Bolton Start Well

Please find below a copy of a letter about the implementation and progress of IFD.

Dear all,

I hope you have had an enjoyable summer. As you are aware, there have been lots of positive changes to the Referral and Assessment Service over the summer period, including the launch of the Integrated Front Door (IFD) which is the replacement of the MASSS and I would like to update you with what has been happening so far.

The IFD launched on 26th July 2021 and has been successful with lots of good feedback from partner agencies over the summer regarding the online referral form, request for information form and the feedback form that we are providing to referrers. The Early Help Access Point has been working hard to offer Early Help advice and guidance to professionals so that they are supported to offer Early Help to children and their families.

In addition to this, the co-location of the Social Work Referral Team, Early Help Access Point, Police and Health is in place to endeavour to make sure that referrals are triaged jointly in a timely manner and children are getting the right support and the right time, without delay.

The three Social Work Assessment Teams have also benefited from the service re-design as they are now more available to dedicate their time to the children and families that they are working with. This means that interventions are taking place in a timelier manner.

However not everything has run smoothly ... we have encountered a slight technical issue with the Online Referral Form. But I would like to reassure you that we are fully aware of this and are working hard to resolve this problem as quickly as possible. At present, due to security reasons, the Online Referral Form times out after 10 minutes which we recognise is not helpful. As of 6th September 2021, our contingency plan until the issue is resolved, is that a word document version of the Online Referral Form can be completed and submitted online to the IFD. This should not take any more time. In addition to this in the coming days, the time frame for having the form completed will be extended to 20 minutes. Below is a link to a video that will demonstrate step by step how to complete this temporary version of our Online Referral Form, so that they are fully prepared to use this when required. You will also find below a link for the Online Referral Form and the Online Information Request Form.

Child Referral Form - Demonstration - YouTube

Worried about a child? – Bolton Council

By autumn there will be new platform for the Online Referral Form and there will be no time out at all.  If you were unable to attend the launch event on 19th July this has been videoed and is available to watch here https://www.boltonsafeguardingchildren.org.uk/working-children-young-people, alongside important information about our revised threshold document ‘The Framework for Action’. 

As a reminder, any referrals in relation to a child who is suffering significant harm should be made by calling 01204 331500. For referrals for Targeted Early Help or Social Work assessment please complete the Online Referral Form and if professionals require any support, advice and guidance regarding Early Help, please contact the Early Help Access Point on 01204 331501.

We thank you for your patience with this matter and we look forward to continuing to work with you and sharing the impact of the IFD with you all.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Kind regards,
 
Natalie Nicholson
Team Manager
Referral Team
Integrated Front Door
Natalie.Nicholson@bolton.gov.uk 

Upcoming training - Safeguarding

Bolton Safeguarding Children Partnership – Network Bite (4) -  Children’s Social Care 
Tuesday 21st September, 1:00pm (90 mins) Click to Enrol
The BSCP is providing webinars to provide an insight into how partner agencies work with children and families to ensure their safeguarding, including their agency functions, referrals, their processes and expectations.  With recent changes to the Integrated Front Door and referral process this presentation will inform and provide the opportunity for questions regarding the services provided.
 
Domestic Abuse (NCDV)
Tuesday  28th September, 10:00am (45 mins)  Click to Enrol
The training will explain the role of National Centre for Domestic Violence, the definition of domestic abuse and how they support (and how easy it is) to obtain and serve three types of emergency civil injunctions.

• Non-Molestation orders
• Prohibited Steps orders
• Occupation orders 

Roles and Responsibilities of the Designated Safeguarding Lead
Friday 1st October, (60 mins) Click to Enrol
This course is a basic course for new DSL (or deputies) or those taking on similar roles and will consider the key requirements and expectations of the DSL with respect to organisations, their culture and training, whilst also considering the impact of COVID-19 on the role. It will consider dealing with disclosures and awareness of obligations to alleged professional abuse.

Female Genital Mutilation
Thursday 7th October, 10:00am (45 mins) Click to Enrol
Female Genital Mutilation is suffered by 1000's of young girls and women. This training will help you understand why and how you can support children and families, raising awareness of signs, risk, attitudes, culture, beliefs and legislation when working with communities who are known to practice FGM.

Parental Substance Misuse
Tuesday 12th October, 10:00am (2 hours) Click to Enrol
This training is to enable professionals and those working with families to develop their knowledge in relation to substance misuse and enables earlier intervention and explains how to access services.  This will include identifying the effects of maternal substance misuse on foetal development and the impact of parental substance misuse on the child and young person, parenting and approaches to use with parents / carers.
 
Reducing the Risk of Harm using Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Resources (boys and men)
Wednesday 13th October, 10:00am (90 mins) Click to Enrol
A 1 ½ hr webinar delivered by Phil Mitchell; a BACP senior accredited counsellor and psychotherapist with over 15 years’ experience of working with sexually abused, assaulted and exploited boys and men who will highlight the pros and cons of using traditional CSE resources with Boys and men, use the PREPARED framework to reduce the risk of harm, and provide a list of CSE resources.

Adapting Services for Boys and Young Men
Tuesday 14th September, 10:00am ( 90 mins) Click to Enrol
This training is delivered by Phil Mitchell; a BACP senior accredited counsellor and psychotherapist with over 15 years’ experience of working with sexually abused, assaulted, and exploited boys and men. Phil will look at why services may have to adapt when dealing with male victims and the reasons for that. Positive perceptions of masculinity, male-friendly approaches and how the ACHIEVE model can be used to improve CSE services for boys.
 
Bolton Safeguarding Children Partnership – Network Bite (5) -  Mental Health Services
Wednesday 13th October, 1:00pm (90 mins) Click to Enrol
The BSCP is providing webinars to provide an insight into how partner agencies work with children and families to ensure their safeguarding, including their agency functions, referrals, their processes and expectations. 
 
Child Bereavement
Wednesday 13th October, 1:00pm (90 mins) Click to Enrol
The presentation by Child Bereavement UK, will discuss issues relating to bereavement for families and how they may cope with it. It will examine how professionals should respond to support those dealing with grief and expected and unexpected bereavement.