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 co-ordination of multi agency support including family support meetings. ASKK will also provide robust tracking and coordinate reviews of children’s progress, identify and log predictive concerns and signpost practitioners to services.

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:

• 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.
• Assist in the facilitation of 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
• Look at future key milestone to predicate further required support
• 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.
• Works in partnership with Extended Schools Service and School Clusters to help identify potential vulnerable children.

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 Every Child Matters Information Sharing Guidance for Practitioners. A full Every Child Matters training programme is available, please see link below.

Contact us:

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

CAF Helpline
Telephone: 020 8547 6232
Email: cafcoordinator@rbk.kingston.gov.uk