Children’s Social Work and Children and Young People with a Disability Teams
The Children’s Social Work Teams
The Children’s Social Work Teams work with:
- vulnerable children in need
- children in need of protection - which can also include those subject to pre-proceedings
- children who become cared for by the local council, either under section 20 accommodation (The Children Act 1989), or where there are care proceedings and the child or young person has become subject to an interim care order.
There are 8 Children’s Social Work Teams which are area based. The teams are aligned to 4 areas of Medway.
Social work practitioners have a varied caseload and work with a variety of children in the social care system and develop a wide range of knowledge and expertise. The teams work closely with the community and resources of the family, in supporting children to stay within their families.
The teams ensure that support continues once work with families is completed, through our established partnerships with schools, family solutions and universal services.
The teams are led by 2 service managers, each have responsibility for 4 Children’s Social Work Team managers.
Each Children’s Social Work Team is made up of:
- a team manager
- an assistant team manager
- 6 qualified social workers
- a family support worker.
The teams also have dedicated administrative support.
We use the Signs of Safety model to underpin our work with children and families. The model is used in our child protection conferences.
We use specific models of assessment and intervention for identified needs such as the Graded Care Profile or Parenting Assessments, and Direct Work with Children. Our professional development offer includes training in all these areas and the practice education of social work students.
The Children and Young People with a Disability Service
The Disability Service provides specialist services and support to children and young people from birth up until their 18th birthday. The teams work with children and young people who have severe or profound learning or permanent disabilities, or complex long-term health needs.
The service provision includes:
- assessment
- social work support
- family support work
- support packages including care and short breaks tailored to meet the individual’s needs.
The service also undertakes a range of statutory safeguarding functions for:
- children in need
- children in need of protection which can also include those subject to pre-proceedings
- children who become cared for by the local council under section 20 accommodation, or where there are care proceedings and the child or young person has become subject to an interim care order.
The service is accessible to children, young people and their families living in Medway who meet the eligibility criteria for services and support provided by the Disability Service.
The service works with the child or young person to meet their assessed needs by developing a person-centred approach at every stage of involvement with them. It encourages active involvement of children, young people and their families in the planning and decision-making process about their future.
The team consists of:
- a service manager
- 3 team managers
- senior practitioners
- social work practitioners
- occupational therapists
- family workers.
The service works in close partnership with both children’s and adult:
- social care
- education
- health
- housing
- voluntary organisations.
This ensures that children and young people with disabilities in Medway have their identified needs met and are supported to reach their full potential.