Encompass Nottinghamshire Briefing for Professionals

Moira Cordon MASH Education Advisor Tom Carver Police Sergeant in the MASH, Nottinghamshire Police Vicki Melling Early Help Manager, Early Help Unit Karen Maxted Social Work Team Manager, MASH Ashleigh Quinn Graduate Trainee

Encompass Nottinghamshire A process that involves informing schools of reported domestic abuse incidents where a child has been in the same household or is affected, during the next school day. A model was developed by other areas and has been tailored model for Nottinghamshire (e.g. Knowsley) Provides schools with additional knowledge to understand the root cause of behaviour and to support children Key is the timeliness of information – next day Scale Approximately between 6800 and 8200 children in Nottinghamshire witnessed an incident in 2012/13

Police Responses to Domestic Abuse Incidents Officers attending domestic abuse incidents make a risk assessment Risk assessment is an ongoing process, judgements can change Domestic abuse incidents will be given a risk rating: –High risk –Medium risk –Standard risk Domestic Abuse Stalking and Harrassment (DASH) Form –Main tool used during risk assessment Domestic Abuse Support Unit (DASU) –Check risk assessment rating and share relevant information Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) –Meetings about high risk cases referred by agencies

What happens to domestic abuse notifications in the MASH? The DASU sends all incidents involving children to MASH social workers Standard risk incidents are recorded –There is an escalation process when more than 3 incidents are recorded For open cases the social worker is notified For children and young people known to social care a note is made on the system –For standard risk incidents no further action is taken For higher risk or repeated incidents a MASH enquiry is opened High and medium cases have a case discussion in the MASH –Encompass Nottinghamshire will inform schools about incidents in this category where information is significant

What happens when an Encompass phone call is needed? The Education Advisor or a MASH Officer will make the Encompass phone call Basic information will be given to the key adult –Who was involved –What sort of incident it was (e.g. verbal, physical assault) –Whether the child or young person was present –What actions the Police and MASH are taking If the key adult is not available a message will be left, it is the responsibility of the school to return the phone call Key adults will need to record the incident Schools will need to consider appropriate actions and support

Children’s Centres and Health Visitors Education Advisor informs the EHU Officer in the MASH EHU Officer will call the SPA in the Children’s Centres SPA lead will record the information on SystmOne Notification sent via SystmOne to Health Visitor If family are receiving 1-1 support through the Children’s Centre –Allocated worker will assess risk and contact the family offering support If family are regular attendees of a Children’s Centre –Family are sensitively asked if support is required when family next attends If family are not regular attendees of a Children’s Centre –No further action or a visit as required in liaison with other workers involved with the family

Examples of support

Case Study – overt support in a secondary school The contents of the Encompass call were that in the early hours of the morning there had been an incident between mother and father. Mother had been arrested for alleged assault on father. Mother was released from custody prior to three children leaving for school. The early call gave the Key Adult time to establish that the student was year 11 and was due to be sitting an exam that morning. On arrival to the school the student was approached by the Key Adult and asked how she was feeling about the exam and that we had been made aware of an incident at home. The student was given the option of taking some time out, having something to eat and sitting her exam in a quiet space in isolation. The student made the choice after having something to eat, to sit the exam despite having had very little sleep the night before. The student achieved her grade. However, in the event that student had not been successful and with the information provided by Encompass the school could have applied for exceptional circumstances to the exam board.

Case Study – silent support in an infant school The encompass call stated that there had been an argument between mother and her partner the previous evening. The Key Adult spoke to his class teacher who was then prepared if the reception child behaved differently that day. The child arrived at the classroom, with his mother, clutching his bear. His class teacher would normally have either asked him to put the bear in a safe place in the classroom or asked him if he wanted mum to take it home so that he would be safe. She did neither - understanding that his bear had been brought for a reason. He kept it with him all day. His class teacher quietly supported him throughout the day, working next to him and just letting him know that she was there. Nobody made any comment about him hugging his bear through the day. It was just enough to get him through to home time.

Early Help Unit Support A direct contact point for professionals and families wanting to access early help services We provide: Information and advice for children, young people, families and professionals on early help services in Nottinghamshire. Advise on the completion of the Early Help Assessment (EHAF) and hold a register of completed EHAF’s The logging of cases for discussion at Complex Case Resolution (CCR) meetings

Specialist support – North Nottinghamshire Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid Refuge Children and Young Peoples Services Supported Housing Domestic Abuse Link Worker Independent Domestic Violence Advocates (IDVAs) Children and Young Peoples Outreach Service Drop in Service STAR Project (Supporting Teenagers in their own abusive relationships) Hands Are Not For Hurting

Specialist support – South Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid Integrated Services Independent Domestic Violence Advocates (IDVAs) Domestic Abuse Link Worker Children’s Workers Floating Support –Drop in Service –Flexible Support –Supported Housing –Freedom Project (Gedling) Pets Project Sanctuary Scheme (Only Ashfield and Broxtowe)

Specialist support – Contact Details Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid Ltd (for the NORTH) Tel: WAIS (Women’s Aid Integrated Services (for the SOUTH) Tel: hour free Helpline Text phone

Additional Support PSED Team Early Help Unit CCREHAFHealth Targeted Support Children’s Centre’s CCR – Complex Case Resolution Meeting EHAF – Early Help Assessment PSED Team – Primary, Social and Emotional Development Team

Specialist Training Equation offer a range of free multi-agency training, for Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire workers, including: Understanding & Responding to Domestic Violence and Abuse (formerly DVAA) Challenging Domestic Violence and Abuse – Working with Perpetrators Improving Skills for Working with Male Perpetrators of Domestic Violence

Encompass Nottinghamshire Pilot Evaluation There will be various times at which you can feedback to us on the Encompass Nottinghamshire pilot. Today Questionnaire to be returned before you leave End October Survey monkey questionnaire Early December Survey monkey questionnaire Questionnaire. interviews with parents Ongoing throughout November and December Interviews with Key Adults and Professionals

Useful Links Equation – Encompass Nottinghamshire - safeguarding/nscb/informationprofessionals/encompass/ safeguarding/nscb/informationprofessionals/encompass/ MARAC – Early Help Assessment Form (EHAF) – provision/early-help-assessment/ provision/early-help-assessment/

Thank You Questions?