NMS / 17(1)
21.3
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Within the Next Step Fostering Group of agencies (Next Step, Ryancare and Safehouses) all staff strive to ensure every level of our service is of the highest standard and affirms our commitment to supporting our fostering families.
The agencies within the Next Step group provide an Out-Of-Hours (OOH) service giving advice and support to foster carers when the offices are closed. We recognise that problems looking after young people do not end at 5pm and knowing there is always somebody on the other end of the telephone or available to come out to help solve these problems is both invaluable and reassuring.
Staff members at each agency cover the out-of-hours service on a rota system, so foster carers always deal with a staff member from their own agency. The strength of the group means that there are always other colleagues on call at the same time and a manager overseeing the on call service. The service should be used if you feel you have a crisis situation that cannot wait until the next working day, and for reporting important developments with a young person such as absconding, police arrest, a serious accident, illness or death, difficulties involving a young person’s family or disclosure of abuse.
A Senior Manager from within the group is also ‘on-call’ and available to the staff member for consultation should they need to defer to or seek advice from a more senior member of staff
Whilst we do not wish in any way to lessen the importance of the out-of-hours service, it must be stressed that it is a service to be used for situations or advice that cannot wait until the office re-opens.
The following guidance is set out to clarify the situations or incidents where the out-of-hours staff should be contacted and those that can wait until the office re-opens.
When to use ‘out-of-hours’
- If the young person in your care is suspected of committing a crime and the Police want to interview him/her, it is your responsibility to act as the ‘appropriate adult’ at the Police Station if requested. If however the crime has been committed against you or your property, or the young person has confessed to you regarding a crime, or you are a witness to the crime, you cannot fulfil this function. The reason for this is that you would be seen to have a vested interest or there is a conflict of interest. The young person can request for somebody of their choosing to be an appropriate adult i.e. older sibling if over 18. If they cannot think of anyone appropriate or do not want them involved, the Police must contact their Appropriate Adult Co-coordinator and arrange for an appropriate adult to attend.
- If the young person in your care has been involved in an accident or incident that requires a visit to the hospital. If there is nobody in the home to look after other looked after children in your care or your own children, the person on-call could be requested to provide cover in your absence should no other suitable adult person be available, i.e. an approved ‘sitter’ or family member.
- In the unfortunate event that a young person physically assaults you or a member of your family in your care, contact the person on-call who will come out to offer you support. However, it is possible that immediate assistance might be required; in this event Police assistance should be requested. It is a matter of finely balanced judgment as to which source of support is best. In a situation where feelings are running high and there is perhaps a loss of control on the part of a looked after young person, the safety of other individuals within the household is paramount, but the safety of the looked after young person is also a major consideration and cannot be overlooked. Section 3, below, is concerned with Behavior Management a valuable source of advice within a context of Safe Caring (see Section 5).
- Please refer to the Behavior Management Policy for Next Steps position on the Assault of carers by young people in their care.
- If you need advice about a problem you are having with a young person and attempts to solve the problem have been unsuccessful, you can telephone the person on-call who will aim to assist and advise.
- If a fostered young person in your care is absent without consent, you must contact Next Step’s out-of-hours immediately who will advise and guide you on the process.
- The same applies if a young person is arrested. Contact Next Step’s out-of-hours service.
- Disclosure – Should a young person make any reference whatsoever to being abused or being aware of abuse in the past or present, or fearing for their safety, Next Step’s out-of-hours followed by the Local Authority needs to be informed at once and they will inform you of any further action. (See Child Protection Procedure – Section 5)
This list is not exhaustive. Do not be afraid to contact the out-of-hours worker if you feel you need advice and/or support.
When not to use out-of-hours
- Try to keep enquiries about day-to-day arrangements for the young person to office hours.
General
- When contacting out-of-hours please allow time for the person on-call to answer and return your call. The member of staff on duty will respond as soon as possible but sometimes they may be driving or on another call.
- Please keep your telephone free until you receive a response. Ensure that you give your name and telephone number and bear in mind the need to do this if leaving a message.
- Contact numbers for on-call will be made known to you when you are approved as a foster carer. Keep those numbers handy but not where young people can access them.
(There is additional guidance to the OOH service which can be provided by head office.)
Monitoring
This policy will be reviewed on a regular basis but staff will be able to bring comments to Team Meetings if it is felt that changes need to be considered.
Policy reviewed on12/05/13
18/06/13 (DL and SMT members GS, NJM, LAW – Amendments made by LAB)
Group Policy created on 20/3/15
Group FC Policy created on 22/2/16
Guidance reviewed 25/1/17 DL NM
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