Applying thresholds to extra-familial harm: learning from Hackney’s Child Wellbeing Framework

Abstract

The Hackney Child Wellbeing Framework provides a framework for Hackney’s Children and Families Service, partner services and agencies to determine the right intervention for a child and a family, including which services should respond and what is required for a statutory intervention. The document proposes three levels of intervention:

Universal: a response by universal services, often working individually. Within an extra-familial scenario, this also includes ensuring safety for young people within universally available leisure and recreational provision. Universal Plus/Universal Partnership Plus: a response by universal services working together in universal settings and sometimes bringing additional targeted resources into a multi-agency partnership plan to both assess and address concerns. Complex and/or High Risk: a response that requires multi-agency and/or specialist services, often governed by statutory frameworks, to take the lead role. The document considers these levels of interventions in relations to different domains including children’s health, emotional health, wellbeing and behaviour; education; neighbourhood; family and parenting.