Services Available to Looked After Children Placed in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) by other Local Authorities
BCP Children’s Services have produced this guidance to notify you about the resources and facilities available to any Looked After Child who may be placed in BCP by your Local Authority.
It has been produced so staff from other Local Authorities can understand and access the services that are available to children and young people residing in BCP. It should also be made available to Foster Carers across BCP, so they are aware of the services available.
This tool will help staff to check that the placement is in BCP: https://www.gov.uk/find-your-local-council
BCP was formed as a new council from 01.04.2019 and so service integration will take some time to progress. There may therefore be slight variation in service offer for those children placed in the three towns served by the BCP Council.
In line with the 2014 amendments to the Care Planning Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010, if you are planning to place a child from your Local Authority in Poole and it is a ‘distant’ placement, you should consult with us.
Contents Page Key Contacts 3 Notifications 3 Schools 4 Admissions 4 Admissions to a Special School 4 Special Educational Needs and Disability 5 Virtual School 5 Care Leavers Team 6 Children’s / Family Information Service (FIS) 6 Early Years Provision 6 Children’s Centres 7 Looked After Children’s Health Team (LACHT) 8 Looked After Children Health Assessments in BCP 8 Registering with a GP in BCP 8 CAMHS 8
Page 1 of 11
Children in Care Council 9 Participation Team 9 Adoption and Special Guardianship 9 Advocacy, Independent Visiting & Mentoring Service 9 Youth Offending Service (YOS) 10 Out of Hours Services 10 Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) 10 Missing, Exploited and Trafficked Children and Young People 11 Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub 11
Page 2 of 11
Key Contacts
Name of Service Email / Contact Details
For Bournemouth and Christchurch: Consultation about Placement / [email protected] Notification of Placement For Poole: [email protected] Jeff Mason Email: [email protected] Virtual School Tel: 01202 633557 Tel: 01202 456345 Mobile: 07801 461400 For Bournemouth and Christchurch: [email protected] School Admissions Team For Poole: Email: [email protected] Tel: 01202 261936 Louise Smith (Specialist Nurse) Specialist Nurse for Looked After Dhc.dorset[email protected] Children Tel:01305 361127
Local Authority Designated [email protected] Officer Service for BCP Tel: 01202 456744
Police Safeguarding Referral Unit [email protected]
More information about our services can be found on the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole website.: https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/Home.aspx
Pan-Dorset Multi-Agency Safeguarding Procedures are available at: http://pandorsetscb.proceduresonline.com/index.htm
Notifications
All notifications of looked after children placed in the following areas should be sent to: Bournemouth and Christchurch: [email protected] Poole should be sent to the following address:[email protected]
These addresses should also be used to: Report any change of address Notify us when children are leaving the area Inform us if children have a child protection plan
When we receive this information, we will: Record on our Social Care Database Inform our Virtual School
Page 3 of 11
Education
Schools
Details about schools in BCP (including individual schools, term dates and admissions) can be found in:
Bournemouth and Christchurch - https://www.bournemouth.gov.uk/childreneducation/Schools/Schools.aspx
Poole - the Schools & Learning section of the Poole Family Information Directory: http://www.poolefamilyinformationdirectory.com/kb5/poole/fis/family.page?familychannel= 7
Admissions
The Admissions Team deal with applications for places in schools and support parents and carers through the admissions process. They also provide information about admissions procedures, availability of places, admissions appeals and catchment areas.
The Admissions Team can be contacted in the following ways:
Bournemouth and Christchurch E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 01202 456195 Website: Applying for a School place
Poole: Email: [email protected] Tel: 01202 261936 Website: https://www.poole.gov.uk/schools-and-education/schools-and- colleges/school-admissions/ Post: School Admissions Children, Young People & Learning Dolphin Centre Poole BH15 1SA
Admissions to a Special School
If you would like information on admission to a Special School, please contact the SEND Team:
Bournemouth and Christchurch Tel: 01202 451970 Email: [email protected] (secure email)
Poole: Tel: 01202 262278 Email: [email protected]
Page 4 of 11
Special Educational Needs & Disability
Information regarding support for children with special educational needs and disabilities can be obtained from the SEND Team:
Bournemouth and Christchurch Tel: 01202 456166 Email: [email protected]
Poole: Email: [email protected]
Virtual School
Our Virtual School works closely and in partnership with schools across BCP to improve educational outcomes for looked after children and previously looked after children.
The Virtual School Team offers training to Social Workers, Foster Carers, Designated Teachers and Governors.
PEPs are coordinated through dedicated Education Officers working within the Virtual school.
Designated teachers in BCP have termly network meetings for training and sharing of good practice.
The Virtual School Head is Jeff Mason. The Virtual School Assistant Head Teachers are Kelly Twitchen and Wayne Chappell.
Please contact the Virtual School Team in the following ways:
Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Tel: 01202 633557 / 456345
Page 5 of 11
Information, Advice and Guidance
Care Leavers Team
The Pathways (or Care Leavers) team consists of a mix of Social Workers and Personal Advisors who work with looked after children aged 16+ and care leavers. For more information on services offered by the team, please contact:
Bournemouth and Christchurch Email: [email protected] Tel: 01202 458893
Poole Email: [email protected] Tel: 01202 735046
Children’s / Family Information Service (FIS)
Bournemouth and Christchurch Children's Information Service provides free, impartial information and advice on childcare, children’s centres, early education, funding and family support within Bournemouth. Tel: 01202 456222 E-mail: [email protected] Address: Customer Service Centre Town Hall St Stephen’s Road Bournemouth BH2 6EB Website: Children’s Information Service
Poole For local childcare support and parenting information for 0 to 19 year olds, please use the Poole Family Information Directory (FID): www.poolefamilyinformationdirectory.com
Early Years Provision
2, 3 and 4-year-old children who are looked after will be eligible for up to 15 hours of free early education funding. 3 and 4-year-old children who are looked after are also eligible for the Early Years Pupil Premium through their own Local Authority.
Please contact the Sufficiency & Childcare team for further information and to help find a quality early education provider:
Bournemouth Tel: 01202 456222 E-mail: [email protected] Website: [email protected] Early Education Funding for 2 Year Olds Early Education Funding for 3 and 4 Year Olds
Page 6 of 11
Christchurch Parents and carers in Christchurch can approach Poole or Bournemouth offices for placement support.
Poole Tel: 01202 261970 Email: [email protected]
For more information about our early years funding and early years provision, please go to the childcare page of the Poole Family Information Directory: www.poolefamilyinformationdirectory.com
Foster carers can now apply for up to 30 hours extended entitlement - the carer(s) need to be in paid work outside of their fostering responsibilities.
Children’s Centres
Children’s Centres provide a wide range of inclusive services to families with children under 5 years old, including universal ‘drop in’ sessions open to all and more targeted services which are ‘invite only’.
Bournemouth There are six Children’s Centres in Bournemouth providing a variety of support including information, advice and support to parents and carers; access to quality early years education and childcare; health services; family support; employment advice; family learning opportunities; parents forums and Speech and Language Therapy drop ins. www.bournemouthchildrenscentres.org.uk
Christchurch There are 2 Children’s Centres in Christchurch at Christchurch West, 27 High Street, Christchurch BH23 1AJ and Somerford Children’s Centre, Draper Road, Christchurch, BH23 3AS. Both centres offer provision for children 0-5 years.
If you have any queries re the above, please call the Christchurch Family Partnership Zone on 01202 255724 or e mail us at: [email protected]
Poole: Poole is home to six Children’s Centres as well as various outreach venues in schools, all with the aim of reducing inequalities and improving outcomes for young children and their families. Our Children’s Centres will offer a warm welcome to carers of children who are looked after.
If you would like to talk to someone about any of the services offered in Poole Children’s Centres, please call your local centre where a member of staff will be happy to explain in more detail what the session involves and how to access it.
Contact details for all of Poole’s Children’s Centres can be found in the Poole Family Information Directory: www.poolefamilyinformationdirectory.com
Page 7 of 11
Health
Looked After Children’s Health Team (LACHT)
The BCP Council has a dedicated Looked After Children’s Health Team who are happy to support the health needs of children and young people placed in BCP by other local authorities:
Contact: Louise Smith (Specialist Nurse) Secure Email: [email protected] Tel: 01305 361127
LAC Health Assessments in BCP
The LACHT team are able to complete Review Health Assessments under a Service Level Agreement. Please request this by sending the paperwork by secure email to [email protected] or by post (recorded delivery). LACHT will then return the SLA for agreement.
The team can also provide some follow up health support, again subject to arranging an SLA.
Initial Health Assessments for children coming into care are completed by Poole Hospital paediatricians and they can be requested by emailing to [email protected].
Registering with a GP in BCP
To register a child with a BCP GP, Foster Carers will need to provide the following information: NHS Number; Details of Previous GP; Letter from Social Worker confirming Placement.
CAMHS
The Poole Child Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) is a service that responds to the mental health needs of children, young people aged 0-18 years and their families or carers who require specialist mental health treatment and intervention. The Team is based at Poole Community Health Clinic, Shaftesbury Road. To find out more follow @PooleCamhs on twitter or visit the following webpage: http://www.wheresyourheadat.co.uk/
Team Leader: Melissa Scott Email: [email protected] Tel: 01202 584600
Page 8 of 11
Children in Care Council
Currently the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Children in Care Council is being created as we are a new authority from 01.04.2019.
For more information, please contact Aldina Taylor at Action for Children:
Tel: 01202 525643/520453 Mobile: 07590418135 Email: [email protected]
Participation Team
The aim of the Participation team is to empower young people, giving them a voice to help influence the services they receive.
For more information on the services offered by the Participation Team, please contact Lisa Male (LAC Participation Worker):
Tel: 01202 456140 Email: [email protected]
Advocacy, Independent Visiting & Mentoring Service
Our Advocacy Service for looked after children is managed by Action for Children Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. The service is designed to help children and young people in need of support, including children in care, participate in the decisions and services that affect their lives by speaking up for them and promoting their rights at meetings and reviews.
Please contact Aysa Dervish, Senior Advocate, for more information on the advocacy services available:
Tel: 01202 525643 Email: [email protected]
Spot purchasing arrangements for other local authorities may be considered depending on capacity.
Adoption & Special Guardianship
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council and Dorset Council have delegated responsibility for most adoption and special guardianship services to Aspire Adoption, a Regional Adoption Agency. Aspire is hosted by BCP Council and funded by BCP Council and Dorset Council. Aspire has delegated responsibility for recruiting, assessing and supporting prospective adopters, matching children in care who have a plan for adoption with prospective adoptive families, for undertaking special guardianship assessments,
Page 9 of 11
and for supporting families post order who have been created by either adoption or special guardianship.
For more information on the services offered by Aspire, please visit: www.aspireadoption.co.uk
Or contact Aspire directly: Post: Aspire Adoption Services First Floor Kinson Hub 1599 Wimborne Road Bournemouth BH11 9AW Email: [email protected] Tel: 01202 714711
Youth Offending Service (YOS)
Dorset Combined Youth Offending Service works across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council and Dorset Council. The office base for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is at the following address: Dorset Combined Youth Offending Service Bournemouth Learning Centre Ensbury Avenue Bournemouth BH10 4HG Tel: 01202 453939 Email: [email protected]
Out of Hours Services
You should only call if the safety and/or welfare of a child or young person is at serious risk of significant harm, and the situation cannot wait until 9am the next working day.
You can call our Out of Hours Service on 01202 738256: Monday to Friday, from 5pm to 9am all day Saturdays and Sundays all bank holidays, including Christmas Day and New Year's Day
Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)
If a child you have placed in BCP makes an allegation against a professional in BCP then the placing social work team should notify the BCP LADO Service who will offer consultation or convene the strategy meeting.
Tel: 01202 456744 Email: [email protected]
Page 10 of 11
Missing, Exploited and Trafficked Children and Young People
Police Missing Persons Unit is based at Poole Police Station. If the child to be placed in Poole is at risk of going missing, being involved in Child Exploitation or trafficking please share information with the Dorset Police Safeguarding and Referral Unit about their placement, risks and details.
Email: [email protected]
Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub
Children’s social Care referrals should be directed to:
Tel: 01202 735046 Email: [email protected]
Page 11 of 11