10.1.1 Transfer Protocol for Fieldwork Services

Introduction
Process of Transfers
Section 47 Investigations
Transfer from JIT to A&CPT, CCNT or LAC
Transfer from SCD to A&CPT or LAC
Transfer from SCD to A &CPT (Assessment and Child Protection Teams)
Transfer from SCD to IST
Transfer from SCD/ A&CPT to Children with Complex Care Needs Team (CCNT)
Transfer from A&CPT to LAC
Referral from A&CPT to IST
Transfer from A&CPT to Safe@Home
Miscellaneous Circumstances
Protocol for Step Down to CAF Process from Statutory Interventions

1. Introduction

This Transfer Protocol has been further revised in view of the restructure of the Department that was undertaken in January 2011 which in turn was framed by the findings of the Ofsted Inspection completed in December 2010.

The aim of the revised structure is to reduce the tiers a family has to cross before receiving an actual service from a social worker. It will also ensure that as far as possible social work interventions will be guided by the "only one worker up the garden path" principle. It remains being designed as far as possible to ensure that no child will fall through the gap in service provision and to provide clarity in relation to who should retain case management responsibility. As a result its ultimate aim is to ensure that children and their families receive a timely intervention in order to ensure that interventions remain at as low a level as possible. Having said that, should any case be seen to fall between the remits of two or more teams there is an expectation that the relevant team managers will discuss the issues with the concept of Think Family at the fore in order to agree how best to provide the requisite services.

The general principle in the process of transfer of any case between teams is that all relevant documentation should be completed on CARE DIRECTOR and signed off by the Team Manager before the transfer is accepted by the receiving team. Any queries with regard to completed documentation and the transfer should be addressed between Team Managers. The need for further information should not impede the transfer process unless the shortfall is so great that the receiving Team Manager has genuine concerns that their ability to adequately safeguard the child(ren) would be significantly compromised. In such circumstances and where the information cannot be supplied within a reasonable timescale it may be appropriate for case management to revert to the originating team.

Only where there is disagreement that cannot be resolved should Service Managers be asked to become involved. Where there is any ongoing dispute the Service Director, Safeguarding and Family Support Services will be the final arbiter. All transfers will take place as soon as the case file records are fully updated rather than any set date so as to better meet the needs of the family.

2. Process of Transfers

Social Care Direct (SCD) will transfer cases to other teams (excluding IST) on a daily basis. The receiving teams will have a management rota for dealing with such transfers. The cases will be assigned to the receiving team by SCD with the appropriate notification sent to the team.

All cases that transfer directly from SCD will need an Initial Assessment undertaking by the receiving team.

3. Section 47 Investigations

Once a referral is received that indicates that a child is or may be suffering from significant harm or has been made subject to an Emergency Protection Order or Police Powers of Protection, or there is a breach of a Child Curfew Order for a child aged under 10 years a S.47 enquiry must be undertaken.

The majority of S.47 enquiries and investigations will be allocated to and undertaken by the Joint Investigation Team. The exceptions to this will be in relation to children and young people that are already receiving a service from a Fieldwork Team. In these circumstances the allocated Social Worker or other Team Member should undertake the S.47 investigation.

If the subject of the investigation is a child with disabilities, the Strategy discussion should include the SCD Manager, Police Decision Maker and the Children with Complex Care Needs Team (CCCNT). The Strategy discussion will agree who should lead and undertake the S.47.

In the case of cases of LAC and serious child sexual exploitation, the Strategy discussion should include the SCD Manager, Police Decision Maker, the Child Sexual Exploitation Co-ordinator and the allocated LAC SW. The Strategy discussion will agree who should lead and undertake the S.47.

(See Joint Investigation Team procedure)

The Joint Investigation Team will be staffed by Social Workers and Police Officers from the Child Protection Unit on a rota basis.

The Strategy discussion / meeting will be held between the SCD Manager and the Police with the involvement of other agencies, e.g. health as appropriate to plan the S.47 investigation.

The S.47 documents will be opened by SCD with the Manager's decision to initiate a S.47 enquiry being clearly recorded in the Record of Strategy Discussion. The ICS referral form will also be completed in full. This will include:

Basic contact information;
Disability;
ALL contact intervention even if no information has been obtained as a result;
Summary of any previous referrals and where possible an analysis of risk including what has changed;
History of Family Services involvement and analysis of that involvement;
Any risks posed to staff by any adult to be recorded where known in the out of the household box;
If risk box is ticked then a clear reason as to why must be recorded;
Linked referrals where the link is known;
Sibling information available.

Outcomes of the S.47 investigation

Following the conclusion of the S.47 investigation, the SCD Manager will liaise with the Manager of the appropriate receiving team. The SCD Manager will discuss the findings of the investigation and will agree with the appropriate receiving Team Manager the outcome of the investigation and any actions to be undertaken

The outcomes could be as follows:

Concerns unsubstantiated and no risk of significant harm

Outcome of S.47 indicates that the child is a Child in Need- transfer to the appropriate team;
Outcome of S. 47 indicates that there are no concerns that require statutory involvement. Consider CAF if there are ongoing needs that could be supported by a multi-agency plan;
Outcome of S.47 has determined that there are no concerns that require Statutory involvement and no additional support needs therefore involvement ends.

In the case of NFA or signpost to CAF the JIT will be responsible for the completion of the Core Assessment.

Concerns substantiated and no likelihood of ongoing significant harm, but child / young person has needs that require statutory social work intervention

Outcome of S.47 indicates that the child is a Child in Need- transfer to the appropriate team.

Concerns substantiated and ongoing risk of significant harm

Agree action to be taken to immediately safeguard the child(ren);
JIT requests a Case Conference and / or considers emergency measures to safeguard the child.

4. Transfer from JIT to A&CPT, CCNT or LAC

The JIT will retain case responsibility until the conclusion of the S.47 investigation.

Therefore the JIT will be responsible for transferring cases to the receiving team with all the required information and assessments or in the cases of "No Further Action" by Children's Social Care the JIT will be responsible for ending the involvement and referring / signposting to other agencies including CAF as appropriate.

Under no circumstances should any case be transferred unless all of the following are completed and are on CARE DIRECTOR:

Personal details updated and inputted onto CARE DIRECTOR;
Core Assessment record opened and details of the investigation recorded;
Transfer Summary which should include a full and updated contact list of telephone numbers and addresses for all family members and involved professionals and any outstanding tasks;
Clear action with regard to the need to safeguard the child including action taken and the date of the Case Conference if applicable;
To ensure that children receive support in a timely manner the case must transfer to the receiving Team Manager within one working day of the conclusion of the S.47 investigation.

Case Conferences

The JIT will ensure representation at Case Conferences by the attendance of a Police Officer from the JIT. Whilst the case will have been transferred to the receiving team, the Police will be required to write a report and attend the Case Conference in order to inform Conference of the outcomes of the investigation, to share information and to participate in the decision making around the need for a Child Protection Plan.

The responsibility for arranging a Case Conference will be with the allocated Social Worker from the JIT.

5. Transfer from SCD to A&CPT or LAC

At present when a case is closed, if there is a re-referral within 4 weeks then the case is re-allocated to the previous case managing team. This allocation takes place via Care Director.

The Transfer Protocol now stipulates that to ensure no such allocations are missed by the relevant team manager SCD should also notify the receiving team manager via E Mail of the case transfer.

In such circumstances the receiving team should in the first instance undertake an Initial Assessment to ensure that no new information or change in the family circumstances is missed.

6. Transfer from SCD to A &CPT (Assessment and Child Protection Teams)

Unless specified otherwise all referrals for a service from Fieldwork Services come via Social Care Direct. Information is collated, initial checks undertaken, discussions held with other professionals (including Strategy Discussions) and analysed and decisions make within SCD as to the appropriate action to be taken. This could be:

No further action;
Advice given to the referrer;
Signposting to another service;
Passed to CAF.

Cases will be passed to CAF if the assessment of the social worker and team manager is that the case can be supported safely at CAF level. In this case the CAF team should be advised by completing the electronic Start Form.

If the professional is unwilling to deal with the case at a CAF level the CAF team should be contacted to provide support to the professional or to assist in finding a lead professional from another agency.

In the event that the referring professional refuses to accept the case as CAF they should be advised to use dispute process. See Section 13, Protocol for Step Down to CAF Process from Statutory Interventions.

Cases transferred to A&CPT will meet the following criteria:

Child in Need cases - Transferred for an Initial Assessment after it has been established that the case exceeds the CAF criteria and meets the S&FS Threshold Criteria. Such cases will transfer on a daily basis with a management rota being in place for the receiving teams although the "on-duty" manager will notify the other managers at that base of any transfers to minimise any delay in social work allocation.

7. Transfer from SCD to IST

Given that IST provide a commissioned family support service to children and young people, IST do not accept referrals directly from SCD. All referrals to IST follow the completion of an Initial or Core Assessment by a Fieldwork Team.

All cases that will be provided with a service from Safeguarding and Family Support must have an Initial Assessment prior to it being transferred for commissioned input.

Such transfers will then take place in the same way that other cases transfer from the A&CPT to the other teams.

8. Transfer from SCD/ A&CPT to Children with Complex Care Needs Team (CCNT)

Where it is the clear assessment of SCD that the child will most appropriately receive services from CCNT the case should transfer directly to them for an Initial Assessment The case should transfer to the CCCNT where the preliminary information gathered indicates that one or more of the following criteria are met :-

Children with chronic and life threatening conditions;
In receipt of equipment to live at home (medical or care);
Community Nursing;
Children with severe learning disabilities including severe challenging behaviours;
Request/need for overnight respite care;
Technology dependent with a risk assessment for administering the treatment at home or in the community;
Any child or young person in receipt of Direct Payments.

Such cases should transfer directly to CCNT even where there is a duality of function for the social work intervention such as Private Fostering.

Requests for Short Breaks Services (e.g. Home Based Breaks) other than for overnight care do not need to be assessed by the CCCNT unless the above criteria are met.

Such children can be referred to WESAIL for advice and short-term support.

Where none of the above criteria are met or where the decision for allocation is less clear cut the case should transfer to the A&CPT for an Initial Assessment to inform the ultimate decision. In cases where there is some difference of opinion as to whether the criteria is met or not the case should be referred to the respective Service Managers for a decision to be made.

In families where there is a child with a disability who meets the above criteria and a sibling with no disability who still requires social work intervention, such as where both children are subject of a Safeguarding Plan, all of the children within the family will be allocated to the CCCNT to prevent a duplication of intervention.

9. Transfer from A&CPT to LAC

Cases transfer from the A&CPTs to LAC in the following circumstances:

For those children/young people who are made subject of a Care Order as per S31 of the Children Act

In such circumstances cases will be transferred following the Initial Hearing at which the child is made subject of an Interim Care Order. However, to ensure a smooth transition and prompt allocation within the LAC Teams the relevant A&CPT Manager should notify the LAC Managers via e mail as soon as the decision to instigate Care Proceedings has been ratified by the Accommodation and Proceedings panel and a date for the initial Court Hearing has been set.

Where there are sibling groups ordinarily residing in the same household and where those children have different legal status (i.e. Supervision Orders and Care Orders) then all of the children should transfer to the LAC teams to minimise a multiple of social workers being involved. Where some of the children are ordinarily resident out side of the family home (such as living with grandparents on a permanent basis) then they should be allocated according to their legal status.

Under no circumstances should any case be transferred unless all of the following are completed and are on CARE DIRECTOR:

Personal details updated and inputted onto CARE DIRECTOR;
Core Assessment;
Placement Information Record;
Risk Assessment;
Care Plan;
Updated CARE DIRECTOR Contact Notes;
Up to date chronology;
A referral to the IRO Team for allocation to an IRO;
Transfer Summary which should include a full and updated contact list of telephone numbers and addresses for all family members and involved professionals and any outstanding tasks.

Once these tasks have been fulfilled the case can be transferred at that point. Cases can transfer as and when the above conditions have been met and are not limited to any specific day.

The case will be assigned to the duty LAC Manager in the first instance and then allocated to the LAC social worker identified within any of the 4 teams.

In circumstances where there is no social worker available to accept the case the LAC Team Managers will agree to which team the case will be allocated. It will be the responsibility of that team manager to ensure the transfer process is completed. A lack of social work availability will not be accepted as a reason to delay any case transfers.

Where the transfer takes place within two weeks of the initial Statutory Review the A&CPT social worker will retain lead responsibility for managing all of this process although the LAC Social Worker will attend the Review itself. Where there is more than two weeks before the Statutory Review the LAC Social Worker will manage the whole process in full although it may be good practice for the A&CPT to attend this Review to ensure all information is shared.

Where cases are transferred due to the child being made subject of an ICO but where the child is also subject of a Safeguarding Plan the A&CPT should contact the IRO to convene an early Safeguarding Conference Review with the aim of concluding the Safeguarding Plan. The A&CPT should be responsible for the writing and presenting of reports to the Conference but the LAC Social Worker should also attend to ensure all relevant information is shared.

Babies freely given up for adoption by their parent(s)

Where a parent states that they want their child to be adopted after its birth the A&CPT should still undertake an Initial Assessment of the family circumstances in which they should also explore other available options with the family and assess the seriousness of the expressed wishes. Where the parent remains adamant that this will be their continued wish the case should transfer to LAC at the point at which the Initial Assessment has been completed.

With regards to freely given babies there is usually only minimal social work input between the Initial Assessment and the birth. Throughout this period case management responsibility should be retained by the LAC team but they should refer to the Adoption Team for timely pre-birth counselling so as to address the number of parents who change their mind upon the birth of their child. Once the baby is born the LAC Service will be responsible for implementing the legal process so that the child can be placed with adoptive parents. Once the Placement Order has been obtained the case will then transfer to the Adoption Team for the family finding process to be completed.

Young people accommodated under S20 of the Children Act

No young person should be accommodated unless there has been a programme of work implemented by IST and the circumstances of the child mean that the threshold for an EPO would be met. The only exceptions to this are UASCs and circumstances in which a parent agrees to S20 prior to an ICO application.

Ordinarily young people will only be accommodated as a result of a decision made at the Accommodation and Proceedings Panel. In such cases the Panel will have been satisfied that the above criteria have been met and that it is in the best interests of the young person to become looked after. As a result rehabilitation to the care of the family in the foreseeable future would be highly unlikely and therefore the case management responsibility should transfer from A&CPT to LAC as soon as the information on CARE DIRECTOR is fully updated (See For those children/young people who are made subject of a Care Order as per S31 of the Children Act).

Where the transfer takes place within two weeks of the initial Statutory Review the A&CPT social worker will retain lead responsibility for managing all of this process although the LAC social worker will attend the Review itself. Where there is more than two weeks before the Statutory Review the LAC social worker will manage the whole process in full although it may be good practice for the A&CPT to attend this Review to ensure all information is shared.

Emergency Admissions to Care

On occasions young people may be accommodated on an emergency basis of a night, during week-ends or bank holiday periods by SCD, with Service Manager approval. All such cases should transfer directly from SCD to LAC at the earliest opportunity with all of the same information recorded in CARE DIRECTOR as are required for transfers from SCD to A&CPT. The LAC Team will instigate all of the statutory looked after requirements.

At the point of allocation the LAC team should as matter of routine refer to IST and commission them to undertake an immediate and urgent visit to the family to ensure that any potential for rehabilitation is fully explored at the earliest opportunity. IST would then be expected to formulate a rehab programme and to commence their involvement alongside the LAC Social Worker as a matter of urgency.

Children Accommodated as per S20 pending an ICO Application

In instances where the parent(s) has agreed to the child being accommodated pending the Initial Hearing the placing team (usually the A&CPT) will continue to manage the case until the Initial Hearing is held and the ICO secured. However, at the point of the child becoming looked after the A&CPT should inform the LAC team of the impending transfer so that they can allocate a Social Worker as soon as possible. Wherever possible the LAC social worker should accompany the A&CPT social worker to Court to facilitate a smooth transfer of information.

Once the Initial hearing has been held and the child made subject of an ICO arrangements should be made to transfer case management responsibility within 5 working days. In order to meet this deadline in the case of a child having been removed in an emergency basis it is possible the Core Assessment or Court Care Plan may not be in place and it will be the responsibility of the LAC Team to complete these.

UASCs

In accordance with the recommendations arising from the recent Ofsted inspection all unaccompanied minors will be accommodated under Section 20 of the Children Act. They will have had an Initial Assessment and an Age Assessment undertaken by the Asylum Seekers Team and A&CPT on a joint basis to ensure that the Care Plan best meets their needs. These assessments must contain sufficient information to make them Merton compliant. The A&CPT should also make the referral to the Fostering Team for a placement although case management responsibility may transfer before the young person is actually placed.

For those young people assessed to be over the age of 16 the A&CPT should also actively consider referring the young person to the Residential Services Manager for a place in an HMO (House of Multiple Occupation).

The A&CPT will be responsible for completing:

The SS35/10 so that the young person is recorded as being looked after and that any payments can commence;
The Risk Assessment without which no placement can be deemed to be a legal one;
The Placement Information Record including the signature of the young person verifying that they agree to be looked after;
Notification to the HMO Co-ordinator where appropriate so that alternative accommodation can be secured as soon as possible;
Notification to the IRO Team for allocation of IRO and to arrange the initial Statutory Review;
Notification to the LAC Team to facilitate an early allocation of a Social Worker.

The case will then transfer to the LAC teams at the earliest opportunity once the Initial Assessment has been completed. It will be the responsibility of the LAC Team to arrange the first Statutory Review. Given the timescales involved if there is to be any delay in transferring the case the A&CPT manager should liaise with the relevant LAC manager to inform them of the impending transfer to enable them to make the necessary arrangements for allocation and for arranging the Statutory Review.

The LAC Team will be responsible for completing:

Statutory Review documentation and attendance;
Care Plan;
PEP;
HNA (Health Needs Assessment) referral;
Referral to the Leaving Care Service.

Where the young person is over the age of 16 the first and any subsequent LAC review will actively consider whether it is appropriate for the young person to remain looked after or to have their needs met by other means (e.g. as a Child in Need or as a Care leaver) taking into account the informed wishes and feelings of the young person themselves. Until as and when the IRO agrees it is appropriate for the young person to be discharged from care they will remain a looked after young person.

For those children/young people for whom it is agreed that the Permanence Plan will be Adoption

Most children who have a plan for adoption are held by the LAC Teams. A Family Finder from the Adoption team will be identified prior to the child's case being presented at panel for a 'SHOBPA' (should be placed for adoption) recommendation. The Family Finder will attempt to observe the case being presented at SHOBPA panel and begin gathering some information and maintaining an overview whilst the care proceedings are being concluded.

Case responsibility for a child's case will transfer from the LAC/A&CPT to the Adoption and Permanence Team once the care proceedings are completed and a Placement Order has been granted. The Adoption Social Worker will take responsibility for all requirements whilst the child remains in the 'looked after' system as well as family finding, matching and remain involved as the child's worker following the move to an adoptive placement until the making of an Adoption Order.

For those children who are managed by the Children with Complex Care Needs Team who become subject of a Placement Order the CCCNT will retain case management responsibility up until the making of the Adoption Order given the very specific needs of those children.

If it is part of the PDP or Appraisal of the relevant LAC social worker and depending upon the workload commitments of the team they may negotiate with their team manager to see the Adoption process through to its conclusion.

The LAC/A&CPT should ensure that the case files are fully updated and that there is a Transfer Summary in place. The transfer should formally take place at the Statutory Review that follows the Placement Order being made. If this will cause undue delay to the transfer the Statutory Review should be arranged to take place at an earlier date so as to minimise any delay in family finding. In addition the transfer will follow the process outlined below:

LAC social worker (case holder) books child onto Adoption Panel and completes CPR and Welfare Checklist in line with current procedures;
Adoption Social Worker is allocated prior to the child's case being presented at Adoption Panel for SHOBPA. The Adoption SW attends this panel to observe and begins to work alongside the LAC SW in gathering information about the child in preparation for taking over the case;
The LAC SW will complete Care Proceedings and obtains Placement Order for the child. They will ensure the CPR is updated (including any work that was identified by panel that is required) and take responsibility for completing later in life letter(s). They will ensure all recording is up to date and a full transfer summary is completed on Care Director and any outstanding tasks are completed. A final visit is undertaken to the child and a handover with the Adoption SW takes place;
The Adoption SW takes responsibility for completing the gathering of life-story materials (started by previous Social Workers) and collating these in a meaningful way. They will become responsible for case management and all tasks required under looked after system (including any child protection matters that may arise). They maintain responsibility for family finding and visiting any prospective adoptive families (consideration needs to be given to if a second person needs to be involved in this also);
The Adoption SW will ensure all reports for a match panel are completed and CPR is updated to include any significant information since the case transferred. These reports will follow the current procedure for QA and submission to panel admin. They subsequently attend adoption panel with the Adopter's Social Worker to present the proposed match;
The Adoption SW takes responsibility for organising the Life Appreciation Day for the child. Consideration will need to be given to whether Adoption Team Manager takes back over the task of chairing these given the change of role for the Adoption SW;
The Adoption SW draws up relevant plan of introductions timetable and placement agreement as at present;
The Adoption SW will remain the key worker for the child after placement until the making of an adoption order. They will complete the child's section of the Annexe A report and undertake statutory requirements in relation to visiting and review of the placement.

Protocol for transfer of cases back where plans have changed

A Planning Meeting will be held for the child chaired by the Adoption Team Manager. This will discuss whether adoption remains an appropriate plan. Any change to the Care Plan will need to be ratified via the LAC Review and agreed by the Service Manager and Agency Decision Maker;
Adoption Team Manager will liaise with LAC Team Managers to advise of change of plan for the child and agree which LAC team will pick up responsibility for the child;
Adoption SW will ensure all outstanding tasks are completed, recording on Care Director is up to date and a full transfer summary is completed. Appropriate hand-over meetings will take place and a final visit to the child will be undertaken;
Adoption Team Manager will transfer case responsibility on CARE DIRECTOR to new team.

Siblings of Previously Removed Children

Where children are referred from SCD to A&CPT and where their siblings are already looked after these children should transfer to the team most appropriate to the outcome of that assessment i.e. CiN or Safeguarding Plan to A&CP and instigation of Care Proceedings to LAC.

The exception to this is if the Looked After Children reside in the same household subject of Placement with Parents etc Regulations (PPRs) in which case the siblings should also be allocated to LAC so as to minimise the numbers of social workers involved in any individual household.

Once a case has transferred to LAC they will retain case management responsibility until either the child:

Reaches the age of 17 - at which point the case will transfer to the Leaving Care Team;
Is made subject of a Placement Order - at which point the case will transfer to the Adoption team;
Has their Care Order discharged/replaced by a more suitable Permanence Plan (SGO or Residence Order) although ongoing time limited social work support may be offered to the family to ensure the placement does not break down. Where Care Orders are replaced with Supervision Orders case management responsibility should be retained by LAC in accordance with the best interests of the young person.

Siblings with Differing Legal Status

Where siblings/step-siblings have differing legal status (i.e. ICO/CO and ISO/SO or Residence Order/SGO where there is an identified need for ongoing support as part of a CiN Plan ) the cases should be allocated in accordance with the "one professional up the garden path principle".

Thus where the children are living in the same household and some are subject of Supervision Orders and some subject of Care Orders and Placement with Parents Regulations all of the children should transfer to the LAC Teams.

However, where those children are living in different households their issues, needs and long-term plans are likely to be quite different. As a result they should be allocated to the most relevant team dependent on their legal status (Supervision Orders, SGOs etc to A&CPT, S20 and ICOs etc to LAC).

10. Referral from A&CPT to IST

All referrals to IST following an Initial or Core Assessment of need should be forwarded to IST Managers on a Friday in order for consideration at the IST weekly allocation review the following Monday.

This process will determine whether IST should accept case responsibility for a time limited piece of direct work to meet low level needs or whether IST should undertake a commissioned piece of direct work with the ACPT maintaining case responsibility.

In the case of referrals for children and young people subject to high level Child in Need or Child Protection Plans, case responsibility will always be maintained by the ACPT's with IST providing an intensive package of support.

High level Child in Need are those cases that are defined as those which are likely to result in child protection plans if an intensive piece of work and change is not completed, or Child in Need plans that have immediately followed a child / young person's name being removed from a child protection plan.

Cases cannot be transferred or allocated to IST without the approval of the IST Team Manager via the weekly allocation review process.

Urgent referrals

Urgent referrals to IST are defined as children and young people at imminent risk of entering the Looked After system within 24 hours due to safeguarding concerns and / or family breakdown.

In the case of urgent referrals a discussion should be held between the Fieldwork Team Manager and IST Team Manager to agree a plan of support in order to manage the current crisis. Urgent support and intervention can be allocated up until the weekly referral review, and if required a longer term period of intervention will be allocated.

Given the nature of urgent cases, IST intervention can be undertaken alongside an Initial or Core Assessment.

Case Transfer from ACPT to IST

If case transfer is agreed between the Team Manager for ACPT and the IST Team Manager, the transfer should only take place once the Initial or Core Assessment has been completed and the case notes are fully updated and a Transfer Summary placed on file which should include an overview of the child's needs and the service request.

The management decision of agreement to case transfer should be recorded by the IST Team Manager as evidence of acceptance of the referral and case transfer.

Where IST have accepted case responsibility, but, at the end of the intervention if there has been little or no progress, a discussion should take place between the IST Team Manager and ACPT Team Manager as to whether the case needs to transfer back to the ACPT for re-assessment and / or ongoing monitoring at a CIN level.

Cases transferring back to the ACPT should only take place once all the case notes are up to date, and a transfer summary has been completed by IST.

NB: In the cases of S.47 investigations the transfer will be immediate.

Safeguarding concerns

In such cases where safeguarding concerns increase to the extent that a S.47 may be required the case management responsibility will transfer to the JIT. The only exception to this is where there is a re-referral within 4 weeks then the case is re-allocated to the previous case managing team. IST will remain involved as appropriate in order to complete the piece of direct work.

11. Transfer from A&CPT to Safe@Home

Where the issues of concern within a particular family arise primarily from the domestic abuse that exists within that family then there will be the scope for that case to be managed on a single agency basis by the Safe@Home team. This will include instances in which it is the child who is being violent to a parent but will not ordinarily include families who are subject of a Safeguarding Plan as a result of the domestic abuse occurring within the family. Given the size of the Safe@Home team there will be a limit to the number of such cases that can be transferred in this way and this will be subject to the approval of both of the Service Managers for the respective teams.

12. Miscellaneous Circumstances

Private Fostering Cases

Where it is believed a child is living in a Private Fostering arrangement (See Private Fostering Procedure) referrals should be made to SCD in the normal way. SCD will undertake any urgent safeguarding checks. If they believe that the placement may be a viable option it will transfer to the Fostering Assessment Team for the Private Fostering assessment to be completed. Once the placement has been approved as a Private Fostering placement the case will remain with the Fostering Assessment Team for ongoing social work supervision. Where appropriate a referral should be made to IST in an attempt to facilitate a return home for the young person.

Direct Payments

Where families have requested Direct Payments they should be allocated to the CCCNT who will undertake the assessment for the Direct Payments and also case manage any ongoing social work intervention for the duration of the receipt of those payments. As and when the Direct Payments come to an end the CCCNT will continue to provide the social work input until it is appropriate to close the case. In the light of any further referrals where there are no Direct Payments in place this should go to the most appropriate team in accordance with the rest of this Protocol.

Section 37 and Section 7 Reports

Referrals for such reports should be received by SCD who will transfer them to the geographically appropriate A&CPT for completion unless there is a specific Order made by the Court as to who should complete the report. Any ongoing social work intervention required as a result of the report should be transferred to the appropriate team in accordance with the rest of this protocol.

Step-Parent Adoptions

Cases will be referred to SCD and then transfer directly to the Adoption Team who will complete all of the relevant assessments and Court reports. However, managers from any service area may request a Step-Parent Adoption for a Student Social Worker to complete as part of their placement.

Remand Cases

Where young people are remanded into the care of the Local Authority they will ordinarily be placed with remand Foster Carers and will become looked after young people and should be allocated within the LAC Teams accordingly. As and when their remand status changes so does their looked after status as follows:

Where the young person is already subject of a Care Order their looked after status does not change whether they are remanded to L.A. accommodation, secure remanded or receive a custodial sentence. The LAC Team retains the responsibility for care planning and reviewing as they would for all looked after children;
Where the young person was subject of S20 and remanded to Local Authority accommodation there is no change to their status. Where they are remanded to custody or receive a custodial sentence they are no longer looked after but the responsible authority has a responsibility to visit and to plan for the placement/ living arrangements on their release.

In both of the above circumstances where the young person remains looked after the LAC social worker (nb NOT the YOT worker) must visit the young person within 10 days of the custodial placement, at least every 6 weeks for the first 12 months of the sentence and whenever the young person reasonably requests such a visit.

Where the young person was not previously looked after and they are remanded to local authority care they become looked after for the duration of that remand and the LAC Team assumes responsibility for care planning and review. In these circumstances the remanded young person becomes a looked after young person only by virtue of that remand. Upon the discharge of the remand or a sentence to custody the young person ceases to be looked after and the case can either be closed or transferred, depending on the assessment of their need, to the most appropriate team in accordance with this Protocol;
As and when the remand to Local Authority care no longer applies and the young person returns home to the care of their parents, independent living or extended family/private fostering placement they are no longer looked after. They should be discharged from care and the case closed or transferred to the most appropriate team in line with this Protocol.

13. Protocol for Step Down to CAF Process from Statutory Interventions

Cases will be transferred to CAF if the assessment of the Social Worker and Team Manager is that the needs of the child / young person can be supported safely at CAF level without the child being placed at greater risk of vulnerability.

Where a CAF exists prior to Social Care involvement:

The Lead Professional already identified should be notified to attend the final CIN (Child in Need) meeting to be brought up to date with the CIN plan and confirm that the case will continue within the CAF model;
If the original Lead Professional is no longer available, an alternative Lead Professional should be identified prior to or at the final CIN meeting to ensure continuity and that the case will continue within the CAF model;
If a suitable Lead Professional cannot be identified then the issue should be referred to the CAF team prior to the final CIN meeting;
The CAF team will then negotiate with practitioners to identify an appropriate Lead Professional.

Where a CAF does NOT exist prior to Social Care involvement:

Prior to the final CIN meeting the allocated Social Worker should contact the CAF Team for advice/consultation on the identification of a Lead Professional if this is not obvious through the multi-agency working already undertaken. The identified Lead Professional should be invited to the final CIN meeting.

In all cases, with the consent of the family and, where appropriate the young person, information on the current CIN plan, minutes of previous meetings and the most recent Core or Initial Assessment should be shared with the identified Lead Professional.

The Social Worker must advise the CAF team that the case is moving to CAF by completing the electronic Start Form.

The Initial Assessment and /or Core Assessment documents can be submitted to the CAF team in place of full CAF. Where these documents are out of date best practice would suggest that CAF documentation should be completed, this could be negotiated with the new lead professional

If the professional is unwilling to take on the role of Lead Professional at a CAF level the CAF team should be contacted to provide support to the professional or to assist in finding a Lead Professional from another agency.

In the event that the referring professional refuses to accept the case as CAF they should be advised to follow the dispute process which is also in the multi-agency CAF procedures (2.5.10).

The CAF team will record cases which have had social care involvement and are subsequently recommended to be supported by the CAF model.

Disagreements between agencies

The CAF model is a model of interagency working and will only work well when there is good co-operation between all those involved. However, on occasions there may be disagreements about issues such as thresholds for involvement, the role of the Lead Professional and allocation of responsibilities. In such cases the matter should be dealt with through discussion and negotiation. If the matter cannot be resolved then it should be referred to line managers to take appropriate action to resolve the issue.

If disagreement exists between professionals with regard to the appropriateness of holding a CAF meeting, the meeting should be go ahead if it is agreed by the family.

CAF meetings should be led by the assessed needs of the family. If a meeting is not called the reasons for this would need to be recorded and alternative actions identified. If professionals are unsure they should discuss with their line manager or contact: cafteam@wakefield.gov.uk

If the disagreement is with regards to thresholds for social care then the CAF Team should be contacted for a discussion regarding thresholds. If no agreement can be secured then the matter should be escalated through line management for further discussion to take place (In health the named professionals for safeguarding should be consulted).

In the event that a professional believes a child would not be adequately safeguarded without a Child Protection Case Conference taking place, it should be noted that the West Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Procedures allows for all agencies to request a Child Protection Case Conference to enable a full discussion of concerns. (See West Yorkshire SCB Procedures, Resolving Professional Disagreements Procedure)

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