Level 1: Universal Description Examples of what you might see Action to take Desired outcome Children and people living in families whose needs are being met or whose additional needs can be met by universal services Universal services include: Antenatal support via midwifery New baby support via Health Visitor Baby groups, “stay and play” groups etc Early Years Library Child-minder support and advice on childcare Advice on benefits Advice on school enrolment Schools and out of school provision School Nursing General Practitioners and other universal health services Neighbourhood policing and Communities Area Teams (safer The indicators listed are examples only and not intended to be a comprehensive list. The indicators can never replace professional judgement and analysis. These children, young people and families have no additional needs other than those which are met by universal services for example such as health or education providers. This includes: Immunisation & vaccination Routine health visiting services Accommodation and rehousing needs Positive youth activities Targeted diversionary activities and projects in areas Neighbourhood policing and Communities Area Teams (Safer At this needs are met by parents, carers and communities and by universal services. Parents can access ‘self-help’ support and advice through a range of settings such as Children’s Centres, Schools libraries and on line. Routine surveillance should include awareness of emerging needs, in particular signs of neglect, and the importance of discussing these with the child, parents or colleagues. Consideration should be given to using the Doncaster neglect tool to ensure neglect is not an issue. Stronger Families eligibility should be checked to ensure help is given at the earliest point. Children and people are: Physically, emotionally and sexually healthy Looked after by parents or carers who promote healthy and safe choices Not affected by avoidable hospital admissions as a result of poor health or accidents etc Safe from abuse, neglect and exploitation Ready for school and able to attend and enjoy school and achieve educational milestones Achieve developmental milestones in accordance with their potential ability Are ready to participate in appropriate employment, education or training after leaving school Safe from bullying, maltreatment, exploitation, discrimination & injury
may require services to enlist the services of another agency to meet the families needs. Work will be to be time-limited to support families to become self-reliant again. professional judgement and analysis. Children and young people with emerging health or developmental problems for example relating to diet and nutrition, dental health etc Children and young people with isolated or unsupported carers Children and young people who need support due to mental or physical health difficulties Children and young people requiring additional educational support e.g. behaviour, emotional or social difficulties Children and young people with permanent disabilities who require support to access services Children and young people who live in households where there Professionals make an Early Help Enquiry into the Early Help Hub. Professional support and advice about thresholds can be accessed through the Hub and the locality based Early Help Coordinators. Stronger Families criteria to be checked. Where neglect may be an emerging issue workers should use the Doncaster Neglect tool to inform their assessment. A child and their family’s needs may be met by an existing service offering extra support within its own remit or by signposting or asking another service including: Health Visiting support Speech and Language services Children’s Centres Universal Offer Extra learning support Money and debt advice Family learning Help to find work by ‘universal’ community based services without further need for targeted or specialist service support.
struggling to manage their behaviour Children whose parents/carers need support to maintain school attendance Children parents or carers are affected by low level mental, physical or learning difficulties Children whose parents/carers need support with finances in order to meet their needs Children whose parents/carers who need support to improve hygiene or safety in the home Level 3: Partnership Response Description Examples of what you see Action to take Desired outcome Children and young people living in families who need multi-agency support to meet their needs coordinated by a lead practitioner model. If an authority determines following assessment that a The indicators listed below are examples only and not intended to be a comprehensive list. The indicators can never replace professional judgement and analysis. Professionals make an Early Help Enquiry into the Early Help Hub. Professional support and advice about thresholds can be accessed through the Hub and the locality based Early Help Coordinators. The overall outcome is that the child and family gain resilience and are enabled to be safely supported by the provision of early help and prevention or supported and thrive through universal provision following the early help support.
disabled child needs support under Section 17, it must first consider whether such support is of the type outlined in Section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act (CSDPA) 1970. Where there is an EHC needs assessment, it should be a holistic assessment of the child or young person’s education, health and social care needs. EHC needs assessments should be combined with social care assessments under section 17 of the Children’s Act 1989 where appropriate. If services are to be provided following an assessment there should be a ‘child in need plan’ which sets out who is going to do what, where and when to help the child. Children and young people with multiple Level 2 indicators Children and young people with increasingly severe behavioural, emotional and social difficulties Children and young people with prolonged or acute absence from school Children and young people who are at immediate risk of becoming homeless Children who have previously been subject to a in Need or Child Protections Plan and whose parents need support to help them sustain progress over a planned period Children and young people who are consistently not accessing universal services and are therefore “invisible” to agencies Children and young people whose health is The Early Help Hub will screen the enquiry and agree a lead practitioner to coordinate the Early Help Assessment, undertake a TAC/TAF and establish a holistic plan for the family that is aimed at reducing the level of need. Using the Doncaster Neglect tool will assist in identifying the family’s needs and should be undertaken to ensure neglect is not an issue. The Doncaster Risk & Resilience Frameworks and similar can support the measurement of changes in risk and resilience. These are embedded within the Early Help Module. Child & Family Assessment tools and techniques (over 200 people trained across partners. Stronger Families eligibility to be checked
Children, young people who or whose parents have frequent neighbour disputes or are reported for nuisance behaviour ASB or issues regarding physical conditions of their home Children, young people who or whose parents are victims of ASB and crime including racial abuse or other hate crime 4: Safeguarding Description Examples of what you might see Action to take Desired outcome Children and young people living in families and other settings who are in need of support and/services whose health or development is likely to be significantly impaired or further impaired or have suffered or are likely to suffer significant harm as a result of abuse, neglect or exploitation. Children and young people who have a substantial and permanent disability whose health or development is likely to be The indicators listed are examples only and not intended to be a comprehensive list. The indicators can never replace professional judgement and analysis. Examples could include: Children or families who display multiple Level 2 or 3 indicators in combination These children are likely to require a statutory intervention from children’s social care services or if they have entered the criminal justice system, from the YOS or if they are not attending school education welfare services or medical intervention including hospital admissions. At this level a referral must be made to DCST Referral and Response Team which is The overall outcomes from activity at this level of assessed need is to mitigate and reduce the level of risk to the child so they are no longer likely to suffer significant harm. Having assessed the child’s ongoing and future needs in most circumstances it is expected that support will be “stepped down” to lower levels of provision to help the the family to maintain the progress that has been made.
significantly impaired or further impaired unless services are provided. Children who require a statutory intervention as a result of offending. Children who have acute mental health needs requiring treatment Children and young people who have suffered or are likely to suffer significant harm as a result of sexual, physical or emotional abuse by an adult or a child Children and young people whose behaviour presents a serious risk to themselves or others Children or young people who need respite care or intensive support packages due to complex disability or health issues Children and young who are at risk of significant harm due to substance misuse issues Children and young people who have suffered or are likely to suffer significant harm due to sexual exploitation or violence within a relationship Children and young people with chronic ill health or life-limiting conditions accessed in the same way as the Early Help Hub. The Doncaster Neglect Tool should be used to ensure an accurate assessment of neglect. Children and young people will require coordinated services from specific agencies including: DCST, DMBC SY Police, RDaSH and DBHFT. They may be subject to Child Protection or Care Plans and may live in alternative settings including fostering, residential, custodial and hospitals. If you assess a child or young person to be at or continue to be at risk, dependant on circumstances, actions may include: Seeking advice from your agency’s designated worker or child protection lead Calling the Police or emergency medical if a child or young person or adult is in immediate In some cases where this is not possible the outcome is likely to be that alternative arrangements are made for the care of the child for example with family members or within the Looked After Children system
All children and young people assessed as having an underlying mental health disorder and who are receiving treatment Children and young people whose parents/carers are unable to provide care due to the effects of their alcohol or drug misuse where evidence suggests the child is at immediate risk of or is suffering from significant harm. NB these could include unborn babies Children and young people whose parents/carers are unable to provide care due to domestic abuse where evidence suggests the child is at immediate risk of or is suffering from significant harm NB these could include unborn babies Children and young people whose parents/carers are unable to provide care danger If a child young person or adult is in immediate danger If you feel a child has suffered or is at risk of significant harm you have a duty to refer to the DCST the Referral and Response When you are referring to the Referral and Response Team you must provide information about the previous support that has been provided to the family and the involvement of your or other agencies. A telephone or email referral should be followed up in writing within 48 hours and the DCST will provide you with information regarding their actions and the outcome of your referral. There are other opportunities to share concerns about future risk of harm to a child, including MARAC and MAPPA serious crime and domestic abuse meetings and the DCST.