Children’s Social Work and adolescent teams
The Children’s Social Work and adolescent 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. In addition, there are 2 adolescent teams who work with vulnerable young people between the ages of 11 to 18 years within the context of safeguarding and exploitation.
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 remain 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 of whom have responsibility for 4 children’s social work team managers and one adolescent team manager.
Each children’s social work team comprises of:
- a team manager
- 6 qualified social workers, one of whom may be a newly qualified social worker,
- a family support worker.
Each adolescent team has 4 qualified social workers.
The teams also have dedicated administrative support.
Medway Council uses 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.
0 to 25 Disability Service
The 0 to 25 Disability Service provides specialist services and support to children and young people from birth to 25 years of age who have a severe or profound learning or permanent disability, or complex long-term health need.
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 0 to 25 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
- social work practitioners
- occupational therapists
- family workers
- a social care officer
- a deaf and blind intervenor.
The service works in close partnership with both children’s and adult’s:
- 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.