This just in from the council, in their own words. Ed
Following an internal restructure designed to improve standards and increase efficiency, from Monday 18 July a number of Children’s Services teams will be working from new locations.
First Response
The First Response, Child Protection and Short Term Units will be based at St James’ Centre, 4-5 Lower St James’ Street, Newport.
The phone number at St James’ Centre is 814370 and First Response can be contacted on 814374.
First Response is the entry point to children’s social work services, including child protection. The team provides advice and guidance to people working directly or indirectly with families who are finding it difficult to cope or members of the public who are worried that a child may be being abused.
Adoption Unit
The Adoption Unit and Looked After Children – including 16+ will be based at the Children’s Services Centre, Atkinson Drive, Newport.
The phone number to contact these teams is 525790.
Fostering Unit
The Fostering Unit will now be located at Oak House, Halberry Lane, Newport and the phone number is 525790.
As of Monday 18 July, staff will no longer be located within Ryde Town Hall.
Working in units
The new structure will see staff work in small units rather than as individual social workers, enabling them to draw on different areas of expertise while handling a higher number of cases as a group.
Administration will be managed by a dedicated unit co-ordinator, freeing up social work professionals to carry out their work with families.
New way of working a benefit to families
Cllr Dawn Cousins, Isle of Wight Council Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “As a council we are committed to driving up standards within children’s services and believe this new way of working will be of real benefit to families on the Isle of Wight. The new structure enables teams to provide support to families and fellow professionals in a timely and effective way, helping to increase positive outcomes for children and young people.”
This model of social work has been successfully adopted by the London Borough of Hackney and has been highlighted as a model of outstanding practice by leading professionals.
