2.1.6 Child in Need Transfer Protocol |
AMENDMENTS
This is a new chapter for May 2009.
If there are concerns regarding possible child protection issues, please see the following London Child Protection Procedures:
Contents
- Procedure to be Followed for Children Referred by Other Local Authorities who Move into Lambeth and who are not Subject to Child Protection Plans
- Procedure to be Followed for Children who are Current Cases but are not Subject to a Child Protection Plan, who Move to Live in Other Local Authority Areas
1. Procedure to be Followed for Children Referred by Other Local Authorities who Move into Lambeth and who are not Subject to Child Protection Plans
Any professional who receives a child in need referral from another agency that a child who is known to the Social Care Department of another Local Authority has moved to stay in Lambeth, whether on a permanent or temporary basis, should take the following action: |
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| Action to be taken: | Person responsible | Timescale | |
| 1. | The referral/transfer should be brought to the attention of the duty social worker on the Referral and Assessment Team. The social worker should check Framework to ascertain whether the child was previous known to Lambeth Social Care. | Social Worker who receives referral | Within a day |
| 2. | The referral/transfer should then be immediately brought to the attention of the duty manager to check whether the thresholds are met for a service and for management direction. | Social Worker | Within a day |
| 3. | The duty social worker should telephone the relevant social work office in the child's referring Local Authority and discuss the case with the team manager in order to determine whether any immediate action is necessary. | Social Worker | Within a day |
| 4. | If following this initial enquiry there is an indication that a child or children is/are at immediate risk of Significant Harm, see London Child Protection Procedures Section 7.11.12. | Social Worker/Team Manager | Immediately |
| 5. | If a child or children is/are not at immediate risk of Significant Harm the social worker should request by telephone that the referring Local Authority provide a case transfer summary. A letter from the senior practitioner/team manager confirming this request should be sent to the referring Local Authority within 2 working days. The request should state the case transfer summary is required in order to allocate the case and the case work responsibility will not be accepted until this is received. A timescale of one week should be agreed for this to be carried out. The attached transfer form should be used. This will be available on the intranet. | Social Worker/Team Manager/Senior Practitioner | 2 working days |
| 6. | In the event that the referring Local Authority does not provide written information about the child or children within the agreed timescales, a further letter should be sent from the Team Manager to the relevant Authority, requesting the information is supplied immediately. However if the information is not forthcoming, an Initial Assessment of the family's circumstances should be carried out, to ascertain whether the child/children continue to be Children in Need and whether services are required.
Please note: The general expectation is that consent to share information is sought from the family by the Local Authority making the disclosure i.e. the referral/transfer. In most cases this would have been sought at the outset of the work and should not normally need to be re-obtained to transfer the case. However it is usually appropriate to inform the family that the referral is being made to another Local Authority in child in need cases. Where consent with the family was not obtained and there are historical or current child protection concerns, then the protection of the child is paramount and relevant information should be disclosed to ensure the child's protection. If there are any doubts, advice is to be sought from legal services or the Caldicott Guardian. |
Team Manager/ Senior Practitioner | 15 working days |
| 7. | On receipt of the case transfer summary, it is essential that Lambeth carry out its own assessment of the case.
The Team Manager should consider whether an Initial Assessment or Core Assessment should be carried out or whether the case warrants no further action. |
Team Manager/ Senior Practitioner | On receipt of Transfer Summary |
| 8. | A letter acknowledging the receipt of the transfer summary and informing the referring Local Authority of the decision over whether the case would be allocated should be sent within 2 working days of receipt. | Social Worker | 2 days from receipt of Transfer Summary |
| 9. | In complex cases (e.g. where there is complex history or complex need, or where there have been recent child protection concerns, or where consideration has been given to taking legal action) the Team Manager should ask the social worker to arrange a transfer meeting with social work staff from the referring Local Authority.
In the transfer meeting the Team Manager must ensure that the Lambeth PCT and other relevant agencies have been informed about the transfer, and check whether the family have registered with a Lambeth GP, have a Lambeth allocated Health Visitor, and registered with a school, or nursery as appropriate. The Team Manager should chair the meeting. The Team Manager should ensure that a multi agency Child in Need meeting is set up involving the Lambeth agencies, and that a Child in Need plan is put in place. (This can be done combined with the Transfer Meeting if other Lambeth agencies have already become involved). |
Team Manager/ Senior Practitioner/Social Worker | 10 days from receipt of Transfer Summary |
| 10. | If the case meets the criteria for an Initial Assessment or Core Assessment the social worker must ensure that Lambeth PCT have been informed about the transfer, and that the family have registered with a GP and appropriate school or nursery provision has been set up. | Social Worker | Within 7 days of accepting case work responsibility |
2. Procedure to be Followed for Children who are Current Cases but are not Subject to a Child Protection Plan, who Move to Live in Other Local Authority Areas
| When it is known that a child who is a current open case but not subject to a Child Protection Plan is to move, or has moved to another Local Authority area, the key worker must: | |||
| Action to be taken: | Person responsible | Timescale | |
| 1. | Inform the family that you are making a Child in Need referral to another authority and inform the appropriate district social care office within the other Local Authority of the move, and of any relevant details, and confirm this information in writing. | Social Worker | Within two days unless there are safeguarding concerns. |
| 2. | Inform the Team Manager | Social Worker | Within a day |
| 3. | The social worker should ensure that other agencies involved with the case/plan are aware of the move and new address, so that they can contact counterparts as appropriate. | Social Worker | Within two days |
| 4. | Provide a written case transfer summary within 5 working days and request that written acknowledgement that the case has been accepted by the receiving local authority is provided.
Please note: The general expectation is that consent to share information is sought from the family by the Local Authority making the disclosure i.e. the referral/transfer. In most cases this will have been obtained at the outset of the work and will not need to be sought again to transfer the case. It is usually appropriate however in child in need cases to inform the family that you will be making a referral to the Local Authority in that area. Where consent from the family was not obtained successfully at the outset or the family withdraws consent to make a referral/transfer and there are significant historical or current safeguarding concerns, then the protection of the child is paramount and relevant information should be disclosed to ensure the child's protection. If there are any doubts, advice is to be sought from legal services or the Caldicott Guardian. |
Social Worker | 5 working days |
| 5. | The child will remain on Lambeth Social Care caseload until written notification has been received from the receiving Local Authority confirming that the case has been accepted. | Team Manager/ Senior Practitioner | |
| 6. | It is good practice to arrange a transfer meeting with social work staff from the receiving Local Authority where possible. This should always be done when the case history is complex, the child's needs are complex, or there have been child protection concerns, or it has been necessary to seek legal advice around safeguarding matters. The receiving in authority will need to undertake their own assessment of the need and allocate according to their own thresholds. Any concerns in Lambeth about the appropriateness of their response should be raised in writing with the Team Manager and Head of Service in that area. | Team Manager/ Senior Practitioner | 10 working days |
End