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• working together 2010

Contents

1. Definition of Travelling Families
2. Action on Notification
3. Arrangements to Visit
4. Assessment
5. Following the Assessment
6. Action by Manager or Social Work Manager
7. Action by Principle Managers and Head of Service

1. Definition of Travelling Families

‘Travellers’ and ‘Travelling Families’ are terms used to describe families who for reasons of culture or choice do not reside in a permanent residence.  This includes Gypsies and those who are illegally camping or camping in unauthorised locations.

2. Action on Notification

When notified by another Department of a Travelling Family, the Team Manager or Duty Manager should be informed and arrangements made to visit the site within one working day.

3. Arrangements to Visit

Visits should be made in conjunction with the Education Department, through the Education Welfare Service, who have responsibility for the education of children on site.  It will be the responsibility of the Education Welfare Service to contact any other Education professionals whom the Education Department wish to involve in the assessment.  Housing should be notified through the Homeless Persons Unit.  It will be their decision whether or not they wish to attend.

If for any reason it is not possible to arrange a joint visit within one working day then the Operations Manager or Social Work Manager should be informed.  It will be their responsibility to notify a Principal Manager or the Head of Service, who in turn will liaise with other Departments within the Authority.

4. Assessment

Assessments of Children in Need must be carried out in keeping with procedures in (Referrals of Children in Need Procedure) of this manual.

When the a referral is made in relation to Travelling Families, it is important that an assessment is carried out in respect of all children living on the site to ensure that their welfare is taken into account before a decision is taken whether to tolerate such encampments, or to commence proceedings to secure possession of the land in question, and if so, when and against whom.

In order to minimise the intrusion into the lives of the families on the site a collective assessment of the circumstances and need should be carried out.

It is important that the assessment is carried out promptly, as the findings of the assessment will enable swift action and decisions to be taken with regard to toleration and possession proceedings.

All children have needs and it is important in carrying out an assessment under these circumstances to be clear about whether these needs can only be met within the families current site, and whether any move would have a severe adverse affect on the child, for example if a child or carer is receiving major medical treatment at the local hospital.  In circumstances where there may be a conflict between the proposed eviction and the needs of a child, in accordance with the principles of the Children Act, the welfare of the child must be the main consideration.

On arriving at the site the officers should introduce themselves and explain their roles and the purpose of their visit.

It is important that families do not feel pressured into giving information.  It should be explained that their co-operation in providing information would improve the quality of the assessment.  Permission must be obtained from parents or carers before any children are spoken to directly.

The Assessment should be completed using the format set in - Information to follow

5. Following the Assessment

On completing the assessment it should be written up immediately with the Education Representative(s) and passed to the Children and Families Operational or Social Work Manager immediately for distribution to the Departments within the Authority.

If the eviction will severely affect the welfare of any child(ren) living on the site the Operational or Social Work Manager should be informed in detail about the concerns and how the child(ren) and family can be supported.

6. Action by Manager or Social Work Manager

It will be the responsibility of the Operational or Social Work Manager to ensure that the assessment is carried out within the timescales identified in this procedure, and to notify a Principal Manager or the Head of Service if these cannot be met.

The completed assessment should be agreed by the Operational or Social Work Manager and then sent immediately to the Head of Service, or in their absence the Principal Manager, for distribution to the following Departments within the Authority.

• Borough Valuers
• Directorate of Legal Services
• Education Welfare Service

If the assessment concludes that the welfare of any child (ren) on the site would be severely affected by any proceedings for possession and any subsequent eviction, the Operational or Social Work Manager should clarify any concerns and bring these to the attention of a Principal Manager or the Head of Service who will liaise with other Departments within the Authority.

7. Action by Principle Managers and Head of Service

It will be the responsibility of senior managers to liaise with their counterparts in other Departments regarding the assessment process and notify them of the outcome

End