In South Gloucestershire we have always been committed to multi-agency working, supporting children, young people and families through the provision of co-ordinated services. Even before the new government initiatives we developed one form, MARS (multi-agency request for service) for all practitioners to use when requesting support for children and young people with additional needs. This form worked well, but proved confusing with the introduction of the common assessment framework (CAF). After we successfully piloted the CAF, we listened to the views of practitioners and agreed that the two-tier system needed to be simpler, with clearer guidelines.
It was agreed that children and young people with additional needs could best be supported by three simple processes:
- For children and young people at risk of being harmed, follow South Gloucestershire Council's 'children's safeguarding board procedures' - see 'Read more' for contact details
- For children and young people with a clearly identified need which can be met by one service like, for example speech therapy, complete the revamped MARS form, now known as the 'request for single service' - available in the 'Do it Now' section of this page, and send straight to the receiving agency. There is no longer any need to send copies to Bowling Hill but agencies and practitioners must monitor and review progress
- For children and young people with more complex or unclear needs, complete the common assessment - also available in 'Do it now' and send to:
Integrated Working
C/o Stoke Lodge Primary School
School Close
Bourton Avenue
Patchway
South Glos
BS34 6DW
Email: integratedworking@southglos.gov.uk
Complex CAFs will be submitted to the Multi Agency Prevention Panels.