Allocation of Children in Child Protection Inquiry Teams.
Overview
The following information aims to provide potential candidates with a better understanding of the requirements for this role.
Responsibilities
* When a new referral is received from CASS/MASH, allocate the referral to a Social Worker or Senior Social Worker for a child protection response.
* If a child protection response is not required after a strategy discussion or S47 Inquiry, and instead an S17 response is required, refer the child back to the relevant district Family Help Team for allocation.
* Where a child needs to be presented to an Initial Child Protection Conference (ICPC), complete all child protection tasks and a conference report, and submit the report to the conference. If a child protection plan is made at the ICPC, transfer the child to the Child Protection Service.
* If the ICPC determines that a child protection response is not required and an S17 response is required, send the case to the relevant district Family Help Team for allocation.
* When child protection concerns arise on an open case in Family Help where the FHLP is not a qualified social worker, avoid reallocating to a social worker in Family Help while S47 enquiries are undertaken.
* Conduct strategy discussions and S47 Inquiries; the Team Manager of the CP Team chairs the discussion, while the FHLP and/or Practice Supervisor attend.
* Coordinate with the Family Help team manager and the CP Team Manager to clarify statutory roles and responsibilities when the FHLP remains involved with children requiring ongoing child protection response.
* Complete child protection paperwork (strategy meeting minutes and S47 documents), especially where the FHLP may not be a social work qualified.
* Support the writing of the conference report and present the child to the ICPC if a conference is required.
* When a child protection plan is made, transfer the child and family to the Child Protection Service and allocate to a social worker.
* If a child is not considered to need ongoing child protection response, allow the allocated FHLP to remain the worker and end the role of the CP Team.
* In cases where the FHLP was not a qualified social worker, decide whether the FHLP remains involved or a social work qualified Lead Practitioner or Senior Lead Practitioner is needed, maintaining continuity of practitioner involvement with families to support relationship‑based practice.
Special Cases
* Children habitually resident in another local authority area: when a child protection response is required, the strategy meeting will be chaired by CASS Team managers rather than the CP Inquiry Team Manager, as these children are not allocated or investigated by the CP Inquiry Team.
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