professionals to support early identification and assessment. A multi-agency/disciplinary approach to assessment, support and intervention Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and their families is the responsibility of everyone in Norfolk who works or has contact with children, young people and their families. The multi-agency/disciplinary approach ensures that children, young people and families are understood and responded to in the round so that they receive the right support and practical help in a coordinated way when they need it. Partners and professionals who work with children, young people and their families should consult one another, share information and work together to ensure that the child/young person and their family get the most appropriate and effective support. A confident workforce with a common core of knowledge and understanding about children and their family s needs Appropriate, effective and timely support for children, young people and families could not be achieved without the professional judgment and expertise that all practitioners working with children, young people and their families bring to their role. We will support individuals and organisations in Norfolk to develop confident and effective practice that works in an open way with families. This will enable them to make choices and changes and together improve outcomes for families in the long term. The Norfolk Threshold Guide 5

6 What do we mean by thresholds? Thresholds are a clear way of aligning a particular level of need with a corresponding level of support to meet that need. This therefore aids consistent decision making with children, young people and their families and enables them to access services at the point they require them. The threshold decision should inform the most effective way of enabling families to successfully return or be maintained on the universal pathway. The pathway recognises that children and their families may need different levels of support throughout their lives, but that appropriate support should enable them to return to the universal pathway and be maintained there. The child/young person and their family universal pathway Child/young person requires protection (S47, CA 1989) Needs require child/young person to be assessed as Child in Need (S17, CA 1989) Needs require co-ordinated support The Universal Pathway Needs require co-ordinated support Needs require child/young person to be assessed as Child in Need (S17, CA 1989) Child/young person requires protection (S47, CA 1989) 6 The Norfolk Threshold Guide

7 Effective support windscreen Working together in partnership to help children, young people and their families improve their lives across the continuum of needs spectrum. Effective support windscreen (continuum of needs) Level descriptors 1 4 Level 1 - Emerging family pressure of stress over a short period of time that could be resolved by existing support access to wider family/community/universal services/access to targeted support via one other universal agency. Level 2 - Emerging pressure or stress that requires a coordinated multi-agency response. Level 3 - Child/young person will be assessed and provided for as a child in need (S17, Children Act 1989). Level 4 - Children require child protection measures under S47 of the Children Act 1989 where there is reasonable cause to suspect the child is at risk or likely to be at risk of significant harm. All partners working with children, young people and their families will offer support as soon as we are aware of any additional needs that require it. We will always seek to work together to provide support at the lowest appropriate level possible in accord with their needs. The above responsibility and commitment to partnership working is affirmed through the Norfolk Health and Wellbeing Board and statutory guidance detailed within Working Together to Safeguard Children Targeted Services further concerns Form Assessments Specialist Services further concerns Universal Services further concerns Family Support Level 1 Children, young people and their families Level 2 Level 3 Children, young people and their families with additional needs Needs met Needs met Team around the child,young person and their family Children, young people and their families with multiple needs Needs met Specialist Assessments Level 4 Children, young people and their families in need of immediate care and protection The Norfolk Threshold Guide 7

8 Levels of need table The following table describes the level, context and aligning approach for the type and level of services that could be provided. Level 1 Children, young people, parent/carer/family pressure or stress over a short period of time that could be resolved by existing supports or access to universal services or access to targeted support via one other agency. Approach Type of services Outcomes Whole family and community/ neighbourhood resources. Open access to universal services/ resources. Requests for support from one agency to another can be made at this level. Early years, education, universal health care services, police, housing, youth projects, leisure services, voluntary/ community services. Child/parent/carer achieving expected goals/milestones within the universal pathway. Level 2 Persistent pressure or stress for child, young person, parent/carer/family that requires a coordinated multi-agency response to provide targeted support services. Approach Type of services Outcomes Coordinated services in agreement with family, where additional needs have been identified. These can be coordinated by a suitable lead worker. Use of: Family Support Form (FSF) Team Around the Family (TAF) Family support delivery plan (including step down from level 3) Key worker scheme SEND Duties under Children and Families Bill (Sept 2014) Consider Norfolk Family Focus (NFF) where needs within the whole household including worklessness, offending/anti-social behaviour and non school attendance issues are present. A wide range of services might be involved in meeting the family s needs coordinated by a suitable lead worker including: parenting support, children s centre support, extra health support, behavioural support, housing support, additional learning support, school based support, CAMHS tier 2, police Family Intervention Projects (FIP), Youth Offending Service, targeted youth support, Norfolk Family Focus (NFF), voluntary/community services. Delivery of support from the operational partnership team using intervention model. Targeted/preventative coordinated support enables child/parent/carer to achieve expected goals/milestones. Reduction of harm/offending behaviour. Family enabled to return to the universal pathway without further targeted support. 8 The Norfolk Threshold Guide

9 Level 3 Children and young people at this level will be assessed as a child in need (S17 of the Children Act 1989). Approach Type of services Outcomes Coordinated by a qualified social worker. Children s Services. Needs identified via single social care assessment as a family with a child in need (S17 Children Act 1989) Team around the family approach Child in need plan Step up process with Family Support Form Consider Norfolk Family Focus (NFF) where needs within the whole household including worklessness, offending/ anti-social behaviour and non school attendance issues are present SEND Duties under Children and Families Bill (Sept 2014) Consider Multi-agency strategy discussion A wide range of services might be involved in meeting the family s needs coordinated by a qualified social worker/youth Justice Practitioner. This will include support from the statutory and voluntary sectors eg: Health care for children with life limiting illnesses Services for children with profound and enduring disability Norfolk Family Focus (NFF) CAMHS tiers 2 and 3 Delivery of support from the operational partnership team using intervention model. Statutory involvement leads to return to targeted/ preventative coordinated support, where appropriate, enabling child/ parent/carer to achieve expected goals/ milestones. Level 4 Children and young people at this level will need safeguarding under Section 47 of the Children s Act 1989, where there is reasonable cause to suspect they are suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm. Approach Type of services Outcomes Coordinated and led by a qualified social worker. Needs identified via single social care assessment Children s social care child protection plan Care proceedings Youth treatment orders/custody Hospital in-patient Consider Norfolk Family Focus (NFF) where needs within the whole household including worklessness, offending/anti-social behaviour and non school attendance issues are present Police secure Police Protection Order SEND Duties under Children and Families Bill (Sept 2014) Hold multi-agency strategy discussion Police investigation Children s Services to consider Emergency Protection Order (EPO) A wide range of services might be involved in meeting the family s needs. Coordinated by a qualified social worker. Police Children s Services Family Intervention Projects (FIP) Fostering and residential care Youth Offending Service Criminal justice system CAMHS tiers 3 and 4 In-patient and continuing health care Voluntary sector services Norfolk Family Focus (NFF) Multi-agency working with the child and their family either to reduce the risk(s) to child in need (S17) - as described under level 3 - and ultimately a move out of statutory interventions, or will embark on court proceedings to accommodate the child and achieve long term stability, including permanence or adoption, for them. The Norfolk Threshold Guide 9

10 Indicators of need The criteria for ascertaining the level of presenting family need, is outlined in the following table. This includes identifying the level of need for when a case should be referred to Children s Services for statutory assessment. The needs below are grouped under the three domains of the framework for assessment triangle (see Assessment framework, p27). The needs outlined are not an exhaustive list of indicators but should be considered as a guide to aid assessment and planning. Professional judgement should be exercised on a case by case basis. This includes the responsibility of Children s Services to identify when statutory intervention is required. Level 1 Emerging family pressure or stress that could be resolved by: Existing supports or Access to universal services or Access to targeted support via one other agency Child s developmental needs Health Physically well Nutritious diet Adequate hygiene and dress Developmental and health checks/immunisations up-to-date Developmental milestones and growth appropriate Sexual activity age appropriate Good mental health Emotional development Good quality early attachments Able to adapt to change Able to understand others feelings Behavioural development Takes responsibility for behaviour Responds appropriately to boundaries and constructive guidance Identity and self esteem Can discriminate between safe and unsafe contacts Learning Access to toys and books Enjoys and participates in learning activities Has experience of success and achievement Sound links between home and school Planning for career and adult life 10 The Norfolk Threshold Guide

11 Parenting/carer capacity Basic care, ensuring safety and protection Provide for child s physical needs, eg food, drink, appropriate clothing, medical and dental care Protection from danger or significant harm Emotional warmth and stability Show warm regard, praise and encouragement Ensure stable relationships Guidance boundaries and stimulation Ensure the child can develop a sense of right and wrong Child has access to leisure facilities appropriate to age and interests Family and environmental factors Family and social relationships Stable and affectionate relationships with family Is able to make and maintain friendships Family functioning Good relationships within family, including when parents are separated Housing, work and income Accommodation has basic amenities and appropriate facilities, and can meet families needs Managing budget to meet individual needs Social and community including education They have friendships and are able to access local services and amenities Family feels part of the community The Norfolk Threshold Guide 11

12 Level 2 Where needs require a coordinated multi-agency response. Child s developmental needs Health Inadequate diet eg no breakfast, being under or over weight Missing immunisations Child is continually slow in reaching growth and developmental milestones Minor concerns re hygiene, clothing Dental problems untreated/decay Missing routine and non routine health appointments Concerns about developmental progress eg bedwetting/soiling Vulnerable to emotional problems, perhaps in response to life events such as parental separation eg child seems unduly anxious, angry or defiant for their age Experimenting or being affected by tobacco, alcohol or illegal drugs Frequent accidents Emotional development Some difficulties with family relationships Some difficulties with peer group relationships and with adults eg clingy, anxious or withdrawn Some evidence of inappropriate responses and actions Limited engagement in play with others/has few or no friends Child with indicators of emerging mental health needs Low level self harm Behavioural development Not always able to understand how own actions impact on others Finds accepting responsibility for own actions difficult Finds positive interaction difficult with peers in unstructured contexts Vulnerable to peer pressure eg older peer pressure - association with people influencing behaviour negatively/exposing greater risk to harm Absent or missing from home environment for recurrent periods with little or no explanation offered Emerging as a repeat perpetrator for crime and anti-social behaviour eg requiring an escalated partnership approach where child or family are not engaging (out of court sanctions) Identity and self esteem Some insecurities around identity expressed eg low self esteem, sexuality, gender identity May experience bullying May be perpetrating bullying behaviour Lack of confidence is incapacitating Child/young person provocative in behaviour/appearance eg inappropriately dressed for school Subject to persistent discrimination eg racial, sexual or due to disabilities Victim of crime/anti-social behaviour 12 The Norfolk Threshold Guide

13 Parenting/carer capacity Basic care, ensuring safety and protection Basic care is not provided consistently Parents/carers require advice on parenting issues Some concerns about child s physical needs being met Young inexperienced parents Child/young person can behave in an anti-social way in the neighbourhood Parents/carers stress starting to affect ability to ensure child s safety Parents/carers fail to recognise or take steps to address behavioural issues working with professionals Emotional warmth and stability Inconsistent responses to child/young person by parent/carer Parents struggling to have their own mental and emotional needs met Child/young person not able to develop other positive relationships Starting to show difficulties with attachments Guidance boundaries and stimulation Parents/carers offer inconsistent boundaries Lack of routine in the home/chaotic home environment Parents/carers do not recognise the need to set boundaries Family and environmental factors Family and social relationships Lack of positive role models Child has some difficulties sustaining relationships Unresolved issues arising from parents separation, step-parenting or bereavement Family functioning A child/young person is taking on a caring role in relation to their parent/carers or siblings No effective support from extended family Adopted Housing, work and income Family seeking asylum or refugees Periods of unemployment of Parents/carers Parents/carers have limited formal education Low income Financial/debt problems Poor state of repair, temporary or overcrowded or unsafe housing Intentionally homeless Rent arrears put family at risk of eviction or proceedings initiated NEET post-16 Social and community including education Some exclusion or conflict experiences; low tolerance Difficulty accessing community facilities Risk of exclusion from their community The Norfolk Threshold Guide 13

14 Level 3 Child/young person will be assessed as a child in need (S17, Children Act 1989). Child s developmental needs Health Child/young person has some chronic/recurring health problems; not treated, or badly managed Developmental milestones are not being met due to parental care Regular substance misuse or adversely affected by other s misuse Lack of food Unsafe sexual activity Self harming behaviours Child with permanent, severe and profound learning, physical or sensory disability or complex physical/mental health needs Mental health problems eg conduct disorder, ADHD, depression, eating disorder Emotional development Sexualised behaviour (not developmentally appropriate) Child appears unduly anxious, angry or phobic and demonstrates a mental health condition Young carer responsibilities affecting development of self Behavioural development Persistent disruptive/challenging behaviour at school, home or in the neighbourhood Offending behaviour resulting in repeated escalation/interventions eg behaviour contracts, application for prohibitive orders or arrest, resulting in court attendance, remands, court orders including custodial sentence Continually missing from home environment without reasonable explanation Identity and self esteem Poor sense of self/identity developing adversely on self Learning Consistently poor nursery/school attendance and punctuality Young person with few if any achievements School attendance below 80%/Child Missing Education/NEET 14 The Norfolk Threshold Guide

15 Parenting/carer capacity Basic care, ensuring safety and protection Parents/carers are failing to provide adequate care Parents have found it difficult to care for previous child/young person Domestic violence in the home Parents mental health problems or substance misuse significantly affect care of child/young person Non compliance of parents/carers with services Child/young person may be subject to neglect Child has multiple carers; may have no significant relationship to any of them Emotional warmth and stability Parents/carers frequently put own needs ahead of child s Child experiences frequent changes to care arrangements Guidance boundaries and stimulation Parents/carers struggle/refuse to set effective boundaries eg too loose/tight/physical chastisement Child/young person/parent/carer behaves in an anti-social way in the neighbourhood Family and environmental factors Family and social relationships Relationships with carers characterised by unpredictability Misses school consistently Previously had periods of LA accommodation Young person is the main carer for a family member At risk of sexual exploitation Family functioning Family has serious physical and mental health difficulties impacting on their child Community is hostile to family Care leaver with parenting responsibilities Pregnant woman in need of pre/post birth support plan Action required to prevent imminent family breakdown Privately fostered Housing, work and income Chronic unemployment that has severely affected parent/carer s own identity Family unable to gain employment due to significant lack of basic skills or long term substance misuse Notification of Intentionally Homeless status and/or 16/17 year old homeless Social and community including education Child/family breakdown with wider community Does not engage readily with available community learning resources The Norfolk Threshold Guide 15

16 Level 4 Children and young people at this level will need safeguarding under Section 47 of the Children s Act 1989, where there is reasonable cause to suspect they are suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm. Child s developmental needs Health Child/young person has chronic health problems Failure to thrive Refusing medical care endangering life/development Seriously obese/seriously underweight Serious dental decay through persistent lack of dental care Persistent and high risk substance misuse Dangerous sexual activity and/or early teenage pregnancy Sexual exploitation Sexual abuse Evidence of significant harm or neglect Non accidental injury Unexplained injuries Acute mental health problems eg severe depression, threat of suicide, psychotic episode Physical/learning disability requiring constant supervision Disclosure of abuse from child/young person Disclosure of abuse/physical injury caused by a professional Notification of child on child protection plan that is moving into the local authority area or is subject to S37 orders Emotional development Puts self or others in danger eg missing from home Severe emotional behavioural challenges Puts self or others at significant risk through behaviour Identity and self esteem Evident mental health needs significantly impacting on self and others Child/young person likely to put self at risk Family and social relationships Relationships with family experienced as negative (low warmth/high criticism) Rejection by a parent/carer; family no longer want to care for or have abandoned child/young person Periods accommodated by LA 16 The Norfolk Threshold Guide

17 Parenting capacity Basic care, ensuring safety and protection Parent/carer s mental health or substance use significantly affects care of child/young person Continual instability and violence in the home Parents/carers unable to care for previous children Parents/carers involved in serious crime, or crime against children Parents/carers own needs are so significant they are unable to keep child/young person safe Severe disability child/young person relies totally on other people to meet their care needs Chronic, serious domestic abuse involving child/young person Disclosure from parent/carer of abuse to child/young person Suspected evidence of fabricated or induced illness Evidence of injury to child with inconsistent or implausible explanation; any injury to a pre mobile baby/cwd not mobile/child non verbal Emotional warmth and stability Parent/carer s own emotional experiences impacting on their ability to meet child/young person s needs safely Child has no one to care for them Requesting child to be accommodated Guidance, boundaries and stimulation No effective boundaries set by parents/carers Multiple carers/unsuitable carers providing for child Child/young person beyond parental control Family and environmental factors Housing work and income Homeless - or imminent if not accepted by housing department Housing dangerous or seriously threatening to health Physical accommodation puts child in danger Extreme poverty/debt impacting on ability to care for child Learning No school placement or out of school due to parent/carer neglect Other indicators Professional concerns but difficulty accessing the child/young person Unaccompanied refugee/asylum seeker Abusing other children Young sex offenders Serious or persistent offending behaviour likely to lead to custody/remand in secure unit/prison The Norfolk Threshold Guide 17

18 Access to services Effective support process Assess and identify level of need with child, young person, parent/carer. Access Level 1 Access Level 2 Return to Refer to MASH Access Level 3 Access Level 4 18 The Norfolk Threshold Guide

19 Access to services Level 1: Universal services available to child/ parent/carer/family Access to further support universally should include the following approaches: Individual/family identifies and requests support from wider family Individual/family requests support from their local community (including neighbourhood groups, faith groups, informal local support networks, community centres etc) Individual/family accesses targeted universal support services including voluntary organisations, universal health care providers, libraries, schools, children s centres, youth centres, job centres, police stations, local council offices and website/phone based information provided by those organisations Individual/family accesses advice, guidance and support via national support services including those provided by voluntary/charity sector, national government (often television, web or phone based services) Support from an identified agency, community member or wider family can help the individual/family to access support as needed at this level. Wider coordination is not required at this point. See also Effective support process diagram (page 18). The Norfolk Threshold Guide 19

20 Access to services Level 2: Coordinated targeted support services for the child/young person/family Support for the individual/family (including child, young person, parent or carer) may require further assistance from a targeted support provider. This can include those identified at Level 1 where it is appropriate. The individual/family may require their needs to now be met using coordinated support. This can be facilitated through a collaborative assessment using the Family Support Form (FSF) assessment tool (see useful links) and, where it is then required, the provision of a coordinated delivery plan that the individual/family can use to capture what will be provided, when and by whom. This can be delivered using the Team Around Family (TAF) model, where it is appropriate to do so. Local partnership coordination will be important for the effective targeting and delivery of support services locally. This should ensure that the individual/family s needs are being appropriately met in the way they want to receive services. Where an individual/family s range of need has previously been assessed and services provided at either Level 3 or 4, the step down process - using the FSF - should be considered to ensure that further support at Level 2 is identified, agreed and can be delivered to meet the individual/family s needs, where this is required. The step down process will usually be led by the lead worker engaged with the family at Level 3 and 4 subject to agreement with the family, as this can provide continuity. The use of the family story board tool (see early help toolkit on Norfolk Early Help website) can assist in enabling the family to identify their needs and what coordination will be required to ensure their outcomes are realised. See also Effective support process diagram (page 18). 20 The Norfolk Threshold Guide

21 Access to services Level 3: Requirement for Children s Services to assess (S17, Children Act 1989) At Level 3, the presenting level of needs of the child/young person are such that the identifying worker or family member refers to Children s Services to request an assessment as a child in need (S17, Children Act 1989). See Multi-agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) referral process (p23) for guidance on how such requests are made. For a child/young person who has a completed Family Support Form (FSF), this can be used to support a referral to Children s Services, subject to the child/young person/parent/carer s agreement. The step up using FSF process should be considered in all such situations by the lead worker. Further assessment is led by a qualified social worker. The assessment will be undertaken with all relevant family members and agencies to inform a clear analysis of presenting need and corresponding risk and protection factors. A decision with the child/young person/family will be taken to determine whether support will be provided via a child in need plan or if the identified needs can be appropriately met via support accessed at Level 1/2 including further use of the FSF and family/individual story board tools. The step down using FSF process should be considered in all such situations by the lead worker, where the level of need can be safely and appropriately met at a lower level. See also Effective support process diagram (page 18). The Norfolk Threshold Guide 21

22 Access to services Level 4: Child/young person protection measures required (S47, Children Act 1989) For all children and young people suffering, or who are likely to suffer, significant harm should be referred without delay to the MASH for further action. (see Multiagency Safeguarding Hub referral process, p23). Norfolk police, Children s Services and health services will work together to provide the most appropriate response to ensure the child/young person is protected. Criminal justice interventions to prevent further offending/anti-social behaviour or reduce risks to victims will be provided by Norfolk police and associated organisations including the seven Norfolk operational partnership teams as appropriate. CAMHS/MHS child/young person or adult mental health services will provide interventions where a person s mental health could put themselves or others at significant risk of harm. If there is an immediate risk of significant harm - ie death or serious injury - an immediate call should be made to police via 999. See also Effective support process diagram (page 18). 22 The Norfolk Threshold Guide

23 Multi-agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) referrals Where there is a concern for a child or young person: Phone call will be answered by Norfolk County Council Customer Service Centre (CSC); state clearly that you have a concern for a child s wellbeing and wish to report that concern. CSC will ask for child s name and address, this enables them to check if the child already has a social worker If the child does not have a social worker, CSC will do live three-way handover to MASH referral coordinator MASH will ask for all of the details known to your agency about the child, their family composition including siblings, the nature of the concern and your view of immediate risks. They will also need to know where the child is now and whether you have informed parents/carers of your concern MASH undertake further information gathering about the child and their family from relevant agencies and their own multi-agency records, and from this combination of information will make a decision as to whether a referral needs to be made to the duty team for an initial assessment Where the concerns for a child are immediate and serious, the MASH information gathering process runs parallel to essential safeguarding action planning between Children s Services, the police and health The MASH is a referral mechanism undertaking information gathering, analysis and decision making. It does not provide direct services to children. Duty and safeguarding teams work directly with children and their families MASH will inform referrers of the decision that has been taken - that a referral has been passed to a duty team or where appropriate recommend use of the Family Support Process. Where the MASH makes a decision for no further action (NFA), the referrer is given clear reasons for this decision. NB where a NFA decision is made based on a third party s information, the MASH may not be able to share that information with the original referrer The Norfolk Threshold Guide 23

24 Completing NSCB1 Forms The NSCB1 form is the children s safeguarding referral form completed by professionals when they have a concern for a child/young person Where there are serious and/or immediate concerns for a child, the agency must phone and not wait to complete the NSCB1 A NSCB1 form should be sent to the Multi-agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) after the phone referral is made. The Family Support Form (FSF) can be sent as the basis of a referral where it has been completed and consent provided If the concern is of a more moderate or long term chronic level, the agency should complete the NSCB1 form and at the point of /fax contact the MASH to advise them of it being sent The MASH will give feedback as to the outcome of the referral and will also give feedback if the decision is to take no further action mash@norfolk.gcsx.gov.uk Fax: Post: The MASH Team Manager, Floor 5, Vantage House, Fisher s Lane, Norwich, NR2 1ET We want to talk to someone about our concerns before we make a referral Agencies can have a professional consultation to discuss their concerns before they make a formal referral Professional consultations are provided by the duty teams: West and Breckland Breckland District Council and Borough Council of King s Lynn & West Norfolk areas, please call: City and South Norwich City Council and South Norfolk District Council areas, please call: North and East North Norfolk District Council, Broadland District Council and Great Yarmouth Borough Council areas, please call: Where an agency has been advised during the consultation discussion to make a referral they must complete a NSCB1 form and send this to the MASH The MASH does not provide professional consultations. 24 The Norfolk Threshold Guide

25 Glossary of terms ASB Anti-social behaviour TAF Team around the family EH Early Help FSF Family Support Form CA Children Act 1989/2004 CS Children s Services MASH Multi-agency Safeguarding Hub CAMHS Child Adolescent Mental Health Service LSCB Local Safeguarding Children s Board NFF Norfolk Family Focus WT Working Together 2013 The Norfolk Threshold Guide 25

26 Useful links Norfolk Safeguarding Children Board Working Together to Safeguard Children (March 2013) Norfolk Early Help Child Adolescent Mental Health Service 26 The Norfolk Threshold Guide

27 Assessment framework Health Education Emotional & Behavioural Development Identity Family & Social Relationships Social Presentation Selfcare Skills Child s Development Needs CHILD Safeguarding & promoting welfare Basic Care Ensuring Safety Parenting Capacity Emotional Warmth Stimulation Guidance & Boundaries Stability Family & Environmental Factors Family History & Functioning Wider Family Housing Employment Income Family s Social Integration Community Resources The Norfolk Threshold Guide 27

28 /AB