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This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Job children in need – team manager - W2111 - Closing date 19/06/2009'.

Solihull Team Manager case study exercise

Mother - Susan

Children - Shane aged 2.5 years

Megan - 5 years old - subject of referral

Shelly - 7 years old

Father - not a household member

You are the manger of a social work team in which the youngest child has been receiving sponsored day care in order to support mother and avoid s20. Mother had requested support after the father of the child left her. This family have been on a “case co-ordinated” list for 3 months owing to support services being in place.

Friday 3pm - a local primary school make a referral to your team. Megan, the 5 year old child was taken into school today by her mother with extensive facial bruising. Mother explained to the teacher that the child had gone to bed last night without any bruising and when she got up this morning, she had bruising down the side of her face and into her eye socket. Megan is not saying how she got the bruising. Shelly attends the same school and the girls share a bedroom.

Megan has presented as subdued all day in school. The teacher had been concerned and consulted with the DMS who had advised that a referral be made to social work services.

Mother is a sole carer and had an acrimonious separation from the father of the children. School think that mother has a new boyfriend as a male sometimes collects the girls from school. Megan and Shelly have a poor school attendance record - reported to have minor illnesses by mother.

Mother has told school she does not want the children's father to be advised of the injury.

Please outline what actions you as the manager would take if you received this information. Key points:

  1. Ask school to advise mother that they have made a referral and ask them to keep the children on the premises pending further contact

  2. Consider any lateral checks within the limited timescale before the end of the school day

  3. H/V check re Shane

  4. School information re the 2 girls

  5. Check if school know if any other agencies involved with the family - if so make lateral checks

  6. Where is Shane?

  7. Convene a Strategy meeting/discussion to share information gained and plan s47 enquiries

  8. Outline immediate safety concerns - injury to Megan may be serious in terms of head injury - need to obtain mother's consent to have ALL of the children medically examined on the basis that you need to establish whether the other 2 children have any injuries and whether Megan has any further injuries

  9. May need to identify another adult to attend medical examinations if mother is implicated in causing the injury

  10. May need to explore alternative carers for the weekend - family first - consider father

  11. May need to alert Placement team to find a foster carer

  12. Need to address immediate potential risks for the children over the weekend

  13. Need to check mother's explanation to inform the Doctor

  14. Get details of mother's new partner

  15. Who was in the household overnight when the injury was sustained?

  16. Child's account to be established

  17. Need to talk to Shelly

  18. Were any risks identified when the sponsored daycare review took place?