2.1.3 Initial Screening and Referrals of Children in Need

SCOPE AND STATUS OF THIS CHAPTER

This Chapter was updated in January 2011 in to clarify revised referral arrangements.

This Chapter outlines the the procedures that are to be followed for the initial screening and undertaking of referrals via the CAF Procedure.

This Chapter should be read in conjunction with Working Together to Safeguard Children 2010.

RELEVANT CHAPTERS

CAF Guidance

Thresholds of Need and Service Responses

Common Assessment Framework (CAF)
Initial Screening
Outcome of the Referral

1. Common Assessment Framework (CAF)

The Common Assessment Framework is used in Haringey to support children who have some needs that will not be met through a statutory assessment of need

See CAF Guidance.

2. Initial Screening

Timescale: 1 working day

See Thresholds of Need and Service Responses.

Referrals into children's social care are received by the dedicated screening team. Referrals can be made by telephone or fax. The referral should be followed up in writing within 48 hours and recorded on a First Response Referral Form.

All referrals will be considered by the Screening Team Manager who will determine what further action is required. The Screening Team will undertake enquiries within 24 hours to ascertain:

The nature of the concern
How and why it has arisen
What the child's needs appear to be
Whether there are any protective factors or support systems relating to the child which should be considered
Whether the concern involves Significant Harm, if so, immediate action should be taken to initiate a Child Protection Enquiry.
Whether there is any need for urgent action to protect the child or any children in the household, if so, the options that are available are set out in Section 7.2 (Immediate Protection), London Child Protection Procedure.
Whether the child/young person is being Privately Fostered and a notification needs to be made to the Private Fostering Team, see Private Fostering Procedures.

This process will involve:

Discussion with the referrer (Working Together 2010 para 5.32 requires that referrers should be given the opportunity to discuss their referral with a qualified social worker).
Consideration of any existing records..
Involving and consulting the CAF Manager and other agencies as necessary

As required by Working Together 2010 para 5.32 referrers should be asked if they hold any information about difficulties being experienced in the family/household due to domestic violence, mental illness, substance misuse and/or learning disability

Child Protection Referrals

Referrals which suggest that a child may be or is at risk of Significant Harm, or has been harmed or abused, will be passed immediately to the Duty Team Manager for assessment and possible convening of a Strategy Discussion which may lead to a Child Protection Enquiry.

See London Child Protection Procedures/Section 7, Child Protection Enquiries.

Consideration must be given to the immediate provision of services or protection of the child, see London Child Protection Procedures/Section 7.2, Immediate Protection.

2.2 Non Child Protection Referrals

See Thresholds of Need and Service Responses.

The new First Response Referral Form should be completed by partner agencies it is not a requirement that all parts of the form are completed but referrals need to include all basic information plus as much additional information as is readily available. The Screening Team will use this information to initiate an Initial Contact/Referral form on Frameworki.

Referrals which suggest that a child may be a Child in Need, but not at risk of Significant Harm, will be subject to Initial Screening by the, Screening Team Manager and a decision will be made to either:

Accept the referral as a Child in Need and initiate an Initial Assessment.
Refer the child for consideration by the CAF manager for a CAF assessment and consideration at the CAF Panel (see CAF Panel guidance).

2.3 Parental Involvement/Consents

Where safe to do so, The CAF Manager and Screening Manager must ensure that the Parents and children (depending on their level of understanding) have been informed/involved in making of the referral and have given consent (see CAF Guidance - Step 1 Identify needs early, gather information and seek consent).

2.4 Recording and Confirmation

If the referral is accepted as a Child in Need referral, an Initial Contact Referral form is completed and passed to the Duty Team Manager who will allocate for an Initial Assessment.

Confirmation of the decision taken must be put in writing and forwarded to the person making the initial referral within 48 hours.

3. Outcome of the Referral

The disposal of a Referral, which must be authorised by the manager and recorded on the Initial Contact and Referral form, may be:

1.	Child Protection Enquiry/Section 47: That there are indications that a child may be at risk of Significant Harm, in which case steps must be taken to initiate an Initial Assessment which may lead to a Strategy Discussion and Child Protection Enquiry. Steps must also be taken to protect the child or others in the household, including the immediate provision of services. The options that are available are set out in London Child protection Procedures/Section 7.2, Immediate Protection and include removal of the child(ren). If it is not possible for the child to remain at home, the social worker, with their manager, must consider the following options:
	a.	Placement with other carers on a voluntary basis, under Section 20 of the Children Act 1989, in which case, the child may be placed with approved Foster Carers or with Relatives and Friends. The following relevant procedures apply: For placement with relatives and friends see Section 1, (Emergency Placements) - Placement with Connected Persons Procedure, for placement with approved foster carers in normal working hours: Section 3, (Planned Placements), Placements Procedure, for placement of children with approved foster carers outside normal working hours: Section 4, Emergency (out of hours) Placements: Placement Procedure.
	b.	If anyone with Parental Responsibility objects to the taking of voluntary action, the social worker and manager must consider Police Protection, an application for an Emergency Protection Order or an application for an Interim Care Order. In such circumstances, Legal Advice must be sought (see Court Business Procedure).
	If there is suspicion that a crime may have been committed including sexual or physical assault or Neglect, the Police must be notified immediately.
2.	Non Child Protection/Child in Need: where there are no indications of Significant Harm but it appears the child has medium or high level needs, the manager may initiate an Initial Assessment. Should it become clear, during the Initial Assessment, that a more in depth assessment or a child protection enquiry is required, the social worker and manager should only complete some sections of the Initial Assessment form before proceeding to a Core Assessment or Core Assessment Record for Child Protection. See Initial Assessments Procedure and Core Assessments Procedure.
3.	Not a Child in Need: The child does not appear to be a Child In Need or is a Child in Need with Low level needs, and that it is appropriate to provide information, advice, sign-posting to another agency and/or no further action, in which case, the matter should be referred to the CAF Panel - see CAF Guidance - Step 4, CAF Panel.

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