The team is a new development within the service and it is part of the response to a review of processes, focussing on the child’s journey and developments across the country following the Munroe Review. The team is a single point of contact for all referrals to social care and for advice on safeguarding concerns for children and young people. There is one telephone number and one secure email address for professionals and the general public to contact social care.

A referral is an enquiry to Social Care in relation to a named child, who is believed to be a ‘child in need’ or at risk of suffering ‘significant harm’. New referrals to social care, including children with disabilities, are processed by this team; they are responsible for screening and assessing all possible referrals, as to whether the case meets the threshold as defined by Section 17 and Section 47 of the Children Act 1989. In addition the team assess the seriousness and urgency of the concerns, ensuring the referral reaches the appropriate team within defined timescales.

However, those not meeting the threshold for assessment of children’s social care are signposted by the team to the early help provision, universal services or other specialist services. This model is the first step in working towards a Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) which, it is proposed will be operated on a multi-agency basis and will include multi-agency information sharing and recording arrangements.

In response to domestic violence, the First Response Team work in partnership with the police on a daily basis, reviewing domestic violence reports where a child is part of the household or involved in the incident. However, where information in the report indicates a child may be in need or at risk of harm, the First Response Team will follow the referral procedure and record as a referral on ICS.

Information about the referral, enquiries and recommended outcom