Flow Chart 1: Multi-Agency Screening Team (MAST) in Walsall Member of staff has concerns for child s welfare Consultation Specialist Assessment At the earliest opportunity, on the day, information passed to Designated Child Protection Teacher, Head Teacher or other Designated Officer First (verbal) feedback to referrer with rationale (plus follow up) Unsure whether concerns should be referred to Children s Social Care Services Phone Multi-agency Screening Team for consultation (01922 658170) Consultation outcome Decision made there needs to be a referral (a request for services) to Children s Services call (01922 658170) and complete WSCB1 http://www.wlscb.org.uk/wscbforms Multi-agency Screening Team (MAST) Early Help Co-ordinator, Social Care, Education Welfare, Health consider referral Decision made within 24 hours Referral not needed Referral needed, complete WSCB1 Advice & information given Early help assessment Social care duty team start assessment See flow chart two See flow chart three
Flow Chart 2: Early Help Assessment Process in Walsall Lead Professional to check written consent from parents/carers/child/young person and agreement to undertake assessment within 24 hours Case allocated to locality Early Help (EH) Co-ordinator who will contact Lead Professional within 3 working days to arrange Early Help assessment meeting Lead Professional invites relevant agencies, parents/carers and child/young person to Early Help Assessment meeting Early Help assessment/planning meeting held Early Help assessment and plan to be completed within 15 working days from allocation by lead Professional, supported by a Locality EH Co-ordinator with parents/carers and child/young person When complete, Early Help assessment and plan to be signed by Lead Professional, EH Co-ordinator, parents/carers and child/young person Copy is provided to locality EH Co-ordinator. Quality assured at weekly Multi-agency Family Support Panel Progress against Early Help assessment plan to be reviewed at maximum six weekly intervals with Lead professional, locality EH Co-ordinator parents/carer child/young person. Where appropriate stepped up to social care or stepped down to universal services
Flow Chart 3: Action taken when a child is referred to Walsall Children s Social Care services CHILD S CASE IS REFERRED WALSALL CHILDREN S SOCIAL CARE (LA) Social worker, with their manager acknowledges receipt of referral and decides on next course of action within one working day Feedback to referrer on next course of action Assessment required section 17 or section 47 of the Children Act 1989 Concerns about child s immediate safety No further LA children s social care involvement at this stage: other action may be necessary e.g. onward referral, early help assessment / services Provide help to child and family from universal and early help services See flow chart 4 on immediate protection See flow chart 5 on assessment and flow chart 6 on strategy discussion
Flow chart 4: Immediate protection for children in Walsall Decision made by an agency with statutory child protection powers (the police or Walsall local authority) that emergency action may be necessary to safeguard a child Immediate strategy discussion between LA children s social care, police, health and other agencies as appropriate, including NSPCC where involved Relevant agency seeks legal advice and outcome recorded Immediate strategy discussion makes decisions about: 1. Immediate safeguarding action; and 2. Information sharing, especially with parents. Relevant agency (taking emergency action) sees child and outcome recorded No emergency action required Appropriate emergency action taken Strategy discussion and section 47 enquiries initiated With family and other professionals, agree plan for ensuring child s future safety and welfare and record decisions, and act on it Child in need See flow chart 3 See flow chart 6
Flow chart 5: Action taken for an assessment of a child under the Children Act 1989 in Walsall Assessment completed in line with local protocol, including a decision on course of action within one working day of referral followed by timely assessment based on the needs of the child within 45 working days of the point of referral into LA children s social care Feedback to referrer No Walsall Children s Social Care support required but other action may be necessary e.g. onward referral for help to child and family; referral for an early help assessment Child in need Assessment led by social worker; other professionals contribute with parental permission No actual or likely Actual or likely See flow chart 6 Social worker discusses next steps including of child in need process including review, decision points with child, family and colleagues Suspect Assessment continues; services provided if appropriate Social worker with family/other professionals agrees next steps within 45 working days e.g. could agree the Children in Need (CIN) plan or Child Protection (CP) plan (see flow chart 6) Coordinates provision of appropriate services Review plan and outcomes for child and when appropriate refer to non-statutory services e.g. step down ; or refer for child protection enquiries (Sec 47) or close the case
Flow chart 6: Action for and after a strategy discussion in Walsall No further Children s Social Care involvement at this stage, but other services may be required Strategy discussion is convened by Walsall Children s Social Care to decide whether to initiate section 47 enquiries. Decisions are recorded Decision to initiate section 47 Police investigate possible crime Decision to complete assessment under section 17 of the Children Act 1989 Social worker leads assessment under section 47 of the Children Act 1989 and other professionals contribute. Assessments follow local protocol based on the needs of the child within 45 working days of the point of referral Concerns about child not substantiated but child is a child in need Concerns substantiated but child not likely to suffer With family and other professionals, agree plan for ensuring child s future safety and welfare and record and act on decisions Concerns substantiated, child likely to suffer Social work manager convenes child protection conference within 15 working days of the last strategy discussion Decisions made and recorded at child protection conference Agree whether child protection conference is necessary and record decisions YES NO Social worker leads completion of assessment With family and other professionals, agree plan for ensuring child s future safety and welfare and record and act on decisions Child likely to suffer Child not likely to suffer Child is subject of child protection plan; outline child protection plan prepared; core group established Further decisions made about ongoing assessment and service provision according to agreed plan