Children and Families Information and Services
We provide a number of specialist services to support
the welfare and development of children.
Independent Reviewing Officers Report
It is important that the work of the Independent Reviewing
Officers (IRO’s) within the Safeguarding Unit is available for the
public to see. This report contains the annual report of the team
from 2010/11. The Independent Reviewing Officers role is
to oversee the planning of the care of cared for children (looked
after children) and ensure that the Local Authority is held to
account in carrying out its corporate parenting
responsibilities.
Common Assessment Framework (CAF)
The Common Assessment Framework (
CAF
) is a key component
of the Every Child Matters Agenda.
CAF
can be used by staff
across all agencies to assess a child’s needs at the earliest
opportunity and enable them to work together more effectively to
deliver support. For more information view the Common Assessment Framework section.
Cared for Children Sufficiency Statement
This is the first Sufficiency Statement for accommodation for
cared for children which Cheshire East has produced. It supports
the strategic intentions and ambition for our cared for children
and demonstrates further evidence of Cheshire East Borough
Council’s passion and commitment to put children and particularly
cared for children at the heart of all we do. It is important that
the statement is reviewed and updated on a regular basis as trends/
profiles have already started to change and this will continue over
the coming year. As corporate parents we are clear that the voice
of our cared for children should have a strong influence in the
actions taken to meet our sufficiency duties.
One Minute Guides
Cheshire East Council, along with its partners in the Children's
Trust and Local Safeguarding Children's Board, offers a range of
services for children, young people and their families and
carers. For more information check out the Children and Families One Minute Guides. The
following one minute guides give a brief summary of some of the
relevant service areas that we are working on together. These
have been put together to help everyone have a better understanding
of what we are doing, why we are doing it and who is involved.
Childcare / Family Information Service (FIS)
FIS
is a free, impartial one-stop-shop service for parents/carers and
young people aged 0–19, providing accurate and detailed information
on services in Cheshire East, regionally and nationally. From
childcare to tax credits to guidance on bullying, the Family Information Service can assist for all
manner of queries, big or small.
Childrens Centres
Children's Centres can be described as 'one stop
shops' for young children and their families offering childcare,
health and family support services from one central base. Cheshire
East has been divided into 13 Children's Centre Footprints, we have
13 Children's Centres with 3 outreach sites
Fostering and Adoption in Cheshire East (FACE)
Some people think you have to be extra special to
foster or adopt. You don't. You just have to be special in the eyes
of the child or young person you care for and look after. Cheshire
East provides helpful information about all types of fostering and
adoption and how to take the next step.
FACE
the future
together with Cheshire East. Find out more
about Fostering and Adoption in Cheshire East.
Parent Partnership
The
Parent Partnership Service helps parents
and carers whose children have special educational needs, from
pre-school age until they leave school.
We support parents across the region. If you or your child's
teacher think there may be a special educational need, we may be
able to help.
Many children have difficulties learning at some stage of their
school life and parents need information to help them make
decisions about their child's education. We can explain how the
education system works and how pre-schools, schools and local
authorities aim to meet special educational needs.
The Virtual School for Cared For Children
Cared for Children (sometimes called Looked after Children) are
the children that are subject to care orders and those who are
voluntarily accommodated (they may be fostered or in residential
homes or still living with their family). We as a local authority
are their corporate parent, responsible for their care and support.
The Virtual
School takes the lead in ensuring that all of our Cared for
Pupils have the best educational opportunities possible and that
there is consistency of approach across Cheshire East.
