CFCS contact audit

Summary of findings

Overall, 95% of contacts were rated as good (25%) or outstanding (70%), this is an improvement from last year where 90% of contacts were rated as good (70%) or outstanding (20%).

Good and outstanding contacts evidenced detailed referrals, a good response from CFCS, ongoing risk assessments, thorough analysis, child-centred practice, good management oversight, and a timely process.

One contact (5%) was rated as requiring improvement and no contacts were rated as inadequate. This is again an improvement from last year where 10% were rated as requiring improvement. The contact rated as requiring improvement showed a lack of multi-agency working through the contact process, this was the same critique of the contacts marked as requiring improvement last year.

Recommendations

The following recommendation has been made in response to the findings from the audit.

1. On a couple of contacts the information from the referral was missing and the record simply stated ‘see referral’; CFCS to capture all information from the referral within the contact record.

Summary of findings

Overall, all of the contacts were rated as good or outstanding.

These contacts evidenced a detailed summary of all the relevant information collated, strong analysis, appropriate decision making, strong multi-agency working, and timeliness.

The only area where one contact was rated as required improvement was for the referral, and this was due to it being delayed. One audit evidenced an exemplary referral from a school, and feedback has been provided to them.

One contact that stood out in particular showcased excellent working across multiple borders, and it was recommended by the group that this case is put forward to Ofsted as an example of good practice.

Recommendations

The following recommendations were made in response to the findings from the audit:

1. To ascertain what information the health navigator passes to the relevant GP following a contact regarding domestic abuse, and to investigate whether an Operation Encompass equivalent can be set up for GPs;

2. CFCS to report what the process is when a referral states that the contact is signed off pending additional MASH checks;

3. The Education Safeguarding Manager to provide feedback to the school identified as providing an excellent referral to CFCS;

4. The contact identified as evidencing excellent cross-border working to be provided to Ofsted as an example of good practice.

Summary of findings

Overall, 90% of contacts were rated as good or outstanding, this is an improvement from last year where 73% of contacts were rated as good or outstanding.

Good and outstanding contacts evidenced good quality of processing through CFCS, and responses by CFCS showed more thought and analysis than previously. Timescales were also adhered to.

10% (two contacts) were rated as requires improvement and no contacts were rated as inadequate. This is again an improvement from last year where 20% were rated as requires improvement and 7% were rated as inadequate. Contacts rated as requires improvement showed a lack of multi-agency working through the contact process.

Recommendations

The following recommendations were made in response to the findings from the audit:

1. CFCS to undertake an internal audit on feedback to referrers, and escalation in respect of inadequate referrals;

2. CFCS to provide a link to the LSCP threshold guidance within the referral form to assist decision-making by referrers;

3. A further multi-agency audit to be undertaken on contacts that were MASHed to provide a better sample for assurance.