Thresholds

There are many ways in which additional need can be defined and, within a multi-agency environment, it is likely that this will continue. Practitioners from a variety of organisational backgrounds will be working together but will retain their particular professional identity and a particular definition of need. The Children Act 2004 sets out the governments aim for every child, whatever their background or their circumstances, to have the support they need to:

• Be healthy
• Stay safe
• Enjoy and achieve
• Make a positive contribution
• Achieve economic well being

For many children and young people these aims are achieved through care in the family and access to universal services such as schools and general health care. We are concerned here with those children and young people who need additional support to achieve these aims.

This document describes 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.

All organisations need to have in place suitable supervisory or advisory arrangements for staff involved in the process of identifying children and young people with additional needs. The use of this guide and these processes will have two main benefits:

• Consistent application of definitions
• Promotion and maintenance of good practice

Managers and supervisors will themselves need to have a good understanding of the processes.

How to use this Threshold Guide:

• Use it as a guide, not a prescription. It should prompt you to think more clearly and interpret the situation
• Try to see the whole situation and weigh up the all of the issues
• Take advice when you are not sure
• Share it with families as a way of expressing ideas and concern
• Use the colours to help you identify which section you are focusing on
• These colours are the same in CAF