Dear Partners, 

Supporting Services Contract Referrals 

You will be aware that the proposed Council plan and budget for 2016/17 was announced on Tuesday 8 December 2015. With the significant budgetary pressures for all local authorities, NCC have had to make tough decisions to ensure that they can provide support to children and families in the most effective and efficient way possible.

One of the proposals NCC put forward is to reconfigure early help commissioned contracts in order to ensure a greater focus on those in greatest need and to invest in more evidence-based support. This proposal is now implemented and has an impact on the Supporting Services contracts, these are currently delivered by Service Six, Northampton Women’s Aid and Family Action across all localities (except Kettering) and Youth Works (Kettering only).

This proposal has resulted in NCC instructing Service Six to close direct referrals to the service with effect from Friday 8th January 

This is to ensure that NCC have adequate time and are able to work with services and partners to understand and plan through any implications of the proposals and minimise disruption to service users where possible.

What does this mean for referrers?

No further direct referrals will be accepted by Supporting Services providers for Youth 1:1 or Group Interventions, Domestic Abuse and Family Support.

Schools

Schools who are unable to offer support to young people through their own resources are asked to follow the current Early Help Assessment route used to access support and interventions where necessary. Therefore when submitting your Early Help Assessment, please tick box ‘19’ which means an Early Help Coordinator will make contact with you to identify the most appropriate support required. 

Internal NCC Teams

Where a need has been identified and it is deemed that support is required, you should make a referral through the Access to Support process (as detailed in the Safeguarding And Children’s Services Transfer Protocol), which will allocate an appropriate alternative service accordingly. 

Third Sector or Others

Where a need has been identified and it is deemed that support is required,  services are asked to tick box ‘19’ when submitting their Early Help Assessment. An Early Help Coordinator will then make contact with you to identify the most appropriate support required.

What about existing clients who are working with Supporting Services providers?

Supporting Services providers will continue to work with young people and families already regarding their caseloads, we will ensure that where clients are accessing services that these services or interventions will be completed If this is not appropriate, NCC will work closely with all providers to ensure that cases are managed and closed or transitioned appropriately if required. 

What should I do if I have safeguarding concerns?

If there are immediate or serious concerns regarding the welfare or safety of a child/young person, you should continue to refer to the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 0300 126 1000. 

We will also be updating our website with the latest information as soon as possible.

On behalf of Service Six and our contract partners Northampton Women’s Aid, Family Action and Northamptonshire Association of Youth Club, we would like to thank all our county partners and colleagues for your professionalism, support and commitment which has aided the access and delivery of the Supporting Services Contracts since July 2014. We trust you will continue to support us in our commitment to complete the contracts appropriately and ethically over the coming months.

The contract Portal will remain open until at least March 31st 2016 and we are here to assist with the transitional arrangements where possible.

Thank you.

Jane Deamer

Chief Executive  

Service Six – Supporting Children, Young People, Adults & Families

26 Rock Street

Wellingborough

Northants

NN8 4LW

Tel: 01933 277520 / 01933 273746