Report a concern about a child
Making a referral
Emergency duty team (for out of hours emergencies)
- Email: EDT2@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk - this email is checked out of hours regularly, but it is not manned 24/7. Please do not use this email during daytime working hours.
- Telephone: 01244 977277 - please leave a voice message and your call will be returned at the next available opportunity
- EDT operates between the hours: 5pm until 8.30am from Monday to Thursday, from 4:30pm on Fridays and 24 hours at weekends and bank holidays.
- In the event you have an urgent social care concern and the phone lines are out of order please use the contingency number: 07789 287349 - which will be active in the event of a technical issue which affects the main phone line.
The link to the Multi-agency referral form goes directly through to the iART team during working hours and will not be picked up by the Emergency Duty Team.
Important notes
Emergency referrals should be telephoned through to the above numbers as appropriate.
Do not send any personal information about specific children or young people via the ordinary email addresses provided above but please ensure you use the electronic Multi-Agency Referral Form to send details of your referral.
As a professional contacting iART you have a responsibility to secure consent from families and/or individuals to confirm they are happy for their information to be shared. The law is clear consent must be specific, informed and freely given. On contacting iART a member of the team will explore this with you. There are some exceptions to this, for example if someone is at significant risk or to prevent crime and disorder. Please contact iART for advice if you are unsure.
The Council privacy notice provides information about how agencies in West Cheshire may use personal information. All agencies have to tell people how they might use information provided and give the choice to say yes or no to using that information. Professionals must share a copy of the privacy notice at every first visit and record this on eTAF.
Making a referral
Professionals making a referral online must observe the following guidance:
- As many fields as possible should be completed. Some fields must be completed in order for the referral to proceed. The name, address and contact details of the person making the referral must be included
The Multi-Agency Referral form will confirm whether you are a referring professional or a member of the public.
- Online referrals are checked throughout the day on weekdays. The team aim to assess each referral within one working day and will respond on a priority basis. The Integrated Access and Referral Team (iART) will decide whether threshold is met to progress the referral either to Children's Social Care for a statutory social work assessment or to Early Help and Prevention, or whether threshold has not been met for the referral to progress and provide other information/advice/guidance.
- Individuals have a right by law to view records held about them. It is exceptional that information is withheld from a service user and this should be borne in mind when making an online referral. Please refer to the privacy notice for more information.
The above reference to the continuum of need and the purpose of iART as the integrated front door for Children's Social Care and Early Help and Prevention.
What happens next?
Online referrals will only be acknowledged where the referrer is the person concerned, the carer or a professional such as a GP, teacher or nurse. A decision as to next steps will be completed wherever possible within one working day.
