If you have contacted the first response unit with reason to believe that a child is at immediate risk of serious harm, or is suffering as a result of persistent neglect, a member of the team will discuss your concerns with you and then members of the team will decide what needs to happen next.
Next steps range from a discussion with the parents to see if they would like additional support, through to social workers carrying out child protection enquiries, possibly in partnership with health services and/or the police.
You should be informed about the steps taken although no confidential information can be shared with you.
Families often receive support to care for children whilst these enquiries are being made, however if the risk of immediate harm is very high children may be taken into care by the council for their own protection.
If you are a worker of an organisation that works with children please follow the guidance on the LSCB web pages.
If the child’s needs can be met by a single organisation, for instance by health services or by the school, you will normally be advised to contact that service and be given a name, phone number and address to use.
Common Assessment Framework (CAF) If the child has a range of needs that require a number of agencies to work together, the first response worker may advise you that a Common Assessment Framework (CAF) assessment will be the best way forward. A CAF involves bringing together services and organisations, such as education, health, youth services and producing a plan that makes sure they work together effectively.
One of the first response unit workers, called a CAF co-ordinator, can advise you and support you to get the CAF started. They will usually work with you to identify which workers are already involved with the child and to decide which of these is the best one to pull the plan together and make sure it is working. This person is called the lead professional and they are responsible for checking on progress and for calling meetings with you to see if the plan is working or needs to be changed.
You do not need to contact Children’s First Response to have a CAF. You can approach the professionals who are already working with you and your child to request a CAF yourself.
If the First Response worker feels at any time that the child is at risk of immediate serious harm they will discuss the situation in the unit to see if child protection enquiries need to be made. If child protection enquiries are made other organisations such as health and the police may become involved.
Child in Need Assessments: