Children s Services Social Care / Early Intervention Multi Agency Step up step down procedure 1
Contents: 1. Introduction 2. Principles 3. Performance Framework 1. Introduction The Step Up / Step Down process has been developed to improve the experience of children and families where their needs escalate or de-escalate. This will ensure a timely response from professionals and a smooth transition between the Strengthening Families / CAF process and specialist/safeguarding services. The needs of such families can be effectively met if there is consistent practice by practitioners, and adherence to the Sunderland Safeguarding Children Board (SSCB) procedures multi-agency Threshold Guidance http://www.sunderlandscb.com The Step Up / Step Down process shows the different types and levels of intervention and how the process aims to address the needs of families, taking into account the issues raised. The processes outlines work between the MASH / Children s Social Work Teams and the Strengthening Families Panels, ensuring children are protected and families supported by a range of practitioners working together. This process will be regularly reviewed, monitored and updated as part of the annual audit cycle agreed by SSCB The Step Up / Step Down Process includes: Step Up / Step Down where Common Assessment Framework (CAF) / Team around the Family (TAF) in place Step Up / Step Down where no CAF / TAF in place Step Down from Child Protection Step Down from Child in Need Step Down from Child Looked After 2
2. Principles The principles of the Step Up / Step Down process are: That children s needs are met in a timely, appropriate and co-ordinated way Having gained family consent, relevant information and assessment findings are transferable across services There is a consistent and auditable system of communication between MASH Operational Managers, CSWS Operational Managers and Strengthening Families Panel Chairs about each referral to and from Strengthening Families Panels. The handover is timely and there is a prompt response by all practitioners; i.e. Early Intervention practitioners and Children s Social Work Service practitioners There are clear roles, responsibilities and accountability for all professionals involved and the families understand their responsibilities and agree the interventions The Step Down process avoids duplication and is clear, simple and deliverable The Step Up Process is acted upon in a timely manner and there is no gap in service provision to families Agreed Process and Protocol ensures that families do not bounce between Children s Social Care and Strengthening Families Panel There is an explicit and transparent conflict resolution process in place Procedure for Implementation of Step Up / Step Down Process Step down from Social Work Plans (CP, CIN and LAC) For those families and children for whom social work intervention has reduced levels of risk and where there is agreement that the safeguarding thresholds are not met, but who would benefit from continued support because of identified outstanding needs, agreement to step down will be sought via a multi-agency meeting. This would be a Child Protection Review, Child in Need Planning meeting or Care Planning meeting. The minutes must reflect multi-agency agreement to step down and demonstrate that parental consent to work with Early Intervention Services has been sought and given. 3
Minutes will be accepted as a referral to the Strengthening Families Panel and should be sent in a timely manner (i.e. no later than 4 weeks following meeting). Wherever possible the social worker will attend the relevant Strengthening Families Panel to support the referral. Step down from Initial Assessment For those families and children where, following an assessment of risk and need by CSWS. Analysis is that safeguarding threshold is not met but family require support on a preventative basis. Parental consent must be sought and made explicit in assessment document which will be accepted as a referral to the Strengthening Families Panel. The assessment should be sent to the panel in a timely manner, within 5 working days of completion. Step Up Process Step Up from Strengthening Families Panel For those families and children where information shared at Strengthening Families Panel indicates that concerns are such that further assessment / intervention from CSWS is required. It will be the responsibility of the Child and Family Support Service Operational Manager / Principal Social Worker attending the Panel to communicate the panel s decision making to the relevant CSWS operational (locality) manager / MASH manager. Immediate communication will be via a safeguarding referral outlining concerns and panel s analysis of why CSWS intervention is required. Referral will be sent to the MASH mailbox and copied to the relevant Social Worker, Operational manager, Senior Safeguarding Managers and the relevant Locality Early Intervention Manager. In order to prevent drift the family will remain on the agenda for the following weeks Strengthening Families Panel to ensure that discussion takes place regarding the outcome of the Step Up process. If there has been no CSWS response to the Step Up request within 2 working days the Child and Family Support Service Operational manager /Principal Social Worker (i.e. the referrer) will contact the MASH team to establish the outcome of referral. Contact will be made via email to the MASH mailbox and include the MASH operational manager, the relevant senior safeguarding manager and the relevant Strengthening families Locality Lead. If there is no response to this communication within a further 2 working day period this will be discussed at the next SF panel and appropriate actions agreed in terms of conflict resolution/professional disagreement resolution. 4
Where families and children are currently active to TAF and Early Intervention Services and when concerns escalate beyond the TAF and Early Intervention remit, a safeguarding referral will be made by the relevant agency/ TAF chair In those cases the TAF meetings will be suspended, however Early Intervention support will continue for a 4 week period pending the outcome of a CSWS assessment. This will ensure there is continuous support in place for family and children. Conflict Resolution In those cases where the necessity for step up is disputed by CSWS operational managers or has not been acted upon within a one week period it will be the responsibility of the relevant Locality Early intervention manager to communicate with CSWS Senior safeguarding manager to seek resolution Professional Disagreement In those cases where Conflict resolution process has not resolved the issues and the necessity for Step Up remains in dispute then the SSCB Professional Disagreement procedures should be implemented. 3. Performance Framework The interface between the Strengthening Families Panel and the MASH/Children s Social Work Teams will be measured through the annual audit cycle agreed by the SSCB and monitored by the SSCB Quality Assurance Sub-Committee. 5
STEP DOWN PROCESS Multi-agency recommendation. Minutes sent to Strengthening Families Family discussed at SF Panel Initial assessment / contact to Children s Social Work Services. Identified as meeting SF threshold Threshold for step down not agreed Threshold for step down agreed Email to relevant locality CSWS operational manager/mash team manager to advise return to social care. Early Intervention Services identified and allocated Children s Services feedback to SF panel (within 7 calendar days) CSWS Action email and allocate worker No responses / actions from CSWS CSWS Dispute Threshold Conflict resolution dialogue commences between Early Intervention Locality Manager and Senior Safeguarding Manager Yes Resolution reached NO In those cases where Conflict resolution process has not resolved the issues and the necessity for Step Up remains in dispute then the SSCB Professional Disagreement procedures should be implemented. 6
STEP UP FROM EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES / TAF Single / Two Agency Intervention TAF Intervention Safeguarding concerns identified and safeguarding referral submitted to Children s Social Work Services Safeguarding concerns identified and safeguarding referral submitted to Children s Social Work Services Agency Professional remains involved for four weeks pending outcome of CSWS assessment TAF meetings suspended. Early Intervention Professionals remain involved for four weeks pending outcome of CSWS assessment CSWS assessment concluded within 4 weeks Safeguarding thresholds met and allocated to Social Worker for social care plan CSWS analysis is safeguarding thresholds not met, initial assessment sent to SF Panel SF Panel disagrees with analysis Conflict resolution process implemented SF Panel agrees with analysis. TAF and Early Intervention Services recommence 7
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