Policy of Interagency Communication Between Mental Health Services and Children s Social Care

Transcription

1 Document name: Policy of Interagency Communication Between Mental Health Services and Children s Social Care Policy and Guidance Portfolio Document type: Policy Staff group to whom it applies: Distribution: How to access: Mental Health Acute Services Children s Social Care Throughout Acute Mental Health Services Children s Social Care Intranet Issue date: August 2011 Next review: August 2014 Approved by: Developed by: Clinical and Professional Policies and Procedures Meeting, Barnsley BDU Kyra Ayre, Development and Professional Support Manager Sharon Cooke, Service Manager Sharon Galvin, Designated Nurse, Safeguarding Children Kim Hawcroft, Modern Matron With amendments by: Alison Hill Sharon Kehoe Julie Warren-Sykes (Named Nurse Safeguarding Children). Director leads: Julie Fleetwood Contact for advice: Julie Warren-Sykes

2 Table of contents. Section Contents Page 1 Introduction 3 2 Purpose 3 3 Definitions 3 4 Principles 4 5 Responsibilities 4 6 Procedures 4 7 Audit 6 8 Monitoring Compliance and Effectiveness of the Policy 6 9 References 7 10 Review this Policy 7 Appendices Appendix 1 Notification of relevant child care issues for the attention of ward staff/ihtt Appendix 2 Flow Chart - Who do I contact if I am concerned about the welfare of a child 2

3 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 This policy provides a framework to ensure that the work of South West Yorkshire Partnership Barnsley BDU is conducted in a manner which enables the organisation to fulfil its statutory and contractual obligations as set out in Section 11 of the Children Act 2004 and Working Together to Safeguard Children 2010 and meet the goals set out in its mission statement in a consistent and coherent manner. 1.2 This policy has been developed in accordance with Protocol in the development and management of policies, procedures, guidelines, protocols and local work procedures (2007). 1.3 This policy should be read in conjunction with Barnsley Safeguarding Board Child Protection Procedures. 2. PURPOSE 2.1 To ensure effective communication and appropriate information sharing between Mental Health and Children, Young People and Families Service (CYPFS). 2.2 To facilitate the process of risk management and ensure that the right information is available to the right people at the right time. 2.3 A referral should be made to CYPFS when; When a service user accessing Acute Care is known to care for children, a referral should be made to Children, Young People and Families Service, for the purpose of safeguarding children. Following an assessment of service users receiving community service where concerns about children/childcare have been raised. 2.3 This is to ensure that when an adult who is responsible for the care of children is admitted to an acute mental health ward, that appropriate agencies are aware of the potential vulnerability of the family and of any risks which may be posed to the child. This process can also be used to identify any current involvement of Social Care with the family. Where there is a child under the age of five within the home, the Health Visitor for that child should be contacted to alert them of the increased vulnerability of the family at this time. This may lead to the CAF being instigated where additional needs are identified for the child. When there is a child of school age in the home, the school nurse for that child/young person should be contacted as above. 3

4 3. DEFINITIONS 3.1 Admitting Nurse The nurse completing the admission process. 3.2 Named Nurse The nurse allocated as the client s main worker on the ward. 3.3 Care Co-ordinator The service user s key worker in the community under the Care Programme Approach. 3.4 RC Responsible Clinician Approved Clinician responsible for care and treatment of service users subject to the Mental Health Act IHTT Intensive Home Treatment Team. 3.6 CYPFS Children Young People and Families Service. 4. PRINCIPLES 4.1 To protect children who have been assessed as being at risk from a client(s) of Mental Health Services. 4.2 Maintain the principles of the Confidential Policy. 5. RESPONSIBILITIES 5.1 Responsibility of Managers 6. PROCEDURES It is the responsibility of Managers to: 6.1 Acute Care Ensure that this policy of interagency communication between Mental Health Services and Child Social Care is implemented within his/her area of responsibility and to ensure that employees are aware of the policy and any other departmental guidance relevant to their area Take any action where an employee does not comply When a service user accesses crisis care or is admitted to the hospital and is known to have children or to be main carer of children, the IHTT must inform the appropriate Children Young People and Family team of the IHTT involvement and evaluate any risks to the children. If the service user is admitted to hospital this will be the responsibility of the Admitting Nurse The IHTT or Admitting Nurse will contact Children Young People and Families Service and check whether the children or service user are known 4

5 to Children Young People and Families Service and/or have been previously assessed as Children in Need during the past Where a family is known to Children Young People and Families Service and there are child care concerns, the CYPFS Social Worker will complete the notification form (CFN1, see app 1) and fax this to the relevant ward/ihtt If the child is not known to Children Young People and Families Service and a decision is made to refer a child/ren of a mental health service user to Children s Services, this will initially be done by phone, but followed up with appropriate referral form within 48 hours. This referral will be clearly documented in the service user s notes by the person making the referral, together with the reasons and evidence that the service user has been advised of the referral Where a referral occurs out of hours it will be made to the Emergency Duty Team who will check records for relevant information and where appropriate, will complete the notification (CFN1) form On the next working day, the relevant Children s Team will check and where possible/necessary up-date the CFN On receipt of the CFN1 form, in hospital the Ward Clerk, and in the community the IHTT administrator will ensure confidential same-day delivery to the appropriate person It is the Shift Co-ordinator s responsibility to read the form and take appropriate action, including immediately filing the form in the 3 rd Party Section of the service user s notes and bringing its contents to the attention of the team, also ensuring the contents to the attention of the team, also ensuring the RC/colleagues in the IHTT team are notified. When developing a care plan involving the Multi-Disciplinary Team, the Shift Coordinator will ensure that the Children Young People and Families Service. Social Workers are included in consultation re childcare issues For those in hospital, decisions regarding the service user s leave or discharge following the receipt of this Form will involve appropriate consultation between Mental Health Services and Children Young People and Families Service. Home leave or discharge will not be allowed until risks to the children have been fully evaluated, guidance provided by Children Young People and Families Service and a plan put into operation to deal with the identified risks. However, in those cases where a service user discharges him/herself against medical advice, Children s Social Care will be informed immediately, and any apparent risks relayed to them. (If the risk is deemed to be of a severe nature, the police should also be contacted) (EDT will be informed where this occurs out-of-hours). While the needs of the patient and the operation efficiency of the Mental Health Service are taken into account, the primary concern at this stage is the safety and welfare of the child/children. 5

6 For service users in hospital, it will be part of any care meeting s agenda that the identified issues around child care are discussed, and it is essential that Children Young People and Families Service Social Workers are invited to attend all meetings If a service user is being seen in the community by IHTT relevant information on childcare issues must become part of all handovers When a service user s mental illness affects parenting skills it is the responsibility of the Staff Care Co-ordinator to inform Children Young People and Families Service. It is also expected that the child s Social Worker will pass on concerns or changes in circumstances to the IHTT (community) or senior nurse on duty (hospital). 6.2 Community Care When concerns are identified around parenting/care for children, community practitioners must follow the who do I contact if I am concerned about the welfare of a child flow process (appendix 2) If the issues are specific concerns/allegations about a child, community practitioners should log an enquiry with the list of children who have a child protection plan (see reverse of appendix 2 for details of how to do this) If the child is not known to the Children, Young People and Families Service, the telephone referral must be followed by a written referral. The referral and rationale must be clearly documented in the healthcare records by the referrer together with rationale and evidence that the service user has been advised of the referral where it is safe to do so and where by doing so children are not put at further risk of harm. (There are specific circumstances where information should not be disclosed to the service user, these include instances where fabricated or induced illness is suspected and in cases of forced marriage) care needs to be taken with other examples of abuse also as this could jeopardise any potential police investigation Where there are childcare concerns these should be discussed as part of the CPA review and a social worker from the Children Young People and Families Service should be invited to attend. 7 AUDIT 7.1 A telephone audit of knowledge of the procedure will be conducted as part of the audit 2012 schedule. 8 MONITORING COMPLIANCE AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE POLICY The Director of Performance and Quality will ensure that a process is in place to monitor compliance and effectiveness of this policy. 6

7 9 REFERENCES The Children Act 1989 The Children Act 2004 The Human Rights Act 1998 The Mental Health Act 1983 Barnsley Safeguarding Children Board Procedures Children in Need Procedures (revised 2006) Missed Opportunities Independent inquiry into the care and treatment of Saheeda Kapde Kirklees Health Authority 2000 Crossing Bridges Every Child Matters NPSA Rapid Response Alert (2009) Working Together to Safeguard Children REVIEW OF THIS POLICY This policy will be reviewed three years from the date of Board approval or sooner if there is a requirement to meet legal, statutory or good practice standards. 7

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10 Appendix 2 Child Welfare Flowchart.UPDATED.p 10