Service Information:
Children’s Social Care aims to work with parents, carers and young people in a partnership based on respect, equality and fairness, and to offer advice and support before a situation reaches crisis point. We also work in partnership with, and may refer to, other services and community groups, including education, health, housing, benefits agencies and the police.
By law, Children’s Social Care has to give priority of service to children with specific categories of need:
- Those at risk of serious harm and who may need a protection plan
- Those who are, or may need to be, looked after by Children’s Social Care and are unable to remain living at home (birth to 18 years including unaccompanied asylum seeking children and young people)
- Private Fostering – such arrangements have to be notified to the local authority (Children’s Social Care)
- Those aged 16 or over who are leaving the care of Children’s Social Care or have previously left care and are eligible for Leaving Care services
- Where Children’s Social Care involvement is required by the courts
In addition, we provide a number of specialist services, such as:
- The recruitment, assessment and supervision of foster carers
- Placing and supporting children with foster carers
- The recruitment, assessment and support of people who want to adopt
- Matching and placing children with adopters
- The provision of residential care for children who are no longer able to live at home and where that is the appropriate option
- Supervising children who are privately fostered
- Young carers
All vulnerable children and young people have unique experiences and circumstances, which must be taken into account when providing services. Children’s Social Care works in partnership with them and their families to improve outcomes.
Service Criteria to include in the EHA:
Please ensure you complete the EHA in full, no additional information is required to make a request for support.
Section 9:
Please use the drop-down menu to select “Children Social Care Level 4”
Contact Details:
Email address: SDInputters@somerset.gov.uk
Contact number: 0300 123 2224