Professionals
Page Contents
- Early Intervention Hubs
- Making a Referral
- Getting Involved
- Helpline Numbers
- Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)
This section of the website is aimed at giving information, advice and guidance to professionals on the work of the OSCB. Remember your first port of call for any individual case management should always be the Procedures Manual.
This page will also keeps you informed about what is happening in Oxfordshire and how to get involved.
Early Intervention Hubs
The single integrated Early Intervention Service for children, young people and families facing multiple problems is now delivered from seven base "Hubs" providing outreach support across Oxfordshire, bringing together the work of lots of different services including those that:
- Support children and young people at school to prevent attendance difficulties and exclusions
- Aim to reduce teenage pregnancy
- Support parents
- Prevent young people misusing drugs or alcohol
- Help young people to get employment, training and further education
The Hubs are a base for professionals, both from within the county council and from partner agencies, to work directly with local children, young people and families. In addition, professionals continue to work with children, young people and their families within their own home, school or community setting as appropriate. The Hubs also act as venues for youth sessions to be held in the evenings and on weekends.
The fifth Early Intervention Service newsletter was circulated recently and contains news from the Hubs among other things.
Poster and leaflet
We would like to draw your attention to the poster (.pdf format, 58Kb) and factsheet (.pdf format, 183Kb) that are available to download at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/earlyinterventionhubs. These provide key basic information about the Hubs and how to find out more. We would like to raise awareness of the Hubs, particularly with professionals who work with children, young people and families. Please could you help with this by:
- Printing a colour copy or copies of the poster to display on your noticeboard/s [A4 or A3]
- Making colour copies of the leaflet available to anyone who is interested in finding out more about the Hubs and would prefer the information in hard copy
- Publishing a link to the Early Intervention Service web pages on your own website if you have one: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/earlyinterventionhubs
For further information please visit the early intervention hubs website, where you can sign up for the newsletter.
Making a Referral
You can make a referral via telephone, fax or letter, directly to the Assessment Team. In Oxfordshire there are three area assessment teams, (North, City and South) and one team based at the John Radcliffe Hospital. All referrals made by professionals must be followed up by completing a referral form (.doc format, 23.5Kb). It is important to include as much information as possible on this form as it will help the social worker to make a decision. Try to include examples that demonstrate your concerns as well as the risks and protective factors around the child.
If you have concerns about a child but are not sure whether you should make a formal referral you can call the assessment team and have a, ‘no-names consultation’. This means that you can talk the case through with a social worker, without giving the name of the child or family, although you will have to state who you are and what service you are from. Following the consultation, the social worker will advise you about whether you need to make a referral. For more information on making a referral download our Making A Referral guide (.doc format, 23.5Kb).
Getting Involved
There are 3 local Safeguarding Groups covering:
- North Oxfordshire
- South Oxfordshire
- City
The aims of the groups are to share best practice, update learning from serious case reviews and ensure there are good link between the Board and practitioners.
If you ant further information on one of the meetings please email oscb@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Helpline Numbers
Speak to a local social worker:
- Emergency Duty Team 0800 833 408
- Banbury (North) 01865 816670
- Oxford (City) 01865 323048
- Abingdon (South) 01865 897983
- To notify the local authority of a Private Fostering Arrangement - 01865 323167 or call the the City team number above.
Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)
The LADO role is outlined in Working Together 2010 and is in place to ensure that allegations against people working with children are progressed in a timely and appropriate way.
The role covers all settings where people work with children (e.g. Football Clubs, Church Groups, Child Minders) not just Oxfordshire County Council employees.
The LADO should be made aware of all cases in which it is alleged that a person who works with children has:
- behaved in a way that has harmed a child, or may have harmed a child;
- possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child; or
- behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates s/he is unsuitable to work with children.
There may be up to three strands in the consideration of an allegation:
- a police investigation of a possible criminal offence;
- enquiries and assessment by children’s social care about whether a child is in need of protection or in need of services; and
- consideration by an employer of disciplinary action in respect of the
individual.
As an employer you may be requested to attend a ‘Strategy Discussion’ to provide information and help agree how the Children and Families Assessment Team and the Police will undertake their enquiries.
As part of this process the LADO will liaise with the employer to ensure that whoever is the subject of an allegation is supported appropriately and to assist the employer in deciding whether individuals should receive a suspension from work during the enquiry.
Contact Details
For all allegations please contact:
Barry Armstrong - Area Service Manager and Schools LADO
Tel: 01865 810603
Barry.armstrong@oxfordshire.gov.uk
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