We have a duty to promote the upbringing of children in their families wherever possible.

We work in partnership with families and closely with other organisations within the borough.

Services provided

We provide services to children and families who are vulnerable and may be in need of services.

Vulnerability can be the result of:

• Children and families experiencing economic disadvantage and poor living conditions, including homelessness
• Children whose parents misuse drugs and or alcohol in a manner which impacts upon the health and or development of the child/children
• Children whose parents have a mental health problem and or learning difficulty which impacts upon the health and development of the child
• Children who are young carers
• Children requiring support as a care leaver
• Children with a disability / significant and on going health problems
• Children in need of protection
• Children who are engaged in anti-social behaviour including offending behaviour
• Children who are experiencing domestic violence
• Children and young people under eighteen seeking asylum
• Children for who the department has a statutory responsibility
• Children experiencing significant emotional difficulties or challenging behaviour
• Children in need of substitute care

The duty to investigate

We have a duty to investigate where there are concerns that a child may be suffering significant harm.

This may include:

• Physical harm
• Sexual assault or the risk of sexual assault, including abuse through child prostitution
• Neglect - where the failure to meet the child’s basic needs may significantly impair their health and development
• Emotional abuse - where the failure to meet the child’s emotional needs may significantly impair their health and development
• Situations where people convicted of offences against children have access to children

Other services

Other services we provide include:

• Adoption, step-parent adoption, support to adopting families and people who have been adopted
• Regulation of arrangements for the private fostering of children
• Advice or support to young people 16 to 18, who are vulnerable and living independently
• After care services for young people who have been in local authority care
• Support for asylum seekers with children in need
• Individual’s access to their Social Services files
• Assessment of young person with significant disabilities as part of planning for their needs as adults

Service we Don't provide

• Income support
• Dealing with non-school attendance - where this is the only problem
• Service for families refusing help - where there is not sufficient evidence of risk to a child
• Involvement in divorce or custody disputes - unless requested by courts
• Housing
• Medical and nursing care
• Childminding unless other significant factors are present

Because we work with those children most in need, if we can’t help you we will try to direct you to other services.

Social Services is committed to working in a manner which does not discrimate against any individual or group regardless of ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, age, religion or gender.

Further information

Contact

Children and Families
Clarence House
Euclid Street
Swindon
SN1 2JH

Office hours duty service

Tel: 01793 466903

Emergency duty service

Tel: 01793 436699 (out of hours)

Your views

We would welcome your comments. If you would like to give us your thoughts and ideas about this information or other Social Services publication please contact:

Customer Liaison Officer
Tel: 01793 463496
E-mail: yourcommentscount@swindon.gov.uk

Printed leaflet

The information contained in this web page is also available in a printed leaflet. If you would like copies of this leaflet, or the same information in another format, please contact:

Customer Services
Tel: 01793 445500

The leaflet is also available as a downloadable pdf document:

Information for Families on the Services We Provide