PARTNERSHIPS WORKING WELL
CHILDREN 1ST, ADULT SOCIAL WORK &
SUBSTANCE MISUSE SERVICE
Funding Arrangements
• Jointly funded by Lloyds TSB and Mid & East Lothian drug & alcohol partnership (MELDAP)
• CHILDREN 1ST provide overall management support
• NHS provide accommodation• Completed first 3 years of funding• Now into 1st year of 2 years of continuation
funding
ORIGINS• Findings of the O’Brien Inquiry 2003 into
the death of Caleb Ness– Improvements required for better joined up
practice to promote more effective service provision
– Improved communication and information sharing especially between adult and children’s services
– Prevent children from falling through the gaps
LOCAL DEVELOPMENTS
• CHILDREN 1ST and adult social work co-located with NHS substance misuse service
• Establish a multi-agency screening group
• Every child affected by parental substance misuse to be referred through the screening group
• A child focus to be central to all adult assessments
About Midlothian Family Support Service
• Early intervention service• Providing a service to parents, children and
partner agencies• Ensuring a child centered approach• Offering consultation on child welfare / child care
issues• Implement priorities in guidance – Protecting
Children Living in Families with Problem Substance Use 2006
• Adopting GIRFEC approach
What Works
• Co-location supports effective communication and information sharing
• Co-located partners compliment each other’s role and responsibilities
• Shared knowledge base• Coordination of service delivery across all
elements of service provision. • Robust monitoring of the home environment –
able to challenge discrepancies• Parents and children are better supported
CHALLENGES
• Lesson’s learned – Death of Declan Hainey 2010
• Roll out of more co-located services
• Competing priorities
• Impact of funding constraints
Lorna Field (Children 1st)
Gemma Goodwin (Adult Social Work)
CASE STUDY
• Midlothian Council– Adult Social Work
• Children 1st
• CarrGomm
NHS
Midlothian Council o Children and
Family Social Work
School
Partnerships
Co-located team
Top Related