Draft SAFER Referral Tool

Draft SAFER Referral Tool

Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council and partners

Based on the SAFER communication guidelines developed by the Department of Health in liaison with safeguarding experts to ensure appropriate, quality and efficient referrals of children who may be suffering, or are likely to suffer from significant harm to social care.

All verbal communications can be carried out using the SAFER referral tool – this will ensure a uniform approach to communicating the level of risk to a child/children with the Children’s Access Team.

To contact the Redcar & Cleveland Children’s Access Team:

During office hours call: 01642 771500

Out of hours call: 0870 240 2994

Prior to referral, ask yourself these questions:

Have I assessed the child and documented my findings?
Have I documented existing risk factors or issues?
Is there any evidence of substance abuse, domestic abuse, mental illness, a chaotic lifestyle or missed appointments?
Has the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) been followed?
Has the situation been discussed with the child’s parent(s)?
Who else is in the household?
Have I updated myself on the children’s recent health history (Health staff)?
Do I have knowledge of any siblings? May they be at risk of harm too?
Is there a social worker allocated? Have I discussed this referral with that social worker?
Has the situation been discussed with a manager/senior colleague for safeguarding?

By completing the attached prior to making a call you will ensure that you have the following available:

The evidence triggering the call
A list of recent events
The child’s health record (Health staff)

THE SAFER TOOL

To contact the Redcar & Cleveland Children’s Access Team:

During office hours call: 01642 771500

Out of hours call: 0870 240 2994

Section One – SITUATION

This is (your name) ………………………………………………..

I am a (job title) …………………………………………………..

from (organisation)………………………………………………..

Contact details: …………………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

Email………………………………………………. Telephone: …..……………………………..

I am calling about:

Childs Name ………………………………………………………………….

Child’s address………………………………………………………………….

Postcode………………………………………………………………….

Date of Birth………………………………………………………………….

Name of officer taking referral ……………………………………………………..

Job title of the officer is ………………………………… ………………………….

Organisation …………………………………………………………………..

I AM CALLING BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS CHILD IS AT RISK OF SIGNIFICANT HARM

The parents are aware of the referralYES/NO*

Section Two – ASSESSMENT AND ACTIONS

I have assessed the child personally and the specific concerns are: (provide factual evidence)

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

OR, I fear for the child’s safety because: (provide specific facts – what you have seen, heard and/or been told and when you last saw the child and parents):

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

OR, I have not been able to assess the child but I am concerned because:

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

CAF process HAS/HAS NOT* been followed. If it has been followed when was it completed and sent to the CAF coordinator?

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

If a CAF has not been completed, please outline why not

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

There is a change since I last saw the child (give number of days/weeks/months ago)

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

The child is now (describe current conditions and whereabouts)

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

I have taken the following actions to make the child safe:

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

Section Three, FAMILY FACTORS

Specific family factors making this child at risk of significant harm are: (base on the Assessment of Need framework):

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

Additional factors creating vulnerability are:

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

Although not enough to make this child safe now, the strengths in the family situation are:

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

Section Four, EXPECTED RESPONSE

In line with Working Together to Safeguard Children, NICE guidance and Section 17 and/or Section 47 of the Children Act, I recommend that a specialist social care assessment is undertaken:

Urgently: ………………………… As soon as possible: ………………………...

Other recommendations:

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

ASK Duty Team – Do you need me to do anything now? Record response:

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

Section Five, REFERRAL AND RECORDING

In the guidelines, it says referrers will follow up with a written referral.I will send this document to you and would appreciate it if you would get back to me as soon as you have decided your course of action.