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Referral Process

Phase Homes provides emergency and planned placements for children from 10 years old up to their 18th birthday. We accept referrals from children's services across the UK for children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties (EBD), including complex social emotional and/or behavioural difficulties, and Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC).

Our referral process is designed to ensure careful matching and preparation:

1. Initial Enquiry

Complete our referral form with comprehensive information about the child's needs, background, and current situation

2. Assessment

The home manager reviews the referral to assess whether we can meet the child's needs and consider compatibility with current residents

3. Decision

We aim to respond to referrals promptly, with a decision communicated to the referring agency.

4. Placement Planning

For accepted referrals, a placement planning meeting should take place within 48 hours of placement, involving the child, social worker, and representatives from the home.

5. Transition

Where possible, we arrange pre-placement visits to help the child become familiar with the home before moving in

For emergency placements, the on-call manager and responsible individual can approve admissions, with the placement planning meeting to follow as soon as possible.

Placement Criteria

Phase Homes provides care for up to two children of any gender from 8 years old up to their 18th birthday. We specialize in supporting children with:

Placements can range from short-term emergency stays to medium and long-term residential care. We aim to support children in rebuilding family relationships where appropriate and/or preparing for foster care or independent living.

Each referral is assessed individually to ensure that:

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+44(0) 1256 2156

Documentation

For all placements, the following documentation is required:

Risk Assessment
Care Plan/Pathway Plan
Core Assessment
Personal Education Plan
List of Personal Belongings (including clothing)
Chronology
Essential Information
Delegated Authority
Medical Consent
Contact information for placing Social Worker, Team Manager, and Service Manager
Individual Placement Agreement (IPA)

Comprehensive and accurate documentation helps us prepare appropriately for the child’s arrival and ensures we can meet their needs from day one.

Emergency Placements

We understand that emergency situations arise where children need immediate placement. In these cases:

Contact our emergency referral line: [Phone Number]
The on-call manager will gather essential information to make an initial assessment
If accepted, arrangements will be made for the child's immediate arrival
Required documentation should follow as soon as possible
A placement planning meeting will be arranged within 48 hours

Even in emergency situations, we strive to ensure appropriate matching and preparation to give the placement the best chance of success.

Professional Partnerships

We believe in collaborative working with the network of professionals involved in each child's life. This includes:

Regular communication with social workers
Participation in strategy meetings, child protection conferences, and other multi-agency forums
Collaboration with education providers and the Virtual School
Working with health professionals, including CAMHS and specialist services
Engagement with youth justice services where relevant

Effective partnership working is essential to provide consistent, coordinated support for children with complex needs.