Family help:
Early, targeted support within the community to try and ensure families get the help they need and can stay together. The aim is to have one joined up service, so families don’t have to keep telling their story to different practitioners, which may be difficult. The team will work closely with each family to come up with a support plan, connect them to other services and signpost them to resources available in the community and beyond. The goal is to keep families together and make them feel empowered to make decisions that are right for them.
Child protection:
Practitioners from different agencies like Rotherham Council, South Yorkshire police, education settings and healthcare will act together to respond to concerns about a child’s safety, delivering a joined-up approach to ensure all bases are covered. This means sharing expertise and information to ensure the child’s best interests are at the centre of any action, plus families feel supported in the best way.
Family Networks:
It is a key aim to keep families together and children at home. Family networks can help with this. Family networks can consist of close or extended family members who can provide support to the child if needed. Families are encouraged to make decisions and plan through Family Group Decision Making meetings (which maybe either a Family Group Conference or Family Network Meeting, both of which are used in Rotherham.
Multi-agency safeguarding arrangements (MASAs):
Working together with other partners is the best way to ensure the most effective help, support and protection for families. Statutory safeguarding partners, and relevant agencies like childcare settings, must work together to make the right decisions for children and their families and ensure:
- Children and young people are healthy and safe from harm.
- Children and young people start school ready to learn for life.
- Children, young people and their families are ready for the world of work.
