Initial Collaborative Assessment
All referrals received an initial collaborative assessment. Liaison on each individual referral was undertaken with key partners from schools, social care, education psychology service, children in care lead nurses and specialist CAMHS providers to ensure a multi-agency approach and robust information sharing. The assessment included two strands:

• Screening for mental ill-health, self-harm, trauma and safeguarding using SDQ and other tools to assess whether a mental health intervention is needed
• Assessment of therapeutic need to include a child, carer and placement focus

The initial collaborative assessment would then be followed by allocation to one of our service streams: Placement Support Services, Child Support Services and Carer Focused Services.

Specialist Interventions
Interventions were available to address specific concerns. These were delivered by Therapists using a range of approaches including Systemic Practice, Psychotherapy, Creative Arts Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or Relational Therapy.

Individual Therapeutic Interventions
Individual interventions to address specialist issues and to treat other emotional health and wellbeing issues including loss, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and issues around sexuality. Our Therapy team delivered Psychotherapy, Creative Arts Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy as identified by the initial assessment of therapeutic need.

Child Focused Activities
Children and young people were actively involved in the service in both shaping overall service delivery and taking part in interactive participation events. A trainee member of staff was deployed as a Young People’s Engagement Worker who liaised directly with looked after and adopted children and young people through a range of interactive methods and ensured young person friendly information is provided throughout the contract. We will also delivered a range of activities including quarterly workshops & groups to support Emotional Health & Wellbeing and Instant messaging for children and young people to access (9am-5pm Mon-Fri).

Carer Focused Activities
Carers could also access support focused on helping them to support the emotional health and wellbeing of the children and young people in their care, giving them the opportunity to meet and work with other carers and develop support networks and peer learning.

Carer training sessions/workshops upskilled carers and helped build their confidence in supporting the emotional health and wellbeing of children in their care.

Supporting Professionals
Our model was systemic, recognising that effective communication is integral to building and improving a shared ethos and understanding about how to meet the needs of families requiring specialist support. We delivered professional training sessions, upskilling local partners and building their confidence in supporting children in care.

Placement Support Services
Where a need was identified to stabilise the placement and promote attachment we provided the following support options:

• Attendance at Care Planning review meetings – Team meetings with all professionals supporting the looked after child including carers, local authority staff and education or health professionals.
• Joint Therapy – Joint therapeutic sessions for the child and carer/s focused on promoting strong attachments and addressing underlying issues using evidence based intervention.
• Group and 1:1 support – For carers who wanted to think therapeutically about their relationship with the child in their care and implement strategies to strengthen the placement.
• Telephone advice and support – Carers and professionals had access to advice and guidance from 9am-5pm.