Help with family problems
In Children and Families we are responsible for all social services to children and their families in Camden. We offer a service to support families and protect and promote the welfare of children and young people.
Our main aims are:
to safeguard and promote the safety of children in need
to work with and support parents and families
to stress the importance of bringing up children within their own families
to listen to the views of children and families when making decisions
What sort of "family problems"?
We are talking about families with children up to 18 years old. We may be able to help or advise you if:
you are having difficulties in caring for your child if you are ill, worried or unsupported
you are worried about the welfare or safety of any child
your child has difficulties or problems at home or at school
you or your children have been looked after by Camden
Note: 'Looked after by Camden' means that the child or young person is cared for by a foster carer or in a residential care unit. This care is arranged and monitored by Camden Social Services.
We will talk to you and your children - if they are old enough -about what is happening and what may be done to help. This is our assessment of your needs. It is how we find out about your circumstances and recommend any help we are able to arrange.
If your child is disabled, get in touch with the Disabled Children’s Team.
What can we do to help?
Some services we provide:
talking to children and their families, providing advice and guidance
helping families to contact other voluntary and statutory organisations which may be better able to help
working with health, education, housing and other services to make sure you are getting the help you need
finding ways we can support you to care for your children as well as possible, or talking to you about where else you can go for this support
checking where we believe children or young people appear to be at risk of harm. This is known as child protection (link to child protection). You can find out more about this in leaflets available at your local Social Services office.
Keeping children with their family
We work with parents in the best interests of their children and try to keep them together.
Only when there are very great difficulties and the child’s or young person’s needs can only be met by arranging for them to stay outside the family home, will we do this. This is often short term, but not always.
We need to be sure parents or carers agree this is best for the child. It may be necessary if there is no one able to look after them.
How and where to apply for help
You can contact one of the Children in Need Centres.
The centres are open Monday to Friday, from 9.00am to 5.00 pm. However, if this is not possible, we can arrange to see you at other times.
If you need to see a social worker, we usually make an appointment for you. If it is an emergency, we can see you straight away, but if you are just visiting the office hoping to be seen, you will probably have to wait.
Phone: 020 7974 6666 and ask for the duty / assessment team.
Write to:
Children in Need (North)
156 West End Lane
West Hampstead
London NW6 1SD
Fax: 020 7974 6611
Children in Need (South)
Crowndale Centre
218 Eversholt Street
London NW1 1BD
Fax: 020 7974 1638
What will happen next?
We will ask you some questions to find out if seeing a social worker will ill helpouIf we think it will, we will make an appointment to see you to find out more about what is worrying you and understand your needs.
When you ask us for help, we will respond immediately if it is an emergency, otherwise within five working days.
After we talk with you we may decide that we need to do a more detailed assessment of your needs.
What is an assessment?
An assessment is where a social worker will see you to talk about your family’s needs and those of your children, and about the help you need.
They will then try to find ways of meeting your needs and may have to get advice and agreement to this. The social worker will talk to you about all the possible help you could get so that you can decide what would work for you.
From Camden Council:
http://www.camden.gov.uk/print/ccm/content/social-care-and-health/services-for-children-and-families/help-with-family-problems.en
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