Children we Look After, Care Leavers (Futures Team), Children with Disabilities and Transition Service

Children We Look After

The Children We Look After service is so named by choice of our children. The teams are responsible for the care planning, safety and successful outcomes for children who are in our care long term. This includes children who are the subject of a Full Care Order,  those who are living in our care under S20 of the Children Act and those who may be placed with parents. It does not include children for whom there is a plan of adoption. 

The service is made up of three teams, each with six social workers, an Assistant Team manager and a Team Manager. In addition, the service benefits from two social work assistants who share time across all three teams.

Futures 

The Futures team is our service for Care leavers, again the name being chosen by our young people. The service takes a co work role for young people from the age of 16 and full responsibility for them when they turn 18. The role of the team is to continue to provide support for our care experienced young adults to enable them to live independently successfully in the community. When care experienced adults turn 21 they are eligible for our Next Steps programme which is a lower level of support until age 25 and then the service maintains a policy of Never Closed so that all care experienced adults can return to the team for support at any stage in their life. 

The team consists of 9 personal advisors, which includes a specialist Education and Employment role, a specialist over 21 role and a specialist emotional health role.  In addition, there is a n Assistant Team Manager and a Team manager who in turn are supported by a Specialist manager. 

Closely aligned to the Futures team we have pre independence training flats, Millersdale, staffed by a team of support workers who also complete outreach work for young people in their homes.  

Children with Disability

The Children with Disability team works with all children with complex and profound disability for whom they and their family benefit from a range of support and care options. The team consists of two social work assistants, six social workers, an assistant team manager and a team manager. Again they are supported by a specialist manager who is also the Designated Social Care Officer and leads on work relating to SEND and EHCPs for children.

Transitions Team

Aligned with the children with disability service , the transitions team are responsible for those children who will move to Adult services post 18. The team is four social workers and a manager who work closely with colleagues in adult services to ensure a smooth transition

Children's Homes 

Abbeyford Children's Home is a respite home for children with a disability and provides bespoke packages of care according to their care plan. 

The Grove childrens home is a home for up to 4 children and due to be joined by 4 more homes in 2025 which will care for a total of 6 more children