Roles and responsibilities that are matched to abilities and experience
Our Children’s Services team has undergone recent restructuring to create teams around specific services and experience levels.
Integrated Front door
This small team of alternatively qualified staff will address calls and emails to the front door and signpost those that can be dealt with by universal services and organisations within the boundary of NELC or if safeguarding issues are flagged, can refer to our MASH team.
MASH (Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub)
MASH is the first point of contact for referrers who have concerns over a child. The MASH team investigates safeguarding referrals, gathering information, and making decisions on the level of support or intervention a child may require.
Assessment and Intervention Teams
Our Assessment & Intervention teams mirror the locality model which has been successful for our Early Help teams. The service provided is in the main short-term, task-centred service with assessment and focused interventions to meet identified needs and risks.
Safeguarding and Court Service
These teams focus on Child Protection work where children are subject to Child Protection Plans and may be subject to Pre-Proceedings. The team is also responsible for progressing court applications through the 26-week court timescale.
Children Looked After
The Children Looked After team provides services to young people who are in long-term care or who have left the care of the Local Authority. We have a policy of individually reviewing each case at transfer point (age 18) and if a vulnerable 18-year-old requires further Social Work allocation then this Young Person will remain with that social worker and we will review accordingly.
Other teams
Alongside these teams, we also have children’s homes, placement providers, Family Hubs, our Fostering, and Adoption Service, Youth Offending Service and Children’s Disability service who work together with families to make sure that support is in place where needed.
Comprehensive Training & Career Pathways
We offer social work roles at all levels from AYSE through to Consultant Practitioners and Team Managers.
- LEVEL 1 – ASYE – NQ (Year 1)
- LEVEL 2 – Experienced Social Worker (Y2 – 3/4)
- LEVEL 3 – Consultant Practitioner (Y3 – 4)
- LEVEL 4 – Assistant Team Leader / Advance Practitioner (Year 4)
- LEVEL 5 – Team Manager
These levels allow for step-up opportunities such as the ability to present a portfolio to demonstrate readiness and ability to progress to the next level. We aim to ensure every social worker has the necessary skills to undertake the tasks assigned to them and that they can develop their career ton reach their potential.
