6.1 Protocol with Adult Community Care Teams |
Contents
1. Purpose of the Protocol
The purpose of this Protocol is to identify the framework within which the Adult Community Care Teams will work with the Children’s Services and exchange information in order to facilitate service delivery to families where the parent may require community care services and there are dependent children living in the household. This will include the exchange of non-personal information in the form of ‘consultation’.
The Jigsaw of Services initiative draws the conclusion that ‘the health and social care needs of children and families should be considered jointly’. This requires the worker dealing with adults to recognise the needs of the child and the child’s social worker to address the needs of the whole family in their assessment.
2. Community Care Services
2.1 Community Care Teams
The Community Care Services in Enfield are offered by the:
- Learning Disability Team
- Physical Disability and Sensory Impairment Team
- Occupational Therapy Service
- Mental Health Service
- Elderly Services
For the purposes of this Protocol the relevant teams are the Learning Disability Team, the Physical Disability and Sensory Impairment Team and the Occupational Therapy Service. (See Protocol in relation to the Community Mental Health Teams.)
2.2 Community Care Assessments
A Community Care Assessment should be carried out “where it appears to a local authority that any person for whom they may provide or arrange for the provision of community care services may be in need of such services”.
Community Care services provided as a result of assessment of need and risk are defined as those helping people to live as independently as possible in their homes or in an alternative setting in the community. The emphasis must be on maintaining or improving the level of independence of those who have been assessed as in need and at risk of losing independence, and enabling people to exercise self-determination.
The Jigsaw of Services Initiative emphasises the duty to provide services to disabled adults to enable or assist them in carrying out their parenting duties.The authority also has a responsibility to assess carers’ needs under the Carers and Disabled Children’s Act and under the Carers (Recognition and Services) Act.
2.3 Care Plans for Community Care Services
Once the level of eligibility is assessed and agreed with the service user and their carer/s if appropriate a Care Plan will be drawn up in order to meet the assessed needs. The Care Plan must be agreed with the person and their carer, if the person chooses to have part of their care provided by their carer.
3. Children’s Services
3.1 Referral to Children’s Services
At the point of referral for assessment for services, the social worker in the Adult Community Care Team should check whether the disabled adult has dependent children living with them.
If the family is known to Children’s Services and there is an allocated social worker, then the adult’s social worker should discuss with the child’s social worker whether a joint assessment is required.
If the family is not known to the Children’s Services, then a Request for Assessment Form should be completed and faxed to the Referral and Assessment Team in Children’s Services.
A response to this request with a decision how Children’s Services will proceed will be made by the duty manager and sent to the referrer within 24 hours of receipt of this request.
3.2 Services Provided
Children’s Services have realigned their Assessment and Care Planning Services to comply with the requirements of the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and Their Families.
Children’s Services will deliver the following services to children and families referred to them by the Community Care Teams:- An assessment of Children In Need, which includes children at risk of Significant Harm.
- Support to appropriate Children in Need including Disabled Children, Looked After Children and children who are the subject of a Child Protection Plan.
Children’s Services will also provide support and guidance to colleagues in the Community Care Teams regarding children in need and child protection concerns.
3.3 Assessment Process
Children’s Services carry out assessments of Children in Need in line with the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families.
Requests for an assessment of a child who may be In Need, including children at risk of Significant Harm should be made to the Referral and Assessment Team using the multi-agency form. Guidance and Information about the referral and assessment process is being distributed to all agencies and teams along with the London Child Protection Procedures.
The Request for Assessment Form is detailed and professionals are asked to complete the form as fully as possible as this assists the assessment process. Parents should be informed and agree to a referral to Children’s Services unless there are child protection concerns in which case consent can be overridden. In child protection cases the parent should also be informed of the referral unless this would increase the risk to the child.
3.4 Initial Assessment
An Initial Assessment must be carried out within 10 working days of the request and the service user and referrer will be notified of the outcome of the assessment within 7 working days of completion of the assessment.
3.5 Core Assessment
Core Assessments are more complex assessments and may include a Child Protection Enquiry where necessary. The Core Assessment must be completed within 35 working days of the decision to undertake it. If a Core Assessment is undertaken following a referral from the Community Care Teams it is likely that the referring team will be asked to contribute information as required.
Key points at which Community Care Team members will be involved in a Core Assessment are:
- In the setting up of the assessment or in a planning meeting where decisions are made about the focus and scope of the assessment.
- As a contributor to the assessment process in the form of specialist community care assessment.
- In making available their professional judgement, during the formulation of a Children's Plan to support the child and family.
- As a provider or facilitator of services to be offered as part of the Children’s Plan, including a Child Protection Plan.
4. Referrals From Children’s Services to the Community Care Teams
If at the point of referral for assessment of a Child in Need or a child at risk of Significant Harm, it is identified that a parent has a disability, then consideration must be given to whether a Core Assessment should be undertaken involving adult services professionals.
This is in line with the Assessment Framework guidance.
If a Core Assessment is undertaken then an Assessment Planning Meeting will be arranged and representatives from relevant adult services will be invited and asked to contribute assessment skills and information, and services where appropriate.
5. Multi-agency Working
The Assessment Framework places a strong emphasis on the need for agencies to work together – to share information, make joint assessments or share the work of the assessment.
When referrals are made the decision whether to initiate a joint enquiry/assessment should be agreed wherever there is felt to be a benefit.Health professionals concerned with mental health and substance misuse will have a particular role in providing information as to the user’s likely response to treatment and in ensuring services are available.
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