The Duties and Responsibility of Southend-on-Sea Borough Council Fieldwork Services

1. The Duties and Responsibility of Southend-on-Sea Borough CouncilFieldwork Services Report to Children & Learning Scrutiny Committee 15th October 2007

2. Our Principal Functions • We are the lead agency to deliver on Safeguarding for children and their well being in Southend • To intervene to protect children who are at risk from significant harm • To lead the delivery of multi-agency plans that protect children who are at risk of abuse and neglect and to create changes with families that are needed • To directly care and plan for children who cannot for whatever reason live with their immediate/extended family. • To support families whose children have acute or complex needs in order to promote their children’s welfare and development

3. Have complex Disabilities & Difficulties Are abandoned Need protecting from the adults in their lives Live in a family where parent abuse drugs & alcohol Have been abused & neglected by parents CHILDREN WHO Are looked after / cannot live safely at home Live with a parent with severe mental health problem Have complex disabilities or complex health needs Offend Have no parents or extended family to care for them Abuse drugs & alcohol

4. Accountability and Delivery Structure Cllr. Sally Carr Paul Greenhalgh Sue Cook Heather Flinders Ruth Baker CHILDREN & FAMILIES TEAM (1) Team Manager Senior Practitioner X 2 Social Worker X 5 Social Services Worker X 1 Family Care Worker X CHILDREN & FAMILIES TEAM (2) Team Manager Senior Practitioner X 2 Social Worker X 5 Social Services Worker X 1 Family Care Worker X CHILDREN & FAMILIES TEAM (3) Team Manager Senior Practitioner X 2 Social Worker X 5 Social Services Worker X 1 Family Care Worker X FIRST CONTACT TEAM Team Manager Deputy Team Manager Senior Practitioners X 3 Social Workers X 7 Social Services Workers X 1 Family Care Worker X 2

5. Work Flow Referral Referral for other Services or NFA Referral for joint or other Services eg locality clusters, voluntary agencies Assessment Child in Need (Worked through locality panels) Section 47 Investigation (with or without police) Looked After Children Legal Proceedings Framework Emergency Protection Orders 8 days + 7 days Child Protection Plan Statutory Visits Looked After Child Statutory Visits Child Assessment Order Regular Statutory Reviews Regular Statutory Reviews Care Order Planning for Adoption

6. Activity Undertaken by the Teams FIRST CONTACT

7. CAFS TEAMS

9. A Casework Approach Achieving the best outcome for this child is dependant upon • Working together with other professionals to an agreed plan, where there is clarity of role and responsibility • Using an appropriate legislative framework – Child Protection, Care Order, Parallel Planning and Adoption • Following protocols, procedures, working with family • Adhering to timescales as directed by statute or courts

10. Be child centred in the immediate and long term focus – immediate safety and long term security • Ensure equality of opportunity • Children’s wishes and feelings • Approximately 10 – 12 hours a month • A minimum of 6 days in court – 3 days for the final hearing requiring Social Worker and Team Manager attendance.