Neighbourhood Services
Within Neighbourhood Services the focus is on ensuring that the right services are delivered in timely manner ‘Doing the right thing at the right time!’ Whether intervening early by initiating a CAF or a child protection enquiry within social care. Multi-agency working is central to supporting families and we have a continuum of support available to families. We recognise the need for intensity of support to increase with need and we believe that all interventions should be based on sound assessments (whether via CAF or Assessment Framework) and inform effective multi-agency plans. We see individuals, Families and Communities as key resources in bringing about change in the lives of families we work with. At the same time we work to reduce and manage risk factors. We are committed to using solution focused approaches to assist risk assessment and use 'Signs of Safety' as a key tool in all stages of the work we undertake with families.
We are working to minimise bureaucracy and maximise face to face work with families by investing in additional clerical support at the front line. Most of all we realise that we need flexibility in family support services - one size doesn’t fit all and we take a whole systems approach based on excellent Multi-agency working.
We have developed Multi-disciplinary teams to offer support to families as part of the CAF process to avoid the need for social care interventions and we have also developed a Community Based Assessment and Family Support team to work with the families at most risk. A key role of this team will be to provide robust assessments including parenting assessments for Court.
We know that Social Workers need time and space to do the work with families and we are working towards a maximum caseload of 15 children per social workers. In addition we are developing a City Wide Contact Service and we are focusing our Children and Families Workers in supporting Social Workers by providing direct work and family support to children, young people and their carers.
Referral and Assessment Service
(RAS) are based at South Street, near the city centre.
The team comprises of an Integrated Service Manager, 5 Managers, 5 Senior Practitioners, 26.5 Social Workers and 3 CAF leads. These staff are supported by an Administration Manager and team of clerical workers.
- Central referral point for all new requests for service
- Monitor the CAF interface and promote use of CAF and early intervention
- Operates Joint Screening Service with the Police for all Domestic Violence
- Contribute to Neighbourhood Family Support Panels
- Complete Initial Assessments Work and draw up initial plans
- Complete section 47 enquiries /core assessments
- Complete core assessments for CIN
- Complete core assessments for LAC
- Work to prevent the need for longer term social care intervention
Neighbourhood Teams
Three Neighbourhood teams based In the North West at the Coundon Office on Moseley Avenue, South at the Willenhall Office based in Stretton Avenue (satellite site at West Wood House in Canley) and North East based across two sites at the Foleshill Children's Centre on Foleshill Road and the Moat House Neighbourhood Leisure centre in Winston Avenue in Wood End.
Focus of the teams
- Case management / Lead professional for medium term work at level 4
- Children subject of child protection plans
- Children & young people with complex needs requiring multi-agency support (CIN)
- Children subject of legal proceedings
- Looked After Children where plans for permanency have not yet been agreed
- Parenting Assessments and direct work with families
- Assessments, Effective Plans, Intervene and Review
Community Based Assessment and Family Support Service
This is a city wide service, based the Foleshill Children's Centre on Foleshill Road, Foleshill. All assessments for Court are completed by staff within the service, providing the independence required. The team work closely with neighbourhood social workers and the Senior Practitioner for court practice and provide a quality assurance function for Court assessments. Other assessments either as part of complex child in need or child protection plans are undertaken by the neighbourhood social workers. In all cases the neighbourhood social worker retains case responsibility. Referral to this service is via the multi agency Intensive Case Support Panel.
Focus of the Service is to undertake assessment and family support in the following areas
- Parenting
- Carer attachment, Sibling attachment,
- Domestic violence – victim and perpetrator,
- Sexual abuse-non abusing parent
- Substance misuse
- Environmental hazard
- Parenting advice
- Direct work with Children & Young people
- Practical family support
City Wide Contact Service
Focus of the Service is to organise and provide supervised contact for Looked After Children across Neighbourhoods and Specialist Services.
- Transport to and from contact
- Supervision of contact
- Recording observations of contact
- Presenting evidence for Court
Location
- Based with the Community Based Assessment and Family Support Service at Foleshill Children's Centre
