ASKK - Advancing Services for Kingston Kids

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To facilitate appropriate information sharing we have created a central information hub which is operated by the ASKK service. ASKK co-ordinates information from a range of sources on children with additional needs. The service will log all activity around the Common Assessment Framework and levels of need, and assist in the coordination of support including Family and Multi-Agency Support meetings (Team around the Child meetings). ASKK will also provide robust tracking and coordinate reviews of children’s progress, identify and log predictive concerns and signpost practitioners to services.

If you have concerns about a child or young person who you feel needs additional help and support, please contact ASKK on 020 8547 5888.

It is increasingly recognised in practise that a failure to share information, even regarding a low level need, may have serious consequences for the welfare of a child, if not considered together with the concerns of others. Practitioners in different agencies should therefore be encouraged to work together to share information for the safety and well-being of children.

Sharing Information is vital for early intervention to ensure that children and young people with additional needs get the services they require. It is also essential to protect children and young people from suffering harm or abuse or neglect and to prevent them from offending. Improving information sharing arrangements and practice is a cornerstone of the Borough of Kingston's Preventative Strategy to improve outcomes for children.

ASKK Service

The ASKK service is managed by the Early Intervention and Prevention Services Manager. The team has 2 full time Information Coordinators and the CAF and Lead Professional Coordinator.

The ASKK service:

• Gather information by liaising with other agencies and professionals who may know the child, young person or family.
• Check to see if a Common Assessment Framework (CAF) has already been completed.
• Chair and co-ordinate Family and Multi-agency Support Meetings where there is a need to coordinate support for a child or young person.
• Log all CAF activity and the family support plans
• Provide advice and support in identifying levels of additional needs
• Signpost to support services
• Assist Lead Professional in co-ordinating the review process
• Identify gaps in service provision to help further service development
• Supports the Children's Services Directory which provides information on both statutory and voluntary services for children, young people and their families.

The team runs a duty system and is also responsbile for Young livin’ emails. coordinating and collating data and termly reports for multi-agency partners.

Practitioners need to be confident about what they can and should do under the law. This includes how to share information and when information can be shared even though consent has not been obtained or when seeking consent would place the child, young person or someone else at risk or harm.

Effective information sharing by practitioners is central to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.  Information sharing is currently underpinned by a raft of legislation, please see Department of Education Information Sharing Guidance for Practitioners. A full Information Sharing and Integrated Working training programme is available, please see link below.

Contact us:

ASKK (Kingston's Information Sharing Hub)

Telephone: 020 8547 5888
Email: askk@rbk.kingston.gov.uk

CAF and Lead Proessional Coordinator

Telephone: 020 8547 6232
Email: linda.jackson@rbk.kingston.gov.uk