Emergency Duty Team (EDT)

AMENDMENT

This chapter, which sets out the process for managing to referrals to the Emergency Duty Team was reviewed locally and updated as required in January 2020. It clarifies the process for transferring information to and from the Emergency Duty Team and Children and Young People Services and explains the procedure for ensuring the safety of EDT workers on visits.

1. Introduction - The Emergency Duty Team

1.1 The Emergency Duty Team (EDT)

EDT provides the out-of-hours emergency response for children/young people and adults who reside in Calderdale. This service is available to any child/young person or adult who has social care difficulties that are causing a serious risk or concern that cannot wait until the start of the next working day.

The service can provide an appropriate response when:

  • There is a serious concerns for the welfare of a child/young person;
  • The child/young person is placed under Police Power of Protection;
  • The child/young person or an adult may require emergency accommodation;
  • Missing children/young people and adults;
  • Adults who are vulnerable;
  • Assessment of adults with mental health problems;
  • Any other crisis that, in the opinion of the Social Worker on duty, warrants a response from the team.

1.2 When can I contact EDT?

  • Weekdays: 5.00 pm to 8.45 am;
  • Weekends: 5.00 pm Friday to 8.45 am Monday; and
  • During Council holidays.

1.3 How do I contact EDT?

You can contact EDT by phone - 01422 288 000.

2. Referrals to the Emergency Duty Team

2.1 Receipt of calls out of office hours

Referrals may be made to the EDT by members of the public, statutory agencies, voluntary organisations and the community sector.

The Community Wardens should record the following information from each caller:

  • Name of caller;
  • Name of agency, if appropriate;
  • Contact telephone number;
  • Child/young person's or adult’s details and address;
  • Brief outline of request for assistance; and
  • Establish if the request can wait until the worker is available or if emergency services are required.

The caller should be informed that the EDT Worker will contact them.

If the duty worker is on a visit the caller should be informed that they will be contacted when the duty worker returns.

2.2 Referring calls to EDT Worker

The Community Warden should contact the EDT worker immediately on receipt of a call.

Every call passed to the EDT worker will be recorded by the Community Warden.

If the EDT worker is on a visit they should be contacted on their mobile phone number unless the Community Wardens have been advised not to call them.

In the event of the EDT worker being unavailable due to other work commitments, the Community Warden will send a voicemail/text/email to the EDT worker.

When two EDT workers are on duty, they should be rung alternately unless they have advised the Community Wardens to do otherwise.

2.3 Acting on information and referrals

The EDT worker make an initial telephone call to the referrer, the purpose of which is to assess in more detail:

  1. The degree of potential risk to the child / young person / adult / their family, the carer, or the community;
  2. Statutory duties and/or Directorate policy;
  3. Whether a response can wait until the next working day.

When the calls have been prioritised, the EDT worker will determine the order in which the referrals will be actioned.

2.4 Communication with the EDT - Receiving Calls and Worker Safety

Before making visits

Prior to making a visit the EDT worker must inform the Community Warden of:

  • Where they are going;
  • That they are taking their mobile phone and lone working device;
  • Expected return time;
  • Any time during which they will have their mobile phone turned off.

Making the visit

The worker should assess the likely duration of the piece of work.

If the situation is likely to take 3 to 4 hours to resolve and the Community Wardens have informed the worker that there are other calls waiting the EDT worker should ring the callers to make a preliminary assessment of the need for action.

If the EDT worker assesses potential risk to their safety when attending a situation they should consider requesting:

  • That a Community Warden or other professional attends with them;
  • Police assistance.

If the Community Wardens consider that a call is sufficiently serious and the duty worker is already attending a call that is likely to take 2 to 3 hours, the EDT Worker should advise the Community Wardens to contact the Police or other relevant agencies. There may also be a need for the EDT worker to contact the senior Children's/ Adult’s Social Care Manager on duty. The caller should be advised that the EDT worker is currently actively involved in a case and the Community Warden should query how long they can wait for assistance.

Contact with the Community Wardens during visits

If the EDT worker has not received other calls from the Community Wardens, they should ring the Community Wardens every hour during the visit. If they have not heard from the duty worker within these timescales the Community Wardnes should contact the duty worker on the mobile phone in an attempt to confirm their safety.

Contact with the Emergency Control Team after visits

The EDT worker must contact the Community Wardens when they return from a visit to confirm their return.

3. Transferring Information to the Emergency Duty Team by Children and Young People Services and Adult Social Care

3.1 How to transfer information

Information should be passed to EDT via generic email EDT@calderdale.gov.uk.

The Out of Hours Document must be completed by the relevant Social Worker and approved by Senior Manager within Children and Young People Services and / or Adults Services prior to being emailed to EDT.

Please see Local Resources for relevant local documents.

EDT workers will check the EDT team inbox E-mails at the start of their shift.

If the information included in the Email and Out of Hours document requires the EDT worker's immediate attention, a telephone call must be made to the Community Wardens to notify the EDT worker that an urgent E-mail has been sent to them. This is to provide further information / clarity in respect of work required.

In the event that the EDT worker is not available, a message must be left with the Community Wardens requesting a return call from the EDT worker. A contact number must be provided by the referrer.

4. Transferring Information from the Emergency Duty Team to Day Time Teams withing Children and Young People Services and Adult Social Care

4.1 EDT Recording

In respect of Children and Young People Services, every call passed to the EDT worker and the actions taken will be recorded on the council’s electronic recording system (CASS) under a ‘Daily Records’ tab if the case is open.

This will generate an automatic message to the allocated Social Worker, their line manager and Business Support.

Any calls to EDT regarding a child / young person who is not known or is closed to Children and Young People Services will be recorded within the Initial Contact Form on CASS and sent to the MAST to follow up the next working day.

In the event of multiple EDT involvement (e.g. over the weekend) additional information can be recorded by clicking on the ‘Contact Notes’ tab within the Initial Contact Form. EDT will send an Email to the MAST / relevant worker / team that activity has occurred by EDT and follow up may be required.

When EDT has a more detailed involvement in a case, such as a Strategy Discussion / Meeting or Section 47 Enquiry, this should be recorded on the Strategy Discussion / Meeting Template and Section 47 Template on the council’s electronic information system (CASS). Not all information will be available to EDT, but as much information should be included in the templates. There is also a need to include actions that the day team can follow up.

If the EDT worker(s) is/are extremely busy during their shift then they can complete the Strategy Discussion/Meeting minutes on a word document and E-mail it to MAST MASTadmin@calderdale.gov.uk who will create the initial contact and input the Strategy Discussion/Meeting minutes on the Councils Electronic Information System (CASS).

In respect of Adult Social Care the EDT worker will record any information and interventions on the Councils Electronic System (CIS). This is in respect to cases that are open on the CIS system.

In respect of cases not known to Adult Social Care the EDT worker will E-mail Gateway to Care Gatewaytocare@calderdale.gov.uk with all known and relevant information. This will be accompanied with instruction by the EDT worker to generate a referral and the request that all attached information will be inputted on the Council’s Electronic System (CIS).

The EDT worker must ensure that EDT box is ticked on the Council’s Electronic System (CASS/CIS). This action will ensure that day time services are identified.

4.2 Cases Requiring Immediate Action by Children and Young People Services

The EDT worker should ensure that all contacts/referrals are passed to MAST by 9am. Urgent cases should be followed up with a telephone call.

If a young person is in police cells, the Youth Offending Team should be emailed by 9 am.

4.3 Electronic Cases Files

It is the responsibility of the Children and Young People Services teams to ensure that electronic case files and all relevant information is updated as per guidance/procedures to assist EDT to be able to undertake their role and function and ensure they can follow up any appropriate actions and decisions out of hours.

It is the responsibility of the EDT worker to ensure that electronic case files and all relevant information is updated of any involvement they have had before they have completed their shift.

5. Decision Making

5.1 Decision Making by EDT

All EDT workers are experienced Specialist Practitioners / Approved Mental Health Practitioners (AMHPs) and will make all initial decisions of any follow up action required regarding any request for assistance.

5.2 Decision Making by Senior Management

Children and Young People and Adult Social Care Service Managers operate a rota and are on-call to provide decision making. It is essential to consult with the Duty Service Manager in any of the following situation:

  • Where the assessment by the EDT worker is that accommodation of the child/ young person into the care of the Local Authority is required;
  • A change in placement for a Child Looked After;
  • Complex child protection cases where senior management guidance is required;
  • Cases that may attract media attention or are high profile;
  • Adults who may require emergency placements, including respite.