Emergency Admissions Policy
Westbrook acknowledges that on occasions emergencies will arise within families that necessitate additional and unplanned use of our services.
Emergency admissions will be considered where it is in the best interest of the child and on the understanding that Westbrook is primarily a service for short-term breaks and not a long term residential solution.
Westbrook Statement of Purpose outlines ordinary admission criteria; these requirements and restrictions also apply in considering placing an individual in an emergency.
Ofsted will be notified of any extraordinary circumstances which are not covered within the Statement of Purpose.
Westbrook will always consider requests for emergency care that are referred through a social worker (or representative of the social work team) for children and young people who already use the Unit. In these circumstances the Unit will have an individual case file pertaining to the young person and the most recently drawn up care plan should be rigorously checked to ensure all health, education and care requirements as stipulated are up-to-date and relevant. Westbrook staff will work with Children’s Services to offer necessary support in assessing the young person’s current needs and support them in determining what future strategy best meets the young person’s needs.
Where a child or young person falls within the London Borough of Hounslow’s jurisdiction who is not known to the service, the Unit will provide a time limited service which will be established at the referral stage and prior to admission. In order to support the best interest needs of the child whilst a more appropriate accommodation is sourced. In these circumstances the Unit must have all Looked After Children (LAC) documents prior to the child or young person arriving (these LAC papers will be used to inform the units own care planning structure so that all the health, education and care needs of the child can be ascertained and supported). It is important to state that if the child or young person is causing disruption that has a significant impact to the running of the service or is placing themselves and others at risk, an alternative placement must be arranged immediately.
Where possible a bed will always be held in reserve for emergency use, in partnership with the Placing Authority (SWTCD) will decide whether in cases where there is insufficient staffing or space availability where another service users care would be cancelled temporarily to support the emergency admission, these decisions may need to be made jointly with the units manager, senior member of staff on duty or shift leader.
The Registered Manager will ensure that the Unit and staff are prepared for the eventuality of emergency referrals by establishing a routine which all members of staff are familiar with.
The routine includes having:
- A check list for admissions readily available;
- A vacant bedroom, in a state of readiness;
- Easily prepared basic food and drink always accessible;
- A strategy for the redeployment of staff to deal with admission.
The Registered Manager will ensure that where an emergency admission takes place a planning meeting is held within 72 hrs where discussion around suitability of the placement should take place alternative more appropriate and permanent placement should be discussed.
Emergency care for children and young people who already use the Unit will be reviewed on a case by case basis.
Westbrook staff will work with Children’s Services to offer the necessary support in assessing the young person’s current needs and support them in determining what future strategy best meets the young person’s needs.
Where it does not impact on the Child In Need Status of the individual Westbrook will be able to offer accommodation to the young person until the trigger of the emergency placement is resolved; during this time Westbrook will be responsible for all the health, education and care needs of the child / young person.
Where accommodating the young person in an emergency and for a extended amount of time which will have an impact upon the Child In Need status of the young person the Unit manager will liaise with Children's Services to determine if the Emergency Reviews Procedure for Looked After Children should be put into action.
Westbrook will never place children without the agreement of the Placing Authority, however the Unit can be presented with emergency placements with very little planning and an emergency review should be convened, these review meetings should be held within 3 weeks of the young person being placed. The CA 1989 also states that if a child continues to be “Looked After” the next review must be held within 12 weeks of the first one. In relation to Westbrook’ and the operation of the service is defined as Short Breaks, a LAC review must be convened at the earliest opportunity and not exceed the timescales of 3 weeks.
Emergency Reviews should be conducted within 3 working days of the placement; however, in exceptional circumstances, e.g. Bank Holidays, these timescales may be extended.
This is a maximum timescale; the urgency of the situation may dictate that the timescales should be shorter.
Emergency Reviews will normally be arranged by the Placing Authority, who should act as the chairperson (the LA may provide an Independent Reviewing Officer).
The people listed below should contribute to the Emergency Review.
The people who should contribute are:
- Independent Reviewing Officer (where appointed);
- The child's social worker;
- The child;
- The child's parents;
- If placed in a foster home, the foster carer(s) and a family placement worker/social worker;
- The child's Key Worker, (where appointed), or a member of staff that has been working closely with the child.
Before the review, the chairperson (normally the Unit manager or where appointed an IRO) should attempt to collate relevant documentation, such as Risk Assessment/Referral records, Placement Plans/Placement Information Records, Essential Information Records/Chronologies, a Care Plan, Pathway Plan, and other relevant plans or background information about the child.
3.5.1 Chairperson Responsibilities During the Review
The overall purpose of the Emergency Review is to consider whether the placement is suitable for the child; having regard for the child and the other children in the Unit.
The views of the child, parents and others should be accounted for; but the decision should be made by the social worker and Manager or chairperson.
The matters which should be considered are:
- The likely appropriateness of the placement in meeting the child's needs, as set out in the Care Plan or Pathway Plan in the context of the Statement of Purpose for the home;
- Whether the placement of the child may adversely affect any other children in the Unit.
As Westbrook is established to support families and individuals for Short Breaks it is likely that the emergency review will determined that the placement is not suitable as a permanent solution, even with additional support, and therefore consideration should be given to the following:
- The child remaining in the placement until a more suitable placement can be found; in which case, the Placement Plan should be updated to reflect this decision;
- The immediate ending of the placement, in which case no Placement Plan is necessary.
If the Placement Plan cannot be completed sufficient to sustain the child until the first Looked After Review, the chairperson must arrange for a Placement Plan Review. to occur within 7 days so that the plan can be completed.
If this is necessary, the chairperson must agree what further information is required in time for the Placement Plan Review.
Last Updated: June 14, 2024
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