Additional support for families
Alternatively, they may ask another professional such as a teacher or doctor to contact Children’s Services for them using the online Multi-Agency Referral Form (MARF). A trained call-handler will discuss with them the issues, needs and potential help. They may decide with the parent, carer or young person to follow one of these courses of action:
- The provision of information about community resources.
- Referral to Gloucestershire’s early help service. This supports potentially vulnerable children, young people and their families as soon as difficulties begin to emerge, or when there is a strong likelihood that problems will start in the future. It provides support at any and every stage of a child’s life: pre-birth, childhood and adolescence. This support is delivered by well-trained practitioners and is not specific to disabled children and those with additional needs.
- A more in-depth social work assessment. This will apply when there are complex or multiple needs relating to a child’s or young person’s social circumstances or disability. The child may require longer term intervention from statutory services to help them achieve good outcomes. Help is based on a single assessment, completed with the child and their family/carers. This assessment is completed by a social worker from a locality team, highly skilled in assessing need and helping families. Outcomes may include continuing social work input and/or the provision of dedicated help such as direct payments to buy services or short breaks. For children with the most complex and challenging needs arising from their disability, the assessment may conclude help from the specialist DCYPS is necessary.