The Matrix Vulnerable children Low priority Children in Need Moderate priority needs Children in Need High priority needs Child Protection Children are vulnerable but not ‘in need’ as defined by the Children Act 1989. No requirement for a core assessment but, if possible, should be offered advice, information and redirection to sources of assistance Social Services help is not essential to the monitoring or maintenance of the Families experiencing difficulties improvements may be desirable but there is no acute risk at present Social Work intervention could be helpful if available. Support may be provided through community services to which families need to be sign posted. Alternatively a term intervention could be considered A reasonable standard of health and development is unlikely to be maintained without Social Services support. The child may move into the urgent category without the provision of services. There are identifiable factors which indicate that considerable deterioration is likely without support. is serious family dysfunction, a child is beyond control, no person is able to exercise parental responsibility or the child is abandoned, trafficked or rejected is a high level of need, serious concerns about the care, health or development of a child and the child likely to suffer significant harm. Areas of Need Low level concern Moderate concern Serious concern Urgent Child’s Developmental Need Some concerns re diet, hygiene, clothing etc. Has missed some routine health appointments Slow in reaching milestones Poor punctuality/late for school Intermittent school absences Poor concentration/not achieving potential Under stimulated Smoking/using alcohol Low level anti-social behaviour Regularly missing routine and non-routine health appointments Defaulting on immunisation and checks Not achieving key benchmarks Regular non attendance Some fixed term exclusions Disruptive/challenging behaviour in school/community/home Cannot cope with anger, frustration or upset Experimenting with drugs Child involved in serious substance misuse or offending behaviour Child has chronic mental health needs that impact on child Chronic self harming behaviour Disclosure of historical sexual abuse where perpetrator no longer present Child previously looked after or previous request that child be looked after has been subject of 3 CHIN referrals during the year Excluded or serious risk of exclusion Child suffered or at serious of significant harm Child being trafficked or prostituted Child has acute mental health needs that impact on safety/care of child Acute self harming behaviour
Low self esteem that might lead to bullying Limited peer relationships Identified learning needs – school action or school action plus Disabled child where parents are coping but need support in accessing appropriate services Re referral of recently closed case with no new information Parent/carer curtailing child’s growing independence Child with ADHD, ADD, Dyslexia or Dispraxia Starting to engage in criminal behaviour Moderate neglect Parents relationship problems impacting on child Young carer whose responsibilities are adversely affecting development Homeless care leaver Goes missing/risk taking activity Chronic neglect Chronic non attendance at school Parenting Capacity Parental engagement is poor Parents require advice on parenting Inconsistent emotional responses to child Provides inconsistent boundaries Some health problems Parents relationship under pressure Parents need advice re child development, behaviour Difficult to engage Struggling to provide adequate care No effective boundaries Some concerns about parents ability to keep children safe Teen pregnancy Anti-social behaviour Domestic violence and the is present or affected Parental disability, mental health or substance misuse problems where concerns are raised about parents ability to attend to the basic needs of the child Professionals have serious concerns re parenting Attachment problems – highly critical or apathetic to child Beyond control Actual or risk of extreme domestic violence between parents/carers Severe mental/physical illness of parent/carer Serious substance misuse of parent/carer with evidence of immediate risk to child Parent/carer unwilling or to cope with caring for disabled child Parent/carer does not meet physical or mental health needs of child Parents unable to care for previous children Family & Environment Temporary housing or homeless Limited formal education Low income May be new to area May not access universal services adequately Dispute over contact arrangements Threat of eviction Rent arrears Lack of positive role models Domestic violence but not present Poor relations with extended family Socially isolated Inadequate housing Poor skills/unemployed Serious debts/poverty Sibilings or parents in custody No effective support systems Unhelpful involvement from extended family Chronic unemployment Extreme poverty Very poor housing Socially isolated Inadequate supervision Child exposed to immediate danger Schedule 1 offender is posing actual or potential risk to child Families with chronic history of and neglect