New front door arrangements for Children’s Social Care
From 12 noon on Tuesday, 26th March Children’s Services will host a quicker and more effective system to replace written requests for children’s social work intervention when practitioners have identified a child in need of help, support or protection.
The new system will be better for both practitioners and the child or family they are working hard to help.
Instead of making a written request, all practitioners need to do is ring 0161 234 5001 and they will get through to specialist social care and early help staff.
Practitioners will be able to discuss their request promptly, efficiently and securely – and will be able to access social work advice and guidance about the next steps and the right option for the child and their family.
The benefits of this new approach are:
- it cuts down on time spent writing a referral letter
- it gets the right help quickly for the right situation
- it is safe, reliable and gives extra support with a decision through an informed conversation
- it uses social workers’ time the best possible way.
No paper, no panic, just people – trained professionals on the end of a phone who, like all practitioners across the city, want the best for our children and families.
Practitioners calling the service can help to make the most of the conversation by having the following details ready:
- the child’s presenting needs
- what they or their service have already done or where they have accessed support
- ensuring that they have consent from the family to talk to Children’s Services.
Also, before calling please consider the MSCB levels of need framework; and if contact with an Early Help Hub is appropriate.
Other points to note:
- during the transition period the service will still act on written referrals to ensure continuity of support
- this new telephone referral service is for practitioners only
- the changes do not affect the public – it will be business as usual
- these changes are only for children’s referrals
- Adults referrals will still be via the online form available on the MCC website
Thank you for your support, it is appreciated. This new telephone system is the first of a series of positive developments that will make the most of children’s services for joined-up, locality working in the city.
