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3.2.2 Emergency Duty Team

SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER

This chapter details arrangements for the provision of emergency social care and homelessness services when daytime services are closed.

AMENDMENT

This chapter was significantly updated in May 2012 and should be re-read in full.


Contents

  1. Contact with Out of Hours Team (Emergency Duty Team)
  2. Referrals & Notifications
  3. Handover to Daytime Staff


1. Contact with Out Of Hours Team (Emergency Duty Team)

The service operates from 5pm to 9am every night Monday to Friday and provides a 24 hours emergency service during weekends and bank holidays.

The team members are generically trained in vulnerable children and adults work. All team members are Approved Mental Health Persons (AMHP).

The contact number is 0208 871 6000.

The EDT Manager is available to provide out of hours management support to the duty social workers.

During working hours, the EDT Administrator can be contacted on 0208 871 7405.


2. Referrals & Notifications

It is an established protocol that work started or referrals received before 5pm are completed by the day staff. The Out Of Hours Team can offer support and assistance to colleagues working beyond their normal working hours. If the work is likely to be protracted and significantly beyond normal working hours, then negotiations can be undertaken with the Manager before 5pm, to see if it would be appropriate for the Out of Hours Team to undertake this work. This is particularly relevant when people require an assessment for compulsory admission to hospital under the Mental Health Act.

If a children’s social worker requires a resource urgently out of hours for example Bed & Breakfast, then the Out of Hours duty worker can assist.

Referrals to the Out of Hours Team should be given to the administrator before 4.30pm to allow time for these to be sent to the worker on duty that night.

When giving information to the duty social worker, please ensure that household details, addresses, phone numbers and details of any significant extended family member are provided. The Framework case number should also be included. Information should clearly outline what is required of the Out of Hours social worker and any potential or actual risks to the child and any contingency plans.

The Out of Hours Manager can be contacted between 5-6pm to discuss a case.

A referral can also be faxed to Wandsworth Control after 5pm. Fax number 0208 871 7604 (this is not a public number, only for staff). Please do not send urgent faxed information without leaving a message with the Duty Social Worker for that night or weekend.


3. Handover to Daytime Staff

EDT will complete a report of all work undertaken and ensure that it is recorded on the Out of Hours EDT episode on Framework and sent to the Children’s Duty Team or the Access Team in Adult services. This must be done and sent by 9am the next working day. Any work under the Mental Health Act that does not result in a compulsory admission is recorded in the Framework episode and sent to the Access Team, who ensure that the report is sent to Mental Health Services. In addition and where appropriate, the duty social worker will phone the day services in Adults, Children or AMPH duty to provide additional information or alert a colleague to any urgent work that will require immediate attention. This verbal handover is important particularly involving high risk child protection, mental health or a vulnerable adult and ensures there is no confusion about the information in the report and gives the day staff the opportunity to ask additional questions.

End