The Duties and Responsibility of

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council

Fieldwork Services

Report to Children & Learning Scrutiny Committee

15th October 2007

Our Principal Functions• We are the lead agency to deliver on Safeguarding for

children and their well being in Southend• To intervene to protect children who are at risk from

significant harm• To lead the delivery of multi-agency plans that protect

children who are at risk of abuse and neglect and to create changes with families that are needed

• To directly care and plan for children who cannot for whatever reason live with their immediate/extended family.

• To support families whose children have acute or complex needs in order to promote their children’s welfare and development

Need protecting from the adults in their lives

Are abandonedHave complex Disabilities & Difficulties

Have been abused & neglected by parentsCHILDREN WHO

Have complex disabilities or complex health needs

Live in a family where parent abuse drugs & alcohol

Are looked after / cannot live safely at home

Live with a parent with severe mental health problem

Abuse drugs & alcohol

Offend

Have no parents or extended family to

care for them

Accountability and Delivery StructureCllr. Sally Carr

Paul Greenhalgh

Sue Cook

Heather Flinders

Ruth Baker

FIRST CONTACT TEAM

Team Manager Deputy Team Manager Senior Practitioners X 3 Social Workers X 7 Social Services Workers X 1 Family Care Worker X 2

CHILDREN & FAMILIES TEAM (1) Team Manager Senior Practitioner X 2 Social Worker X 5 Social Services Worker X 1 Family Care Worker X

CHILDREN & FAMILIES TEAM (2) Team Manager Senior Practitioner X 2 Social Worker X 5 Social Services Worker X 1 Family Care Worker X

CHILDREN & FAMILIES TEAM (3) Team Manager Senior Practitioner X 2 Social Worker X 5 Social Services Worker X 1 Family Care Worker X

Work FlowReferral Referral for other Services or

NFA

AssessmentReferral for joint or other Services eg locality clusters, voluntary agencies

Child in Need(Worked through locality panels)

Section 47 Investigation (with or without

police)

Looked After Children

Legal Proceedings Framework

Child Protection Plan Statutory

Visits

Regular Statutory Reviews

Looked After Child Statutory

Visits

Regular Statutory Reviews

Emergency Protection Orders

8 days + 7 days

Child Assessment Order

Care Order

Planning for Adoption

Activity Undertaken by the Teams

Year06/07

MonthJuly 07

• Number of referrals of children • Total Initial Assessments started during the

month• Core Assessments started during the month• Total Section 47 investigations at the end of the

month• Number of Section 47 investigations requiring an

initial Child Protection Conference

1,300879

--

17298

210

16*

FIRST CONTACT

CAFS TEAMS

Year06/07

MonthJuly 07

• Number of children on the Child Protection Register

• Number of children Looked After requiring regular reviews

• Number of children requiring child in need plan

• Number of cases in court proceedings

127

282

150

286*

300

40 at any one

time

• Number of referrals in relation to Domestic Violence incidents requiring visits

• Number of referrals in relation to Private Proceedings

Approximately 7 per month

(from 100 referrals)

Between 5 – 10 at any one time

A Casework ApproachAchieving the best outcome for this child is dependant upon• Working together with other professionals to an agreed plan, where there is clarity of role and responsibility • Using an appropriate legislative framework – ChildProtection, Care Order, Parallel Planning and Adoption • Following protocols, procedures, working with family• Adhering to timescales as directed by statute or courts

• Be child centred in the immediate and long term focus – immediate safety and long term security

• Ensure equality of opportunity• Children’s wishes and feelings• Approximately 10 – 12 hours a month• A minimum of 6 days in court – 3 days for the

final hearing requiring Social Worker and Team Manager attendance.