What is LINKS?
The Links Team is a level 3 targeted prevention service which works to increase safety and reduce risk and harm for CYP and some young adults who:
- Have gone missing from home (any form of home)
- Are at risk of being exploited
- Are involved in increasing anti-social behaviour (ASB) and offending which may increase vulnerability to exploitation and/or exposure to youth violence
Ways of working
The Links Team will adopt a trauma informed, Harm Reduction and Strengths-Based approaches to the interventions it will provide children, young people and some young adults. The team will adopt Contextual Safeguarding approaches and values.
Criteria
- Children and young people aged 10+ and young adults 18-25 who are care experienced
- CYP and some young adults who have gone missing from home (any form of home)
- CYP who are considered to be at risk of, or are being exploited
- CYP who are involved in increasing anti-social behaviour (ASB) and offending, which may increase vulnerability to exploitation and/or exposure to youth violence
- CYP deemed to be at risk of Serious Youth Violence. (In these circumstance Links Team must work in collaboration with Devon Youth Justice Service)
- CYP who have been identified as victims, or potential victims of human trafficking Modern-Day Slavery. (The responsibility for Young Asylum Seekers will remain with the Permanency and Transition teams)
The Links Team will primarily provide a service that compliments and contributes towards the existing plan of support for a CYP. In instances where Children’s Social Care are not involved, a Links practitioner may take the role of Lead Professional. Links will work closely with other services.
Children who go missing
The Links Team will continue to receive notifications from Devon and Cornwall Police for all children and young people under age 18 who have been reported missing and have been located.
A daily briefing meeting between a Links Team Manager/ Practice Supervisor and Police Inspector will take place at 10am. The meeting will aim to ensure that all relevant information about children who are still missing is share.
Any safeguarding actions and responses will be prioritised and notes recorded in Eclipse.
The Links Team remain the lead service to offer Return Home Conversations (RHC’s), however in some circumstances the RHC may be completed by another professional who has a trusted relationship with the young person, if that is the right thing for them.
The Links team do not receive missing notifications for over 18’s. The offer of RHC’s for Care Experienced 18-24 year olds will be dependent on individual arrangements with Personal Advisors.
Referral routes
There are 4 referral routes into Links –
- Front Door
- Transfer Allocation Meeting (TAMS) – Step ‘up & down’ with CSC
- Out of Court Resolution Panel
- Referrals By Social Workers/ PA’s and FP’s
Useful contacts
Nick Meller – nick.meller@devon.gov.uk – Team Manager North Devon and Exeter
Jen Harris-Nelson – jen.harris-nelson@devon.gov.uk – Team Manager Mid & East Devon and South
Anna Garrard – anna.garrard@devon.gov.uk – Practice Supervisor North Devon
Emma Hewett – emma.l.hewett@devon.gov.uk – Practice Supervisor Mid & East Devon
Heather Smith – heather.smith@devon.gov.uk – Practice Supervisor South
Ellie Veasey – ellie.veasey@devon.gov.uk – Practice Supervisor Exeter
Useful links
- Levels of Need framework: https://www.devonscp.org.uk/training-and-resources/levels-of-need/lon-framework/
- Revised Safer Me assessment and referral forms – Devon Safeguarding Children Partnership
- Child Exploitation and Contextual Safeguarding Strategy DevonSCP This document contains really useful support and organisations to get in touch with such as Barnardo’s Exceed Service, Young Devon, Ivison etc.