All Safe Places for Children homes operate through a structured referral pathway.

Referrals must be submitted by the relevant Local Authority or Health and Social Care Trust using the Safe Places for Children Referral Form.

To request a referral form, please email:

• NI.Referral@safeplacesforchildren.co.uk

• Enquiries@safeplacesforchildren.co.uk

Once received, the referral is reviewed by the Safe Places for Children Referral Resource Allocation Panel (SPRRAP).

The panel will:

• Review the referral information.

• Consider the needs of the young person.

• Assess any known risks.

• Decide whether the referral should progress to the assessment stage.

Outcome

If the referral is not suitable at this stage, the referring agency will be informed and the referral will be closed.

Where the referral progresses, the Registered Manager and Deputy Manager begin the assessment process.

This includes:

• Completing the Pre-Referral Assessment Framework.

• Arranging one or more pre-referral meetings with the placing authority's social work team.

• Gathering additional information to support the assessment.

• Discussing identified risks and agreeing appropriate control measures.

Following assessment, the Referral Resource Allocation Panel reviews:

• Additional information received.

• Identified risks.

• Proposed control measures.

• Placement requirements.

If the referral is not accepted

The placing authority and referral agent will be informed.

If the referral is accepted in principle

The placement progresses subject to:

• An agreed Transition Plan.

• Receipt of all required placement documentation.

Following provisional acceptance, Safe Places for Children begins preparing for the placement.

This includes:

• Creating the case file.

• Preparing key documentation and risk assessments.

• Requesting placement documentation.

• Developing the Transition Plan with the child's social worker.

Please note: The placement cannot proceed until all required documentation has been received and the Transition Plan has been formally agreed.

Before a placement can begin, Safe Places for Children confirms that:

• All placement documentation has been received.

• The Transition Plan has been agreed.

• Funding arrangements have been confirmed.

• The Service Level Agreement (SLA) or contract has been finalised.

• All internal approvals have been completed by both Safe Places for Children and the Placing Authority.

Before the young person moves into the home, the following activities are completed:

• Young Person Questionnaire.

• Impact Assessment.

• Children's Guide.

• Transition Plan activities.

These steps help ensure the placement begins safely and successfully.

Once all documentation, approvals and transition activities have been completed, the young person transitions into their Safe Places for Children home.

The Registered Home then begins delivering the agreed care and support plan.