Integrated working tools
The delivery of integrated frontline services to improve outcomes for children and young people needs to be supported by more integrated processes.
We have provided a variety of tools to help practitioners support children and young people.
If you are unsure how to use the tools, or have any questions about their use please phone us on 01904 551900.
York Tools to help Integrated Working
Prevention
If you have a concern about a vulnerable child or young person you should use the prevention guidance
Safeguarding
if you have a child protection concern you should use the safeguarding guidance
Information Sharing
Sharing information is vital for early intervention to ensure that children and young people get the services they require at the time they need it. Information Sharing is also essential to protect children and young people from suffering harm from abuse or neglect, and to prevent them from offending.
View the key principles of information sharing
YorOK Child Index
The YorOK Child Index is a managed database that helps practitioners to:
- Find out if there is any other service / organisation working with a child / young person
- Share information effectively
- Receive advice about what to do if they have a concern about a child / young person.
- Find out if Common Assessment Framework (CAF) has been completed
View more information on the YorOK Child Index and see how you can access it.
Common Assessment Framework (CAF)
CAF is a common way of gathering information about children / young people and families in one place and using it to help decide what type of support is needed.
People from different organisations will talk to each other, share information and work together. This means that families won’t have to keep repeating themselves and the right support can be identified quickly.
The assessment is voluntary and should be undertaken in a sensitive manner.
View more information about CAF
Lead Practitioner
All children and young people 0-19 may at some point need some help to make sure they achieve their full potential.
A Lead Practitioner will work with children / young people who are vulnerable ( Level 2 ) or have more complex needs ( Level 3 ). A Lead Practitioner should be identified when there are three or more services are involved.
The Lead Practitioner will make sure children / young people and families get the right help at the right time. They will work in partnership with the child / young person and family and take a lead in coordinating the services that are involved.
View more information about the role of the Lead Practitioner
Thresholds
The thresholds documents describe levels of concern for children, young people and their families.
It should be used to inform good practice and not as a definitive statement of thresholds for concern. There may well be circumstances that are not covered in this section or particular issues that lead to a professional judgement, which leads to a different conclusion.
Pyramid of Need
Use the Pyramid of Need in conjunction with the threshold documents to help you clarify which level of need you have identified and then how you may best meet that need.
YorOK Service Directory
The YorOK service directory is now linked to the national Parent Know How Directory. This means you can now search for services right across the whole country.
Other tools to support integrated working
DCSF co-located services toolkit
The DCSF have recently produced the Co-located Services Toolkit, designed to provide practical guidance to all those who deliver public and voluntary sector services and are considering the provision of co-located services for their communities. This toolkit is not intended to be a guide around the integration of services and the creation of multi-agency teams, but more a compilation of experiences and lessons learned by others who have procured, provide and operate co-located services.
