"My life isn’t always easy, and there are many days when things feel quite hard. I’ve been late for school a lot, and sometimes I’ve missed school altogether, along with not always being taken to important medical appointments. This has made it difficult for me to keep up with learning and friendships, and at times I feel behind, compared to other children my age. There are times when I don’t feel well, physically or emotionally and it shows in how I look and act.
At home, my family struggles to consistently care for me and provide me with stability. We don’t always have enough food, and sometimes I feel hungry or thirsty. Our home doesn’t always feel warm or comfortable, and sometimes I don’t have clean clothes. We have moved house a few times lately and that makes me feel sad as I’ve had to leave friends behind without time to say goodbye properly. There are moments when I feel alone, with nobody to talk to about how I’m feeling or what’s going on in my head.
Even though things aren’t as they should be, I know my mum wants to make things better. She’s trying and she’s open to getting help. We need support from people who understand what we’re going through and people who can help us build routines, improve our home life and make sure I have the food, warmth and the emotional support I need to grow and thrive."
Bradford Children and Families Trust has a dedicated practitioners’ advice and referral contact number. These calls are answered by the Integrated Front Door and the Early Help Gateway Teams.
Prior to making a referral, all practitioners need to:
Call 01274 433999 if you want to seek support for a child, young person and their family. Opening hours:
Once a case is allocated you will be given a name and direct contact details for the worker supporting the family.
Timescales for contact
🟠 A case is usually allocated to a Family Support Worker (FSW) within 48 hours of it being accepted in the locality team.
🟠 Within 5 working days the Family Support Worker (FSW) will make a phone call to the parent/carer, and a date for the first home visit will be arranged. The visit should take place within a 2-week period (10 working days).
🟠 The frequency of visits to the family will vary depending on need. All families should be visited at least every 3 weeks, whilst families with more complex needs may benefit from more than one visit per week.
Timescales for assessments and meetings
🟠 An assessment will be completed within 45 days of allocation.
🟠 The Team Around the Family (TAF) meeting needs to be held within 8 weeks of allocation, to agree the assessment and plan with the family and to ensure that the other professionals involved are clear on their actions and responsibilities in the plan.
🟠 Further TAF meetings should be 8 weekly thereafter.
🟠 A final TAF meeting is to be held before the case is closed - a Lead Practitioner will be identified and agreed at this meeting.
🟠 Within the Team Around Family (TAF) meetings, the level of need will be reviewed and there will be a multi-agency decision as to whether the child/family can be stepped down to Getting Help - support via a Lead Practitioner.
🟠 If the child/family's needs are fully met, they may decide that it's appropriate to close the case.
🟠 Within the Team Around Family (TAF) meetings the level of need will be reviewed, and there will be a multi-agency decision as to whether the child/family need to be referred to Children Social Care for a Getting Help when Harm Occurs response.
🟠 At any point a Family Support Worker can decide to attend an allocation meeting with Childrens Social Care to discuss the needs to step-up the case to Childrens Social Care.
🟠 If a professional within the Team Around the Family disagrees with a decision not to increase the response, there is a mechanism in place to escalate their concerns.