The following is a description of generic service delivery based on generic needs identified. Whenever a service is delivered the cause or reason for the need or should be taken into account. If for example a child is losing weight then identifying the cause is crucial. The difference between organic failure to thrive and an eating disorder is very significant in ensuring appropriate service delivery.
Universal
Universal services are those services that are provided to, or are routinely available to, all children, young people and their families. Leeds has identified a universal core offer. Universal services are designed to meet the sorts of needs that all children and young people have; they can include early years provision, mainstream schools and Connexions, as well as health services provided by GPs, midwives, and health visitors.
Government policy states that targeted support such as services aimed at particular groups of children and young people and their families, should be embedded within universal settings wherever possible: 'Embedding targeted services within universal settings can ensure more rapid support without the delay of formal referral, and enable frontline practitioners to seek help and advice. Developing networks across universal and specialist professionals can strengthen inter-professional relationships and trust. ' (Every Child Matters p63).
Targeted
Targeted services provide support aimed at particular groups of children, but often accessed from within universal (or mainstream) services. This includes services such as Sure Start children's centres that provide services that are available to all as well as services provided directly to individual children, young people and their parents who have been identified as having additional needs often through undertaking a common assessment.
As described in the Green Paper ‘Every Child Matters’, targeted services also include services aimed at groups of children and young people and their families with complex needs, such as targeted parenting support and many services provided by social services child and family departments.
Government policy, as set out in ‘Every Child Matters’, states that targeted support should be embedded within universal settings where possible. (see above) The aim is to support children and young people for appropriate periods of time, to meet their needs within universal provision where possible.
Individual agencies remain responsible and accountable for the services they deliver. Through the ‘family hub’ they can be able to clarify if they have particular eligibility criteria or intervention methods at targeted and specialist levels of delivery.
Coordinated targeted
Targeted services can often be accessed singly by children and young people with a specific issue, such as education underachievement or a particular health condition.
Where a number of targeted services are involved in meeting similar or linked needs for a child or young person, a common assessment should usually be undertaken and a team around the child established (TAC), and a lead professional nominated to
co-ordinate service delivery. For more information see the CAF multi-agency toolkit.
Targeted responses from services often include training, guidance, advice and support to agencies. This allows agencies to build their own capacity for dealing with children within their own universal provision. It also helps to make sure there is greater clarity on when and how to refer to the targeted service for direct support for some children and young people.
And so support to individual children and young people has to be managed through existing service level agreements (SLAs) or other negotiated relationships.
The aim is to support children and young people for appropriate periods of time, then to meet their needs within universal provision where possible.
Specialist
Specialist services are provided specifically for children and young people with specialist, acute, complex or very high level needs who would otherwise be at great risk of poor outcomes. They will often be provided alongside universal services but may, in some exceptional circumstances, be a replacement for universal services.
For example, specialist services will include: services provided to looked after children by children and young people’s social care (CYPSC), services for children and young people with serious mental health by child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and children and young people subject to court orders by the youth offending service (YOS).
Access to specialist services requires an additional level of assessment or referral linked to specific communicated criteria, or in some cases a particular diagnosis.
Specialist responses from services often include training, guidance, advice and support to agencies. This allows them to build their own capacity for dealing with children within universal or targeted provision. It also helps to make sure there is greater clarity around when and how to refer to the specialist service for direct support for some children and young people.
The aim is to support children and young people for appropriate periods of time, then to meet their needs within universal provision where possible.