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1.3.1 Contacts and Referrals

RELATED CHAPTERS

This Chapter should be read in conjunction with:

Oxfordshire Threshold of Needs Matrix and Assessment Framework Guidance (which contains Flowcharts for Referrals and Assessments).

AMENDMENTS

This chapter has been updated to take account of Working Together to Safeguard Children 2010. The changes, which are in Section 3, are shown in italics.


Contents

  1. Definition of Contacts and Referrals
  2. Timescales
  3. Initial Contact/Screening
  4. No Further Action
  5. Comprehensive Screening/Referrals
  6. Disposal of Referrals


1. Definition of Contacts and Referrals

See also Assessment Framework Guidance.

A Contact is defined as a request for redirection, general advice or information, a request for material assistance outside the remit of the Children, Young People and Families or the receipt of general information.

A Referral is defined as a request for services at or above Level 3 of the Children in Need Threshold Criteria (See Oxfordshire Threshold of Needs Matrix).


2. Timescales

See Assessment Framework Guidance.

Initial decisions about contacts and referrals will be taken within 24 hours. 


3. Initial Contact/Screening

See Assessment Framework Guidance.

Initial Contacts/Referrals may be made directly from agencies/members, children, parents, relatives and other interested members of the public.

Where the Children, Young People and Families Directorate is contacted about a child who may be a Child in Need, it will be necessary to undertake an Initial Screening to establish what action to take.

The objective of this Initial Screening is to establish whether the child appears to meet Level 3 or above of the Oxfordshire Threshold of Need Matrix. 

The possible outcomes at this stage are:

  1. That the child’s needs appear to be at Level 1 or Level 2 of the Threshold of Need Matrix; in which case the child or family can be re-directed to another agency, provided with information or advice or no further action is taken (See Section 4, No Further Action).
  2. That the child’s needs appear to be at Level 3 or Level 4 of the Threshold of Need Matrix; in which case a more comprehensive screening will be necessary, see Section 5, Comprehensive Screening/Referrals.

The person receiving the Initial Contact should establish personal details such as the household composition, the location of the child and the relationship between the referrer and the child. Referrals from both professionals and the public must be treated with equal importance. All referrers should have an opportunity to discuss their concerns with a qualified social worker.

At this stage, the social worker should undertake the following tasks:

  1. Put client details in Log Book, with date
  2. Pass to Admin. to be placed on Framework-I
  3. Record details on ‘White Board’
  4. Discuss with referrer nature of concerns – decide if the matter should be dealt with as a Referral or No Further Action
  5. Complete a CYP&F Initial Contact/Referral and Client Information Form

* Referrers should be asked specifically if they hold any information about difficulties being experienced by the family/household due to domestic abuse, mental illness, substance misuse, and/or learning difficulties.

Admin. should undertake the following tasks:

  1. Receive incoming telephone calls, sift calls that need to go to duty social worker or re-direct as necessary
  2. Check if child or family is known on Framework-I/Repository and obtain past papers
  3. Record Contact details on Framework-I
  4. Log in book Framework-I details
  5. Ensure details recorded on ‘White Board’

If the child appears to meet the Threshold of Need Matrix at or above Level 3, the matter must be passed to the (Duty) Social Worker for more comprehensive screening (See Section 5, Comprehensive Screening/Referrals).


4. No Further Action

If it is decided that no further action is required, the following tasks must be undertaken:

By the Social Worker:

  1. Discuss with Team Manager/Senior Practitioner and agree No Further Action (NFA) Status
  2. Arrange expenditure if appropriate, fill in 261 and arrange for the Team Manager to sign
  3. Ensure all paperwork is completed and all relevant correspondence passed to Admin. for typing
  4. Pass to Admin. for Framework-I closure and filing of case papers
  5. Remove name from ‘White Board’

If NFA results from Comprehensive Screening: Record NFA Status in Log Book and, once typed, pass all correspondence to Team Manager for closure.

By Admin.:

  1. Type all closure correspondence and ensure ready for closure, including photocopying
  2. Close on Framework-I
  3. File papers
  4. Update finance spreadsheet
  5. Record and collate information for monthly returns


5. Comprehensive Screening/Referrals

See Assessment Framework Guidance.

Once it has been established that a child appears to meet the Threshold of Need Matrix at Level 3 or Level 4, the duty social worker will complete a more comprehensive screening.

This process should establish:

  1. The nature of the concern
  2. How and why it has arisen
  3. What the child’s needs appear to be
  4. Whether any protective factors or support systems relating to the child should be considered
  5. Whether the concern involves Significant Harm.
  6. Whether there is any need for urgent action to protect the child or any children in the household

This process will involve:

  • Discussion with the referrer, ensuring that the parent(s) and child(ren) have been notified by the referrer that a referral has been made – or if not whether they should be so informed
  • Confirming with the parent(s) and child(ren) that the referral has been made and seeking their consent to information sharing with other agencies
  • If there are any child protection concerns, consideration of any existing records in particular whether the child is already subject to a Child Protection Plan
  • Involving and consulting other agencies as necessary
If there are indications that a child may be at risk of Significant Harm, the manager may authorise whatever actions are necessary to protect the child or others in the household from Significant Harm, which may result in the immediate provision of services – see Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board’s Procedures. 

If there is suspicion that a crime may have been committed including Sexual Abuse or Physical Abuse or Neglect, the Police must be notified immediately.

Personal information about non-professional referrers should not be disclosed to the parents or other agencies without the referrer’s consent.

Seeking consent: The parent’s and, if of sufficient understanding, the child’s consent should be sought before discussing a referral with other agencies unless this may place the child at risk of Significant Harm, in which case the manager should authorise the discussion of the referral with other agencies without parental knowledge or consent.  The authorisation should be recorded with reasons.  See Information Sharing Protocol.


6. Disposal of Referrals

See Assessment Framework Guidance.

The disposal of a Referral, which must be authorised by the manager, may be:

  1. That the child does not appear to be meet Level 3 or above of the Oxfordshire Threshold of Need Matrix but it may be appropriate to offer a one off Section 17 payment, advice, information and/or re-direction to another agency with No Further Action (see Section 4, No Further Action)
  2. That the child’s needs appear to meet Level 3 or above of the Threshold of Need Matrix in which case the Social Worker will need to complete an Initial Assessment.

The social worker must undertake the following tasks:

  1. Complete the Referral section of the CYP&F Initial Contact/Referral and Client Information Form and Chronology
  2. Put Referral Date in Log Book
  3. Ensure start date of Initial Assessment is recorded on CYP&F Initial Contact/Referral and Client Information Form
  4. Pass to Admin. for Framework-I recording
  5. Record referral on ‘White Board’ as Day 1
  6. Start Initial Assessment – as set out in Initial and Core Assessments Procedure

End