1. The Duties and Responsibility of Southend-on-Sea Borough Council Fieldwork Services Report to Children & Learning Scrutiny Committee 15 th 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. Need protecting from the adults in their lives Are abandoned Have complex Disabilities & Difficulties Have been abused & neglected by parents CHILDREN WHO Have complex disabilities or complex health needs Live in a family where parent abuse drugs & alcohol Are looked after / cannot live safely at home Live with a parent with severe mental health problem Abuse drugs & alcohol Offend Have no parents or extended family to care for them

4. Accountability and Delivery Structure Cllr. Sally Carr Paul Greenhalgh Sue Cook Heather Flinders Ruth Baker 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 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

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

6. Activity Undertaken by the Teams Year 06/07 Month July 07 Number of referrals of children Total Initial Assessments started during the month Core Assessments started during the month Total Section 47 investigations at the end of the month Number of Section 47 investigations requiring an initial Child Protection Conference 1,300 879 - 172 98 2 10 16* FIRST CONTACT

7. CAFS TEAMS Year 06/07 Month July 07 Number of children on the Child Protection Register Number of children Looked After requiring regular reviews Number of children requiring child in need plan Number of cases in court proceedings 127 282 150 286* 300 40 at any one time

8. Number of referrals in relation to Domestic Violence incidents requiring visits Number of referrals in relation to Private Proceedings Approximately 7 per month (from 100 referrals) Between 5 – 10 at any one time

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.