How we work with you
Children’s Social Care works with children, young people, and families using our Child First, Family Led approach. This means everything we do starts with understanding the child’s experience and what will make the biggest positive difference to their life.
We focus on listening carefully to children and young people, valuing their lived experience, and making sure decisions, plans, and actions are centred on their safety, wellbeing, and long‑term outcomes. We work with families in a respectful and supportive way, recognising strengths as well as worries, and helping families make changes that last.
We don’t work in isolation. We work closely with the child’s wider network of support – including relatives, schools, health services, and other professionals – to put clear, multi‑agency plans in place. These plans are designed to support positive change, reduce risk, and make sure children are supported in the right way at the right time.
A range of teams may work with you, depending on the level of need and the type of support required:
Family Help
Family Help Teams support children, young people, and families when worries start, so problems can be addressed early. This might be when things feel difficult at home, school, or in everyday life, but before concerns become more serious. A lead worker gets to know the whole family and works with you to understand what’s going well and what needs extra support. Together, you agree one plan that brings the right people around you – this might include school, health services, or community groups. The aim is to help families stay together safely, build on strengths, and get support early so problems don’t become bigger. Family Help Teams can also continue working with the family when supported is needed for the child(ren) as a Child in Need, making sure the right services stay involved and support is consistent as needs change.
What does Child in Need mean?
A child is described as Child in Need when they need extra support to stay well, learn, or develop as they should. This might be because of their health, a disability, family difficulties, or things happening around them that make life harder. It means services have a legal responsibility to understand what help is needed and work with the family to provide the right support.
Multi‑Agency Child Protection Teams (MACPTs)
Multi‑Agency Child Protection Teams, often called MACPTs, step in when there are serious worries about a child’s safety. These teams are made up of experienced workers from social care, who work with closely together with other important professionals to help keep the child safe, this could include health, police, and education. They take action when a child may be at risk of significant harm and make sure clear protection plans are in place. Their role is to act quickly, listen carefully, and put children’s safety first while working with families wherever possible.
What is a Child Protection Plan?
A Child Protection Plan is put in place when professionals are seriously worried that a child may not be safe and needs extra protection. The plan sets out what needs to change, what support will be provided, and what adults and services must do to help keep the child safe. It is not about punishment or blame. It is about making sure everyone works together, listens to the child, and takes clear action to reduce risk and improve safety as quickly as possible. Child Protection Plans are reviewed regularly, and they end as soon as professionals agree the child is safe enough without them.
Children with disabilities
The Children with Disabilities Team works with children and young people who have a disability and need extra support to help them thrive. The team focuses on understanding each child’s individual needs and supporting families with practical help, planning, and access to services. This can include support at home, help with short breaks and care packages, and working closely with schools, health services, and SEND partners. The aim is to support children’s wellbeing and development, reduce pressure on families, and make sure children with disabilities are supported safely and in a way that works for them and their family.
Contextual Safeguarding Team
The Contextual Safeguarding Team supports young people where the main risks to their safety are outside the home, rather than within their family. This might include risks such as exploitation, violence, grooming, criminal activity, or harm linked to peer groups, schools, neighbourhoods, or online spaces. The team works with young people aged mainly 12–18, alongside families and partner agencies like schools, police, youth services, and health. They focus on understanding what is happening around a young person, reducing risk, building safety, and helping young people feel more secure in their communities while keeping families involved wherever possible.