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Contents

1. Timescales 
2. Initial Screening 
3. Comprehensive Screening
4. Disposal of Referrals

1. Timescales

The procedures set out in this Chapter will be undertaken within 1 working day. 

2. Initial Screening

A Referral Record must be completed at this stage.

Where Family Services is contacted about a child, it will be necessary to undertake an Initial Screening to establish whether the child appears to be a Child in Need 

This decision will be reached by means of an Initial Screening, taking account of the Departments Children in Need Eligibility Criteria, as set out in the Pyramid of Need Levels. The Eligibility Criteria are contained in Section 3, Pyramid of Need Levels - Assessment Framework Guidance

The child’s name must also be checked whether they are a child subject to a child protection Plan.

If the child appears to be a Child In Need, the matter must be passed to the (Duty) Social Worker for more comprehensive screening (See Section 3, Comprehensive Screening).

If the child does not appear to be a Child in Need, advice, information and/or re-direction to another agency may be appropriate.

3. Comprehensive Screening

A Basic Information Record must continue to be completed at this stage. The CAF form is not a referral form although it may be used to support a referral or a specialist assessment.

Once it has been established that a child appears to be a Child in Need,  a more comprehensive screening will be necessary, this must be undertaken by the (Duty) Social Worker.

The purpose of this comprehensive screening is to establish whether it is appropriate to start an Initial Assessment or a Core Assessment.

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 there are any protective factors or support systems relating to the child which should be considered
5. 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
6. Whether the concern involves Significant Harm
7. 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
• Referrers should have an opportunity to discuss their concerns with a qualified social worker
• Consideration of any existing records including if the child is 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. The manager may also authorise that a Strategy Discussion/Meeting be conducted, without the need to undertake an Initial Assessment.  Also see Section 6, Referral and Assessment of London Child Protection Procedures.

A very high proportion of referrals to the service are about families and individuals who have been known to us before. Therefore, and effective and thorough check of the Person Index (PI) is a crucial part of the referral process. For guidance on undertaking checks, see Checking the Person Index Guidance.

If there is suspicion that a crime may have been committed including sexual or physical assault 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 referrers Consent.

The parents 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.

4. Disposal of Referrals

The disposal of a Referral, which must be authorised by the manager and recorded on the Basic Information Record, may be:

1. That the child’s needs appear to be High, as set out in the Pyramid of Needs Levels, in which case the manager must authorise a Core Assessment.  However, if the Child appears to be suffering or likely to suffer Significant Harm, a Strategy Discussion/Meeting must be convened before a Core Assessment is initiated. 
   
   The Strategy Meeting/Discussion may determine that a Core Assessment/Child Protection Assessment is appropriate.
   
   Also see Section 6, Referral and Assessment of London Child Protection Procedures
   
   
2. That the child’s needs appear to be Medium, as set out in the Pyramid of Needs Levels, in which case the manager may either initiate an Initial Assessment or a Core Assessment depending on the circumstances of the case.
3. That the child does not appear to be a Child in Need or is a Child in Need with Low level needs, as set out in the Pyramid of Need Levels, and that it is appropriate to provide information, advice, sign-posting to another agency and/or no further action.

End