7.1.2 Referring Families to Children's Centres |
Contents
- When is the Referral Form Necessary ?
- What is Longer Term Direct Work?
- What is Targeted/Closed Group Work?
- What is a Universal Service?
- What if I am Unsure about whether a Referral is Required?
- Who can Make a Referral?
- Can I just fill in the Form on behalf of the Family and Send it in?
- What Happens after the Form has been Sent to the Centre?
- What Happens when a Family have only been Referred to a Group ?
1. When is the Referral Form Necessary?
The Children's Centre Referral form should be completed when both the referring agent and the family have identified a need for longer term, direct work or targeted/ closed group work, as opposed to a universal service.
2. What is Longer Term Direct Work?
Where mothers or fathers / carers have needs which would best be supported through regular, individual (as opposed to group) sessions with a family worker and where it is anticipated that this will probably take place over several weeks / months.
3. What is Targeted/ Closed Group Work?
This refers to groups which have a specific focus and which once the group has started, other people are not able to join until another group starts, see table below for examples.
4. What is a Universal Service?
This relates to any activity or service which anyone can access, generally of a drop in nature, such as a parent and toddler group or well baby clinic.
| Requires a Referral Form | Doesn't Require a Referral Form |
| Individual Direct work | Parent and Toddler groups, Stay and Plays, baby groups etc. |
Webster - Stratton and other similar Parenting groups |
Infant massage
|
| Castle Centre - Snowdrop project | Family Learning Job Clubs |
5. What if I am Unsure about whether a Referral is Required?
There are grey areas but if in doubt Centres are happy to discuss whether a Referral is needed or not.
6. Who Can make a Referral?
Any professional who comes into contact with families can make a Referral (where the family meets the criteria, in that they have a child of 5 years or under).
A family can refer themselves, but they would be required to ask a Health or other professional - or a member of the Children's Centre staff to complete the form with them.
7. Can I just fill in the Form on behalf of the Family and Send it in?
The Centres cannot accept Referrals unless the family have been fully involved in its completion, although they do not have to physically complete it. The form must always be signed by the parents who are being referred for support and they must know what has been written about them. Where there is a disagreement, this must be stated on the form, e.g. Referrer thinks that hygiene in the home is an issue, but the parents don't agree.
8. What Happens after the Form has been Sent to the Centre
A decision will be made about whether the Centre is able to meet the family's needs and the referrer and family will be contacted about the decision. It may be that the Centre is able to signpost the family to another service if they are not able to meet the needs themselves.
If the Centre can support the family, they may make an initial home visit followed by a Family Plan meeting. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss everyone's expectations and agree a plan. Along with the family, the referrer will be invited to this meeting. The parent/s or carers should be given the opportunity to bring a relative or friend to the meeting if they want to.
The support work will be reviewed through regular Progress meetings. If the referrer has a continuing role with the family they will also be invited to the meeting along with others who may be playing a current and significant support role. The meetings are informal and parent/child focused and potential attendees must be discussed with the family.
9. What Happens when a Family have only been Referred to a Group ?
Where a family has been referred for group work only, this should be clearly stated on the form and if the group work does not lead to individual / direct work, it will not progress along the family Plan route.
Alert InformationIf the referrer is aware of any issues which have the potential to put workers at any risk, they must inform the Centre Manager prior to any home visit taking place. |
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