Decision details

The report seeks approval to extend additional temporary arrangements within the targeted early help team in the Children’s Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) through to 30 September 2021.
This is to provide additional capacity for the team during a period in which: there will continue to be significant change to systems and processes, and there will be increased demand due to Covid-19. The additional capacity will prevent a dip in performance in the MASH which needs to triage large numbers of concerns about children’s welfare within 24 hours of the information being received.

RESOLVED - That additional capacity be created by:
1.Extending an existing arrangement for a Grade 4 Customer Service Officer to receive an honorarium to act as a MASH Targeted Early Help Officer from 1 April to 30 September 2021
2.Backfilling this Grade 4 post from 1 July to 30 September 2021
3.Extending an existing arrangement for an experienced Children’s Social Care MASH Customer Service Officer to receive an honorarium to supervise and develop the skills of other Customer Service Officers in the integrated children’s services team from 1 April to 30 September 2021
4.Extend from 1 July - 30 September an existing arrangement for an agency social worker to be part of the targeted early help team in the MASH providing additional capacity, and supporting development of the non-social work staff in the role.

Option 1 Do not create this additional temporary capacity
Option 2 create the additional temporary capacity
Option B is recommended. Without introducing the additional capacity during the period in which structures and systems are in transition, there is a risk that the quality of the service to children and families will be impaired, so that they do not receive the right support in a timely fashion and therefore risking an escalation of need.

Option 1. Without introducing the additional capacity during the period in which structures and systems are in transition, there is a risk that the quality of the service to children and families will be impaired, so that they do not receive the right support in a timely fashion and therefore risking an escalation of need.

There has been consultation through Children and Young People's Directorate Management Team