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Updated guidance on deciding a child’s level of need

Date: Friday, 10th Dec 2021 | Category: General

The ‘Oxfordshire Threshold of Needs document’ is the guidance for all agencies to use when making decisions about children’s level of need and also what support they and their family may require at any given time.

Following helpful feedback from local practitioners and managers this has been updated and is on the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Board Website: Oxfordshire Threshold of Needs 2021

This guidance is for all practitioners working with children and families in Oxfordshire.  It should be:

  • used as part of making any referral to the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH)
  • referenced and discussed in all OSCB multiagency safeguarding training and all Early Help training

The updated guidance includes:

  • when an Early Help Assessment should be conducted (page 11)
  • how decisions are reached as to whether targeted early services are provided or a Child In Need (CIN) assessment is undertaken (pages 12 & 13)
  • insight as to what factors Children’s Services consider when making threshold decisions (pages 14 and 15)

The OSCB will soon be offering three one-hour virtual workshops for partners on making decisions about children’s level of need. Information on this training will be circulated in due course.

This update is shared with acknowledgement and thanks to practitioners in Oxfordshire for the extraordinary support that they provide to vulnerable children and families on a daily basis. Their commitment and hard work is appreciated and is making a difference many children’s and families’ lives. Thank you!