CAIU (Child Abuse & Investigation Unit) Project

The purpose of this project is through joint work with the police, to:

Improve gathering of initial information from police on domestic abuse (DA)

Improve joint assessment of risk to children in DA cases

Improve intervention in cases of DA

Improve targeting and prioritisation of social work intervention

The project operates within the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) strategic framework, and reports to the DA Forum. This ensures that findings inform the CSP’s annual strategic assessment. Work is overseen by a steering group that meets regularly to refine processes and monitor progress and effectiveness.

The designated project worker is a qualified social worker who has a background in children’s social work and is familiar with current legislation/policy on DA. The worker is a member of the DA MARAC (Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference) and the Children and Young People’s Subgroup of the DA Forum. The worker meets regularly with police to discuss referrals, collect and collate additional information as needed and provide a quality control/initial sifting process that allows social work intervention to be targeted on priority cases. The joint screening activity is undertaken at the CAIU, (see appendix 2). The project worker has access to the Safeguarding and Family Support Services (SFSS) and Police databases to enable information to be shared and appropriate joint decisions to be made. The project group has developed, reviewed and updated practice guidance (see Appendix 1), for use at the point of the joint screening activity.

The Process

1.All PPD1s received are screened daily by the designated CAIU project worker with the Police, using the practice guidance – see appendix 1.

2.Police and SFSS databases are checked– see appendices 2 and 3 for process maps and appendix 4 for agency roles and responsibilities.

3.A decision is made jointly as to whether the PPD1 should be forwarded to the SFSS for further intervention or no subsequent intervention is needed.

4.PPD1s forwarded to the SFSS are input onto DRAIG (S&FSS database), screened and responded to accordingly - see appendix 3.

Working Protocol for CAIU Project (draft v0.4)

(1) Introduction

Domestic Violence

Prolonged and/or regular exposure to domestic violence can have a serious impact on a child’s development and emotional well-being, despite the best efforts of the victim parent to protect the child. Domestic violence has an impact in a number of ways. It can pose a threat to an unborn child, because assaults on pregnant women frequently involve punches or kicks directed at the abdomen, risking injury to both mother and foetus. Older children may also suffer blows during episodes of violence. Children may be greatly distressed by witnessing the physical and emotional suffering of a parent. Both the physical assaults and psychological abuse suffered by adult victims who experience domestic violence can have a negative impact on their ability to look after their children. The negative impact of domestic violence is exacerbated when the violence is combined with drink or drug misuse; children witness the violence; children are drawn into the violence or are pressurised into concealing the assaults. Children’s exposure to parental conflict, even where violence is not present, can lead to serious anxiety and distress.

Source: Working Together to Safeguard Children 2004

(2) The Wider Context

Community Safety Partnerships have the key responsibility, at local level, for the co-ordination of action to deal with the problems of domestic abuse. In addition, Domestic Abuse Forums have been set up in many areas, to raise awareness of domestic abuse, to promote co-ordination between agencies in preventing and responding to violence and to encourage the development of services for those who are subjected to abuse or suffer its effects. Each Community Safety Partnership, Domestic Abuse Forum and LSCB should have clearly defined links, which should include cross-membership and identifying and working together on areas of common interest. The Community Safety Partnership, Domestic Abuse forum and LSCB should jointly contribute – in the context of the children’s services plan – to an assessment of the incidence of children caught up in domestic abuse, their needs, the adequacy of local arrangements to meet those needs, and the implications for local services.

Source: Working Together to Safeguard Children 2004

(2) Bridgend Context

Bridgend County Borough Council received 2,584contacts in the 2009 calendar year of which1,071 were domestic abuse contacts from the South Wales Police. Each of these contacts requires recording and processing through local systems and decisions made as to the appropriate agency response.

The nature of domestic abuse referrals ranges from relatively minor verbal parental disagreements requiring no response/a minimal response, to more serious disputes often involving physical threats or actual violence requiring effective assessment of risk to children and appropriate intervention.

The records of incidents completed by individual police officers are submitted to Bridgend’s Child Abuse and Investigation Unit (CAIU) where they are allocated a priority category by the specialist staff of this unit before being passed to the Safeguarding and Family Support Service. Due to resource limitations there has been little opportunity for the police to quality assure the referral process and the Safeguarding and Family Support Servicehave been expected to initially assess PPD1’s as to the potential level of risk to children.This was based on the information presented by the police, and what may already be known by agencies and through the collation of additional information.

The sheer volume of such referrals (the assessment of potential risk in each case), creates a major demand on social work and business support time and poses the risk of resources being allocated to high volume but low priority cases to the detriment of lower volume but higher risk cases.

(3) Objectives

Through joint work with the police based on existing partnerships, to achieve the following:

To improve the quality of initial information from the police regarding individual incidents of domestic abuse
To establish an effective joint agency assessment of potential risk to children in such cases
To improve single/joint agency interventions in such cases in order to more effectively safeguard the welfare of vulnerable children
To ensure that social work intervention is targeted on cases of appropriate priority
To mainstream this work into existing operational practicebetween Police and children’s services after 12 months
Through the Social Services Improvement Agency, to share the learning from the project with a view to assisting other authorities in improving their approach in this area of work.

(4) Outcomes and Method of Measurement

PPD1’s submitted to CAIU
PPD1’s logged by Police and not referred on to children’s services
PPD1’s referred to Safeguarding & Family Support Assessment Team
PPD1’s ‘referred out’ to other agencies by Safeguarding & Family Support Assessment Team after they have been referred to children’s services.
PPD1’s allocated for Initial Assessment (and of those, the number progressed to S47 enquiries)
Joint visits made by a Police Officer and Social Worker during Initial Assessment process

(4) Assessing Risk in relation to Domestic Violence

(a)Risk identification and assessment is not a predictive process and there is no existing accurate procedure to calculate or foresee which cases will result in homicide or further assault and harm.

Risk identification and assessment is based on structured professional judgement.

Source; ACPO/CAADA Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment and Honour Based Violence (DASH 2009) Risk Model

(b)In 2009, the South Wales Police introduced the DASH risk assessment. This introduces a more rigorous approach to assessing risk both at the scene of the incident and subsequently by the Child Assessment and Investigation Unit (CAIU).

DASH 2009 Model is a risk identification, assessment and management model

(c)Risk Levels

The definitions of what constitutes standard, medium and high risk are based on the Offender Assessment System (OASys), developed by the Prison And Probation Services.

STANDARD

No significant current indicators of risk of SERIOUS HARM.

MEDIUM

There are identifiable indicators of risk of SERIOUS HARM. Offender likely to cause SERIOUS HARM if change in circumstances (i.e. failure to take medication, relationship breakdown, substance misuse, if bailed, after court appearance etc).

HIGH

There are identifiable indicators of risk of SERIOUSHARM. The potential event could happen at any time and the impact would be serious.

Examples

Incidents that would not meet the threshold for Safeguarding and Family Support intervention

Verbal argument no assault, no previous involvement or concern
Minor matter no child concerns i.e. minor anti social, no recurring pattern
Reports of incident whereby young person is over the age of 18 years.
Standard incident, child not present
Siblings fighting, no injuries or minor injuries only.
Verbal argument, substance misuse a contributory factor – child not present
Assault outside the family home without the children present

Incidents that would be inputted into DRAIG for further Safeguarding and Family Support intervention

Children home alone for significant period, particularly under 12 years
Challenging behaviour of child/young person in home address parents asking police to contact social services for support
One serious (Medium or High level) or three lesser (standard level) incidents of domestic violence over 12 month period where there is a child in the household
Incident of serious harm (High level), child not present or present
Assault on child (physical, sexual)
Violence within the home – child present
Violence within the home – child within household at time of incident but did not witness the violence (One serious (Medium or High level) or three lesser (standard level) incidents
Verbal argument – child present (three incidents - standard level within 12 month period)
Verbal argument and substance misuse – child not present. (One serious (Medium or High level) or three lesser (standard level) incidents
Assault outside the family home without the children present. Referral after three incidents within 12 month period

NB Unborn children should be classed as ‘present’ during incidents

(5) Process

See appendices 2and 3 for the joint screening process and PPD1 screening process map and appendix 4 for roles and responsibilities

(a) The role of the CAIU Social Worker and Police Officer in the Joint Screening Activity

This will be undertaken by both the Police and a Social Worker from the Safeguarding Family Support Assessment Team. Using the criteria set out in 4c, they will agree which PPD1’s will be logged on an excel database held by the Police where no subsequent action is necessary. The excel database will be maintained for the purposes of (a) to evidence the volume of work that has been undertaken jointly at an initial stage (b) a means of storing information to be used in subsequent screening activity and (c) maintaining a record of individual cases that will be reviewed jointly for the purposes of quality assurance and safeguarding. During this activity, both the Police and Safeguarding Family Support databases should be checked to inform decision making at this stage. The up dated excel database will be sent to the safeguarding and family support service (via assessment team secure e-mail) each Friday (see (d))

(b) The Role of the CAIU Social Worker

For those cases of PPD1’s where a joint decision has been made to progress to the Safeguarding and Family Support Service for further intervention, the Social Worker at the CAIU will forward the PPD1’s electronically to Business Support to input into DRAIG as a contact. The CAIU Social Worker will then screen the referral, recording the rationale for the decision both on the Contact Record exemplar and on case notes. The Team Manager, Assessment Team will be alerted to the cases awaiting allocation for Initial Assessment so that they can be allocated appropriately.

(c) The Role of the Team Manager, Assessment Team

The Social Worker at the CAIU will have some Initial Assessments allocated to them to undertake the Initial Assessment, although the Team Manager, Assessment Team will be monitoring overall caseload. The allocations will not include child protection cases, although it is possible that the Social Worker at the CAIU will still have a role within the Child Protection process should any of the allocated Initial Assessments conclude with the need for a strategy discussion. However, it will be at the Team Manager’s discretion as to whether the Social Worker will continue to have a role in relation to that individual case.

Any PPD1’s received on open cases to the Safeguarding and Family Support Teams should automatically be forwarded to business support to input into DRAIG via case note, where an automatic alert will be generated to the allocated worker.

(for detailed guidance on process, roles and responsibilities, see appendices attached)

(d) Role of Business Support

Business Support will be based at Sunnyside Offices and responsible for inputting allPPD1’s into DRAIG, once the joint screening activity has taken place and a decision has been made to refer onto the safeguarding and family support service. At this stage, they will ensure that the relevant checks have been made in relation to previous involvement, previous registration on CPR, and any previous PPD 1’s stored on the excel database.The details of these checks will be recorded on the Contact Record.

(6) Quality Assurance

To ensure consistent thresholds whilst undertaking this work, there will be two activities to review outcomes related to PPD1’s that did not progress to the Safeguarding and Family Support Service, Assessment Team and those PPD1’s that were deemed to meet the threshold for subsequent intervention;

Joint dip sampling activity between the Detective Inspector, CAIU and Team Manager, Assessment Team of PPD1’s that did not progress to the Safeguarding and Family Support Service. These cases will have been recorded on the excel database held by the Police. This activity will take place quarterly.
Dip sampling activity between the Team Manager, Assessment Team and Service Manager, Assessment and Family Support of cases that did progress to the Safeguarding and Family Support Service. This activity will take place monthly.

Any concerns or issues identified during this activity should be addressed immediately.

(7) Resolution of professional differences at the joint screening activity stage

Should the primary screeners for both the Police and Safeguarding and Family Support not agree on the outcome of individual cases, and then this must be referred to the Team Manager within the Assessment Team, Safeguarding and Family Support and the Detective Inspector, CAIU, South Wales Police. If no resolution can be made at this stage, then the involvement of either a Group Manager or Service Manager will be necessary.

(8) Other components of the Social Worker role

The CAIU Social Worker will attend Domestic Violence MARAC fortnightly and will be responsible for the exchange of information between other agencies and the Safeguarding and Family Support Service.

The MARAC may recommend a referral to safeguarding and family support service to ensure allsafeguarding issues are addressed. Similarly at any point in the LA children’s servicesassessment process a MARAC may be recommended The CAIU Social Worker will be responsible for sharing information between the two processes.

The CAIU Social Worker will attend the Children and Young People sub group of the Bridgend Domestic Abuse Forum. This meeting is monthly and will also be attended by the Detective Inspector, CAIU.

(9) Cover arrangements during project life

The Team Manager, Assessment Team will be responsible for ensuring that there are suitable cover arrangements in place when the CAIU Social Worker is absent from work. This arrangement should be discussed and agreed with the Detective Inspector or Detective Sergeant, CAIU.

27th July 2011

Bridgend Child Abuse & Investigation Unit Project– Demonstrating Improvement Programme – SSIA

PPD1 SCREENING PROCESS

Bridgend Child Abuse & Investigation Unit Project– Demonstrating Improvement Programme – SSIA

Appendix 4

PPD1 SCREENING – ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
ACTION / ICS EXEMPLAR / RESPONSIBLE PERSON(S) / TIMESCALE
Joint screening process will take place in accordance with guidance. / N/A / POLICE & CAIU Social Worker / DAILY
Where a joint decision is made to progress to further intervention by S&FS, the PPD1 will be forwarded electronically to BS in Sunnyside / N/A / Social Worker based at CAIU / IMMEDIATE
When PPD1 received, search DRAIG and other records to see if S& FS is currently working with the child or have previously worked with the child. / N/A / Business Support – Assessment Team / IMMEDIATE
If child/YP already open to a team:
The PPD1 should be entered as a case note and an email alert triggered to Allocated Worker and TM for action, and the process for “Contacts Received on Open Cases” followed. The contact type and sub type to be used are listed in the ICS Exemplar column. The case note outcome should always be: Passed to Manager” and marked as a Significant Event. / ICS Referral - Case Note
Contact Type – “Contact”
Contact Sub Type – “PPD1” / Business Support – Assessment Team
Allocated Worker/Team Manager – Safeguarding Team / IMMEDIATE
***If child/YP is a closed case: Create contact via Referrals tab on existing client record and progress contact to “awaiting 24 hour screening – CAIU Team” via workflow. Make appropriate record checks including CP Register, checks to excel database and record on the Contact Record. An alert will be triggered to the CAIU worker that there is a contact awaiting screening. / ICS Contact Record/ Referral screen –
NB - The “Mode” should always be “PPD1” / Business Support – Assessment Team / IMMEDIATE
Contact is evaluated. If contact not accepted as a referral the contact should be closed and logged as Enquiry/referred Out and the reason for this decision recorded as a case note. The template letter on Domestic Violence should be sent out. / ICS Contact Record/ Referral screen / Social Worker based at CAIU / WITHIN 24 HOURS OF RECEIPT
If contact is accepted as a referral, a Referral and Information Record should be created and completed. Further enquiries should be made and logged if appropriate. The screening decision and eligibility criteria should be input onto the referral via ICS process workflow / ICS Referral / Social Worker based at CAIU / WITHIN 24 HOURS OF RECEIPT
The referral should be moved to “Awaiting Allocation for Initial Assessment” via workflow. An alert will be triggered to the Assessment TM / ICS Referral / Social Worker based at CAIU / WITHIN 24 HOURS OF RECEIPT
If child/YP not known:
A new record to be created in Draig and then the process followed from *** above. / ICS Referral Screen and Contact Record / BS – Assessment Team and then as above from *** / IMMEDIATE
The referral will be allocated for Initial Assessment via workflow / ICS Referral / Team Manager – Assessment Team / WITHIN 24 HOURS OF RECEIPT
The Assessment process will then continue as per “Receiving a Contact” within the Interactive Practice Guide / ICS Initial Assessment / Allocated Social Worker / WITHIN 7 WORKING DAYS

REVISED 29 JULY 2010