PARTNERSHIPS WORKING WELL

CHILDREN 1ST, ADULT SOCIAL WORK &

SUBSTANCE MISUSE SERVICE

Funding Arrangements

• Jointly funded by Lloyds TSB and Mid & East Lothian drug & alcohol partnership (MELDAP)

• CHILDREN 1ST provide overall management support

• NHS provide accommodation• Completed first 3 years of funding• Now into 1st year of 2 years of continuation

funding

ORIGINS• Findings of the O’Brien Inquiry 2003 into

the death of Caleb Ness– Improvements required for better joined up

practice to promote more effective service provision

– Improved communication and information sharing especially between adult and children’s services

– Prevent children from falling through the gaps

LOCAL DEVELOPMENTS

• CHILDREN 1ST and adult social work co-located with NHS substance misuse service

• Establish a multi-agency screening group

• Every child affected by parental substance misuse to be referred through the screening group

• A child focus to be central to all adult assessments

About Midlothian Family Support Service

• Early intervention service• Providing a service to parents, children and

partner agencies• Ensuring a child centered approach• Offering consultation on child welfare / child care

issues• Implement priorities in guidance – Protecting

Children Living in Families with Problem Substance Use 2006

• Adopting GIRFEC approach

What Works

• Co-location supports effective communication and information sharing

• Co-located partners compliment each other’s role and responsibilities

• Shared knowledge base• Coordination of service delivery across all

elements of service provision. • Robust monitoring of the home environment –

able to challenge discrepancies• Parents and children are better supported

CHALLENGES

• Lesson’s learned – Death of Declan Hainey 2010

• Roll out of more co-located services

• Competing priorities

• Impact of funding constraints

Lorna Field (Children 1st)

Gemma Goodwin (Adult Social Work)

CASE STUDY

• Midlothian Council– Adult Social Work

• Children 1st

• CarrGomm

NHS

Midlothian Council o Children and

Family Social Work

School

Partnerships

Co-located team