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Contents

1.	A Standards Approach
2.	Standards to be Shared with Service Users
	2.1	Standard 1
	2.2	Standard 2
	2.3	Standard 3
3.	Practice Standards for Staff
	3.1	Standard 4
	3.2	Standard 5
	3.3	Standard 6
	3.4	Standard 7
	3.5	Standard 8
	3.6	Standard 9
	3.7	Standard 10
	3.8	Standard 11
4.	Standards for Specific Circumstances
	4.1	Standard 1 - Children who become Looked After
	4.2	Standard 2 - Private Fostering
	4.3	Standard 3 - Provision of Information and Advice

1. A Standards Approach

Standards are statements of expectations of quality that are based on principles and values arising from professional ethics, legislation and good practice. These principles and values are explicitly stated at the beginning of Lewisham’s Child Protection Procedures. They provide the bases against which professional performance may be measured and a means of ensuring that the 5 Every Child Matters outcomes are delivered.

The setting of measurable standards demonstrates a commitment to providing the highest quality of service for children, young people and their families.

These standards have been produced by Lewisham staff and managers, who strive to achieve best outcomes for the children and families with whom they work.

These standards apply to our work with all children who have serious or complex needs, including Children in Need, children in need of protection and children who are Looked After.

The standards are intended to supplement the comprehensive procedures and guidance found in Lewisham’s Children’s Social Care electronic procedures manual, including the Pledge for Looked After Children Procedure.

Guidance

Background information and statements of good practice which are expected to be incorporated into practice.

We will...

These are statements of what we will do which will demonstrate that the practice standard is met. The indicators identified may not comprise an exhaustive list.

Compliments, Complaints and Challenge

Lewisham Children’s Social Care is a learning organisation where comments and challenges that promote best outcomes for children are welcomed. These standards provide a benchmark for the work that we do and the context for any feedback. We will act on it to help us improve practice.

2. Standards to be Shared with Service Users

2.1 Standard 1

Improving outcomes for the child is the central focus of the work

Guidance:

The welfare of the child is the overriding factor guiding social work. If the interests of children and their parents are in conflict, the child’s interests will be the priority.

Each child in the family will be considered in their own right and included in the information gathering and assessment process.

The Social Worker will:

• Ensure the child is seen alone and his/her views sought. When children are very young we need to record our assessment of their interaction with carers which would indicate their feelings
• Ensure his/her recording and reports are accurate and provide plans to improve outcomes for children
• Ensure that recording and reports include the wishes, views and feelings of each child and young person
• Analyse both risk and need of each individual child and young person
• Ensure the Pledge for Looked After Children is followed where children are looked after
• Ensure that families we work with are made aware of the Family Information Service

2.2 Standard 2

The Social Worker will be clear with family members about the purpose of each visit or discussion and will record this

The Social Worker will:

• Explain the reasons for any contact with the family member
• Provide family members with written confirmation of key decisions and agreements

2.3 Standard 3

All formal meetings with family members and staff will enable everyone to fully participate

Guidance:

In advance of any meeting the Social Worker should explain to involved family members, including children of sufficient age and understanding, the purpose of the meeting, what will be discussed and who is likely to attend.

The Social Workers will:

• Ensure that the purpose of any meeting is made clear to family members in advance
• Set up meetings where possible that give adequate notice to family members. Adequate notice means 1 week unless it is an urgent or emergency matter
• The Social Worker will encourage and support each member of the family to be heard and have their say
• When a family member/professional is unable to attend the meeting we should try and ascertain their views and share this with the meeting
• Ensure that a record of any significant meetings is made available to all participants within two weeks of the meeting taking place

3. Practice Standards for Staff

3.1 Standard 4

All staff will be:

1. Trained to undertake their respective roles
2. Managed and supported to do so

We will ensure that staff:

• Receive induction when they first start work which will include input on safeguarding children
• Receive appropriate in house and LSCB training and ongoing professional development
• Receive regular planned supervision in line with Standard 5
• Provide additional management support where necessary in the form of ad hoc advice, guidance and monitoring
• Receive an annual appraisal

3.2 Standard 5

All staff will receive professional supervision in line with the Divisional supervision policy

Supervisors will:

• Hold regular sessions at agreed dates and times and be punctual
• Ensure that the session is uninterrupted unless emergencies occur
• Use agreed service standards as a benchmark for practice
• Plan an agenda before each meeting and review previous supervision records, noting issues to raise
• Make clear the tasks and areas of work that are expected of the supervisee
• Encourage open and honest discussion
• Praise work done well
• Be constructive and offer balanced feedback focusing on the positives first
• Support staff and build on existing skills and knowledge in order to promote their professional development
• Set clear targets with action plans and record these
• Identify and raise any problems and issues at an early stage
• Be specific in any comments made relating to the supervisee’s performance
• Help staff to reflect on their practice
• Ensure that accurate records of decisions and their rationale are kept in a timely manner

Supervisees will:

• Attend supervision sessions at agreed dates and times and be punctual
• Use agreed divisional service standards as a benchmark for their practice
• Plan an agenda before meeting
• Raise problems and issues at an early stage
• Undertake agreed tasks in a timely manner as directed

3.3 Standard 6

Cases will be allocated within Children’s Social Care in a way that promotes safe and effective practice

We will ensure that:

• Managers will identify tasks to be undertaken by the Social Worker at the point of allocation and will create time for the allocated Social Worker to read the relevant records
• The files will be read when a case is allocated, including historical information, transfer summary and chronology
• The newly allocated Social Worker will attend a handover meeting with the previous Social Worker and carry out a joint visit to the family whenever possible
• Letters of introduction and endings are sent to family members and the relevant professionals in the Team Around the Child and young person
• All plans are SMART

3.4 Standard 7

All tasks and reports will be undertaken within locally and nationally determined timescales

Guidance:

If a member of staff becomes aware that a task will not be completed within the appropriate timescale, they will:

• Report the reasons for this to his/her manager who will ensure that the reasons are recorded
• Ascertain any implications for the safety of the child caused by the delay, and,
• Initiate immediate remedial action if necessary

Timescales of key tasks are as follows:

• Contact/referral – within 24 hours
• Initial Assessment – 7 working days from contact
• Core Assessment– 35 working days from the start of the CA
• Strategy discussion – as soon as the need becomes apparent – child to be seen within 24 hours
• Strategy meeting – within 72 hours
• Initial Child Protection Conference – 15 working days from the last Strategy Meeting
• Reports to Initial Child Protection Conference – to be shared with parents and IRO a minimum of 2 days before the conference
• Review Child Protection Conference – First Review Conference to take place within 12 weeks and thereafter every 6 months
• Reports to Review Child Protection Conference – to be shared with parents and IRO a minimum of 5 days before the conference
• Child subject to a Child Protection Plan is to be seen at least every six weeks
• All recording of child protection work is completed within 72 hours
• Any updating of the child protection plan is circulated to Core Group members within 48 hours

We will ensure that:

• Social Workers plan their work and establish a timetable for it, involving their team manager when necessary
• Social Workers report to their Team Manager on a case by case basis if timescales are not met and provide reasons
• The reasons for the delay are recorded and forwarded to the Team Manager, together with any implications for the safety of the child

3.5 Standard 8

Case notes will contain summaries at 3 monthly intervals and before periods of planned leave

These summaries will include:

• Background information and context including why the case is open and the status of the case
• Details of key family members
• A synopsis – what is happening now
• Any meetings taking place during the period of absence, and who is to attend as a substitute
• Any issues relating to potential risks to staff
• The Social Worker will also ensure that demographic information and professional involvements are updated on ICS

3.6 Standard 9

Case transfers will take place with minimal delay or disruption to families and with their knowledge

The transferring Social Worker will ensure:

• That there has been a personal explanation to the service users of the reason for transfer and details of the new professional network before the transfer occurs
• There is an early alert of potential case transfer to the receiving team
• An effective quality assurance check of the file prior to formal transfer of responsibilities
• There is a meaningful up to date Chronology
• That ICS and Meridio are up to date with all available information and that any outstanding tasks have been completed
• That family names are spelt correctly
• That professional contact lists are up to date
• That family contacts are up to date
• That demographic information on the file is correct
• A transfer summary has been completed

The receiving Team Manager will ensure:

• The above actions have taken place
• That in those cases where an Initial Child Protection Case Conference will take place, he/she or a suitable nominee will attend the conference to ensure ownership of the Child Protection Plan

3.7 Standard 10

Customer Service - In our dealings with members of the public and professional colleagues, we will employ the best principles of customer care without losing our focus on the needs of potentially vulnerable children

With telephone referrals, we will:

• Answer within 3 rings
• Talk to the caller in a warm and friendly manner
• Give our own name and the name of our organisation
• Establish the nature of the call and signpost where appropriate
• Take as much relevant information as possible
• Take child/family details and ensure the accurate spelling of names    
• Pass the call to the allocated worker when the worker is available
• Liaise with the Duty Manager if there is any suggestion that a child is at risk of harm
• Record all referrals and forward to the BSO

With ‘walk in’ contacts, we will:

• Introduce who we are
• Use a warm and friendly manner
• Make an appointment unless the matter is urgent
• Ask the visitor to fill out an initial information gathering form and check that it is filled out correctly (for new service users)
• Ensure all relevant information is provided in the contact
• Check if client known on ICS
• If necessary, service users should be taken into private room to ensure confidentiality

3.8 Standard 11

Leadership - We will provide clear direction  to work towards the vision contained in the Children and Young People’s Plan: “Together with families, we will improve the lives and life chances of the children and young people in Lewisham”.

We will support and manage staff fairly by valuing and harnessing difference, aspirations and potential.

Customer Focus:

• Service standards will be fully implemented and will check on our progress by regular audit based on the standards
• We will ensure that all staff appointed to Children’s Social Care have the appropriate expertise in order to carry out their role
• We will learn from and take action on feedback from staff and service users

Improving Performance:

• We will monitor performance against key performance indicators and take appropriate action, as necessary, to meet and improve performance
• We will ensure that effective and regular supervision and appraisal (PES) takes place within the Council time-scales. We will ensure that staff are given honest feedback about their performance which includes both positive feedback and constructive criticism
• We will set and review targets; monitor individual performance; provide guidance and direction; take appropriate management action to ensure the effective performance of all staff
• We will ensure regular team meetings take place to enable staff to give feedback about their work. This feedback will be discussed in management meetings and the minutes will be published on SharePoint sites for staff to read
• We will be accountable and open in all activities and take timely decisions and take responsibility for communicating those decisions

One Council:

• We will work collaboratively across the network of Children’s Services within Lewisham to ensure good practice and efficient use of resources
• We will work with our partner agencies to provide better outcomes for children, young people and their families and will utilise the escalation policy when required
• We will manage budgets effectively and ensure value for money

4. Standards for Specific Circumstances

4.1 Standard 1 - Children who become Looked After

The child’s best interests are to be at the centre of the process of becoming looked after

Guidance:

Children who need to be Looked After by the local authority are likely to be distressed and disorientated. It is important that their distress is minimised as much as possible.

This guidance is also relevant to children who may have to move placement, especially in an emergency situation.

This standard should read in conjunction with the procedures, principles and values contained within Lewisham’s electronic procedures and the Pledge to Looked After Children. Standards for Foster Care and Children’s Homes are addressed through Regulations and National Minimum Standards. These are regularly inspected by Ofsted and must be adhered to.

Effective communication between the placement and procurement service and the allocated social worker and their manager is essential. This communication should focus on the child’s needs and what services are necessary to meet those needs. 

The Team Manager will:

• Ensure that when a child becomes looked after the child is prepared for the placement and a social worker is assigned to this task
• Ensure that wherever possible the same worker will see through the process of the child becoming looked after from leaving home until placed
• Provide the worker with support to complete the administrative and organisational tasks
• Provide the social worker with the necessary tools to make the placement. These are to include, telephone, transport, car seats, etc.

The Social Worker will:

• Ensure that the child has somewhere suitable to rest, sleep, eat and play whilst waiting for the arrangements to be made
• Fully complete the Placement Information Record and forward this to The Placements team to ensure a ‘best match’ placement is made
• Raise any practical care issues or concerns directly with the placement providers. Where resolution cannot be achieved, or where there are major concerns the social worker will inform the Service Manager

The Placement and Procurement Services will:

• Ensure that the best possible match is achieved between the needs of the child and the ability of the carer to meet those needs
• Provide carers with all the available and relevant information held at the time of placement
• Provide the placing social worker with relevant information about the foster carer or residential establishment with which the child is being placed. This is to include a ‘Carer’s Profile’ and photographs
• Ensure that arrangements to support the carer, including financial arrangements, are made in advance of the placement

4.2 Standard 2 - Private Fostering

Where Children’s Social Care becomes aware that a child is Privately Fostered their welfare will be safeguarded by complying with the appropriate procedures. See Private Fostering Procedure

Guidance:

Children are Privately Fostered when they are under 16 (18 if disabled) and have been cared for more than 28 days by a person who is not a close relative.

Privately fostered children can be amongst the most vulnerable and isolated children in society. It is essential that such children are identified and that appropriate care and safeguarding arrangements are in place.

There are National Minimum Standards and specific strengthening Regulations for Private Fostering  and these standards should be read in conjunction with Lewisham’s electronic Social Care Procedures.

We will:

• Promote an increased awareness of Private Fostering
• Ensure that the carers and the child are seen within 7 working days of the referral
• Maintain the focus of the work on the child
• Ensure that the Private Fostering Arrangement Assessment Record is presented to the Team Manager within 35 working days of the completion of the Initial Assessment
• Ensure that the checks required by the legislation are carried out
• Undertake routine monitoring visits at a minimum of every 6 weeks in the first year and thereafter at a minimum of every twelve weeks
• Ensure that during assessments and after approval, we
  • See the child alone, and,
  • Ascertain and record their wishes, feelings and views
  • Ascertain the wishes and feelings of the birth parents and private foster carers
  • Check the accommodation and sleeping arrangements

4.3 Standard 3 - Provision of Information and Advice

In our dealings with  members of the public and professional colleagues we will employ the best principles of customer care, whilst maintaining a focus upon the needs of potentially vulnerable children.

Guidance:

This is often the first point of contact between members of the public and professionals with the Children’s Social Care Department. Contact may be in person, by telephone, letter of electronic mail.

• With telephone referrals, Information and Advice  workers will:- observe the customer care standards

Where the visitor is referring themselves for financial assistance we will also:

• Ascertain why there are financial difficulties
• Check what  benefits they are receiving
• Check when next money is due
• Check for other means of support
• Ask if they have applied for loan
• Offer use of telephone
• Where necessary, discuss with Duty Manager
• Signpost to other services
• Record the referral
• Forward to BSO on the same day

End