Children Services Improvement
Dear Members,
We have received the following information for your perusal:
Sent: Monday, January 25, 2021 10:19
Subject: West Sussex MASH details FW: Children Services Improvement Updates – Integrated Front Door
Dear all
This Friday- Friday the 29th January, referrals to West Sussex Children’s services are processed within the new Integrated Front Door (IDF), I am sending this as a reminder to share with your staff, the email used for MASH will change to WSChildrenservices@westsussex.gov.uk
Those staff who may have the mash@westsussex.gov.uk saved as the contact email for MASH, will need to replace with the new email above.
West Sussex new Integrated Front Door will simplify the process for the public and professionals and has been designed to ensure that children’s needs are reviewed quickly by an integrated Early Help and Social Care team.
MASH (Multiagency safeguarding hub) sits within the Integrated Front Door- the referral form is via the on-line form https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/education-children-and-families/keeping-children-safe/raise-a-concern-about-a-child/ . I am told once the IFD is launched the on-line referral process will guide the referrer to select either a MASH referral or Early help service referral.
The phone number for IFD remains that of the current MASH phone number- 01403 229900. The current Early Help access point numbers will be diverted to the IFD number, from Friday.
If anyone requires safeguarding children advice please call the SCFT advice line on 01273 696011 ex 6115 , support is always available.
Kind regards
Sam
Sam Tyler
Named Nurse Safeguarding Children (North)
Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
Please call to safeguarding advice line 01273 696011 extension 6115, for an urgent response. Available Monday until Friday 9am until 4.30pm.
Or email: Sc-tr.safeguardingchildren@nhs.net
compassionate care I working together I achieving ambitions I delivering excellence
From: On Behalf Of West Sussex Safeguarding Children Partnership
Sent: 17 December 2020 15:24
Subject: Children Services Improvement Updates – Integrated Front Door
Dear Partners
Please see the important information from Children’s Services regarding the Integrated front door.
Children Services Improvement Updates – Integrated Front Door
What has changed?
We are introducing a single front door for all Children, Families and Partners wishing to contact Children Services in West Sussex.
Currently all telephone enquiries for social care are received through our customer service centre and then sent to our Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) for processing. For Early Help, enquiries are reviewed via locality teams. All referrals and general email enquiries are received directly into the MASH.
In the new way of working all enquiries/referrals for both Social Care and Early Help will come through our single front door referred to as the Integrated Front Door (IFD), this will be the only public contact point for Early Help and Children’s Social Care. The IFD for West Sussex Children Services will ensure that all enquiries and referrals are triaged upon receipt and directed to the appropriate service to support with the query, providing a seamless process with children receiving a service proportionate to their needs in a timely way.
This expertise of the team comprises of qualified Early Help specialists, qualified Social Care specialists, qualified managers, Customer Service Centre Agents and social care referral advisors.
The new contact details for the IFD which goes live on 29 January 2021 are as follows:-
Telephone number: 01403 229900
Email address: WSChildrenservices@westsussex.gov.uk
Why have we changed?
The Integrated Front Door model will allow Early Help and Social Care team to provide a holistic view at the front door of the child/family. Children’s Services would create one pathway to support and publicise one number for all worries relating to children regardless of risk and complexity. This will simplify the process for the public and professionals and potentially reducing unnecessary social work interventions as we shift the focus to ask if the child’s needs can be met by Early Help.
Children will only enter the MASH system of triage if the threshold is not clear from the initial screening. The aim is to move children more quickly to the right level of support without the need for extensive checks, delays and multiple contacts.
By having a dedicated triage team (IFD) focussing on the enquiries and referrals at first point of contact we can become more effective and efficient with the services we deliver.
What does is mean for me?
All enquiries and referrals will be triaged by the dedicated IFD team ensuring support from the appropriate service is provided swiftly.
What does it mean for the children, families and partners?
Children, families and partners will receive the right level of support for their needs as and when they need it within a timely way.
Many thanks,
The IFD Project Team.