JOINT WORKING BETWEEN CHILDREN’S SOCIAL CARE AND ADULT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THE HACKNEY EXPERIENCE

Overview of presentation

• Challenges faced by AMH• Challenges for CSC• Shared challenges• Developments in AMH• Developments in CSC• Joint initiatives• 10 principles of joint working• Our contact details

Challenges for AMH services

• High deprivation indicators• Large and complex caseloads• More service users with children• Specialist not generic training of staff – e.g. social workers, nurses• Low baseline of understanding in staff about children – experience• Competing demands and expectations of staff knowledge• Unrealistic expectations of other services – e.g. expect miracles or

negative views

Other challenges for AMH staff• Advocate role• Therapeutic relationship• Confidentiality • Electronic data protection policies• Medical understanding of their contribution to safeguarding – e.g.

parenting capacity• Attending CP conferences• CSC expectations of AMH – e.g. relevance of a diagnosis rather than

management of symptoms, behaviour etc

Challenges for CSC Staff

• Understanding mental illness• Treatment for mental health problems• Impact on parenting• Communication

Shared Challenges

• Understanding each other’s systems, services, languages• Understanding each other’s legal powers• Recruitment and retention of staff• Thresholds for risk

Developments in Adult Mental Health Services• Safeguarding Children Team (SCT)• Parental Mental Health Team (PMHT)• Perinatal mental health services• In house safeguarding children training• City University training for inpatient staff• Hospital SW team links with wards• Audit • CPA policy and documentation• LSCB links• MAPPA links• Domestic Violence/Abuse forums – MARAC links

Reclaiming Social Work

Children’s Social Work Unit (CSWU)

all members of the unit work with the family

Benefits

• Different skills• Understanding partner agencies• Continuity

Specialist workers

• Mental health• Drug Action Team (DAT) secondment for Looked After

Children (LAC) and Children in Need (CiN) services• Learning difficulty• Community partnership advisor• Complex case advisor

Parenting Support sits within Family Support Services

alongside:-• Commissioned Family Support • Contact Services• Culturally Specific Consultation • Specialist Posts

Referrals • All referrals for additional support services are received via

a multi-agency resource panel – JARP (Joint Allocation Resource Panel)

• The purpose of JARP is to reduce overlap & duplication of services provided to families

• It aims to coordinate multi-agency responses to families in need by responding to referrals in a timely and planned way

Joint Allocation Resource Panel

48 SWU’s

CiN

CommissionedProviders

PSS

Tier 2 YISP/YOT

CFCS FIP EducationContact

JARP is a multi-agency resource panel that meets weekly

ClinicalManager

• Mental Health Trust Named Professional for Safeguarding Children is copied into agenda & minutes for JARP

• All referrals are screened for parents known to Adult Mental Health Services

• Specialist Post – Consultant General Adult Psychiatrist who provides advice and guidance to CSC staff on AMH issues

Joint developments

• SCR and SUI process• Joint protocol• LSCB training• MATCH training by CAMHS for multi-disciplinary staff

including AMH• Kidstime workshops

10 Principles of Purposeful Joint Working…SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY

1. Discussions must precede decisions 2. Do not make plans on behalf of other agencies without discussion3. Invite involved agencies to your meetings and send them copies of

minutes4. Undertake, where possible, joint risk assessments & care planning 5. Share details of care plans and risk assessments

Cont. overleaf

10 Principles cont.6. Ensure agencies have sufficient notice to attend meetings and

requests for joint visits where possible7. Plan joint visits in advance with other professionals & agree what you

want to achieve8. Significant changes in circumstances relating to either a child or parent

should be communicated to each agency, all involved professionals and plans agreed together

9. Discuss concerns relating to plans with Safeguarding Children Team/Named Professionals in adult mental health services

10. If concerned about decisions of another agency discuss with your line manager and if necessary continue to escalate until a satisfactory conclusion has been reached

Contact DetailsEast London NHS Foundation Trust

Jan Pearson, Associate Director forSafeguarding Childrenjan.pearson@eastlondon.nhs.ukTel: 020 7655 4000

Helen Green, Service Development ManagerHelen.green@eastlondon.nhs.uk Tel: 020 7275 1000

LB Hackney Children and Young People’s Services

Rhonda Miedziolka, Head of Children in Need Servicesrhonda.miedziolka@hackney.gov.uk Tel: 020 8356 5949

Tina McElligott, Group Manager - Parenting Support ServicesTina.mcelligott@hackney.gov.uk Tel: 020 8986 0775