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Contents

1. Introduction
2. Identifying Concerns
3. Information Sharing
   
   Appendix 1: Process Flow Chart
   
   Appendix 2: Key Agency Contact Details

1. Introduction

The aim of working together is to address the problems created by professionals working in isolation in their specialisms, sometimes even working at cross purposes with their colleagues in other services. The complimentary perspectives of children and adult services professionals are essential if a holistic and comprehensive service is to be provided to families.

The success of shared practice development depends on achieving a shared vision and understanding of the needs and the services to be developed. There must be consideration of the requirements for information sharing and for confidentiality in line with government guidance. The views of service using parents/carers and children/young people are also to be considered in implementing and building upon this protocol. Ultimately assessing and managing levels of concern and implementing the protocol will always require professional judgment and decision-making in the context of robust supervision/management.

This protocol sets out to establish a clear framework at an operational level in Walsall for how and when children's and mental health/substance misuse/ probation services must work closely together and address issues of;

• The appropriate sharing of information about the needs of parents and children within agencies and across agency boundaries;
• The joint assessment of families' needs by professionals from adult and children's services.

2. Identifying Concerns

When working with parents/carers who have additional needs, professionals will assess whether the needs of children are being met, and whether the parents have the capacity to meet those needs. Either of these may change for better or worse at different times. The particular circumstances and make-up of each family - including ethnicity, culture and gender - will need to be considered in implementing the protocol.

However, there is a duty ON ALL PROFESSIONALS IN ALL SERVICES to give paramount consideration to the welfare and safety of children and Vulnerable Adults and also to ensure that early intervention takes place.

Staff in adult teams and in children's services should identify within their own service any case where a service-using adult has parental responsibilities.

Consent must be sought from the family to establish whether the family is known to other services and to discuss whether any information needs to be shared. There is no need for parental consent if there are child protection concerns although parents should be informed that information will be shared. The exception to this is where to do so;

• Would put that child or young person or others at increased risk of Significant Harm;
• Would put an adult at risk of serious harm;
• Would undermine the prevention, detection or prosecution of a serious crime;
• Might lead to interference with any potential investigation.

Where there are concerns about the needs of a parent/carer and/or about their parenting and their parenting capacity, these issues will be approached jointly (though not necessarily undertaken jointly) by the appropriate adult services.

There has to be a shared response i.e. prompt exchange of information and consultation between adult and children’s services’ teams initially about risk and safety for either the parent or child. Different levels of response will be required depending on the urgency or significance of the needs or concerns. Concerns about a child’s welfare should be referred to the Initial Response Service and followed up in writing (within 24hrs) using the WSCB1 Form.

Professionals working with children need to be alert to the possibility of safety or welfare issues relating to adults within the family who may present as being a “vulnerable adult”.  The term Vulnerable Adult refers to:

‘someone who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness; and who is or may be unable to take care of him or himself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation and is ages 18 years and over "

(No Secrets, DoH, March 2000).

Where there are suspicions or concerns regarding the possible abuse of a Vulnerable Adult, these need to be raised immediately. Safeguarding Vulnerable Adult referrals can be made via completion of the Adult Safeguarding Initial Assessment Form (WSS220) and forwarded to the Social Care & Inclusion Response Centre. Telephone contact can also be made to the Adult Safeguarding Unit to discuss the initial concerns prior to completion of the Referral Form. See Appendix 2: Key Agency Contact Details.

When making an Adult Safeguarding referral, it is important to recognise that the Vulnerable Adult needs to be consulted and their consent obtained.  The only exceptions to this are when by not sharing the concerns it puts other Vulnerable Adults at risk; or when the Vulnerable Adult is deemed to lack capacity about such a decision and it can then be made on their behalf after consideration of their ‘best interests’.

Once the referral has been made, the duty social worker/safeguarding practitioner will agree an appropriate strategy to respond to the concerns being made.

All practitioners making a safeguarding Vulnerable Adult referral are responsible for ensuring that their own line management are informed and kept updated.

Professionals need to recognise that parents/carers may have a disability, for example a learning disability or physical disability that makes them vulnerable in their own right. 

Consideration needs to be given to the appropriateness of placing a child with a Vulnerable Adult who may not be able to meet the needs of the child and or is unable to protect themselves from any possible behaviours/abuse from the child they are caring for. Professionals need to recognise that some Vulnerable Adults may be at an increased risk of abuse from some children and other options should therefore be considered.  It is essential that adult services are contacted in advance if there are any concerns regarding an adult’s ability to care for any such child so that appropriate actions can then be agreed. The contribution of specialist workers is vital to ensure an appropriate assessment of risk to the family.

3. Information Sharing

An effective, safe, and supportive service for children and families cannot be provided without clear lines of communication between agencies and the exchange of appropriate information.

Consent to share or gather information must be sought unless a child’s safety is at risk.

All recent guidance has made it clear that although service users should expect any information about them to be confidential; this expectation cannot be fully met when the safety or welfare of children is of concern.

Professionals need to also remember that confidentiality can be waived with the consent of the parent / carer who is the service user. Discussions with him/her about the need for such a waiver can also help in clarifying with the parent the significance of their needs impacting on their child(ren).

Appendix 1: Process Flow Chart

Click here to view this flow chart

Appendix 2: Key Agency Contact Details

Adult Services - Social Care

Social Care & Inclusion Response Centre
PO Box 6033
Walsall
WS1 9LN

Adult Safeguarding Unit
6th Floor,
Tameway Tower,
Bridge Street,
Walsall.
WS1 1JZ

Telephone: 01922 650494
Fax: 01922  638259

Children’s Services - Social Care

Monday - Thursday, 8.45am - 5.15pm
Friday, 8.45am - 4.45pm

Initial Response Service
The Quest, 2nd floor
139-143 Lichfield Street
Walsall WS1 1SE
Telephone: 01922 658170
Fax: 01922 658195

Evenings, weekends, bank holidays: Emergency Response Team:
Telephone: 0845 111 2836

Child Concern / Common Assessment:                                                
Telephone: 01922 658170

Specialist Substance Misuse Services Adults:
Community Drugs Team
Dudley & Walsall Mental health Trust
Lantern House
Lichfield Street
WALSALL
WS1 1TE
01922 858463

ADDACTION
231 Stafford Street
WALSALL
WS2 8DF
01922 646262

Young People:
CRi/T3
21 Jervis Court
Dog Kennel Lane
WALSALL
WS1 32BU
Tel: 01922 637505

End