Consultation Hub
The Consultation Hub is available to all Designated Safeguarding Lead’s (DSL) of educational settings within the County, and those based in schools outside of the County when the child resides in Hertfordshire. The advice line is also available to DSLs within Early Years settings if they are linked to the school’s workforce but not those which may be based on school site which function as independent and/or private provisions.
The aim of the Consultation Hub is to give solution focussed advice for cases in which the concerns are not of a child protection nature.
Consultation Hub number: 01438 737511 (this number MUST not be given to members of the public)
The Consultation Hub is open term time only: Monday to Thursday 9am to 5pm and Fridays 9am to 4pm. The hub is closed for lunch each day between 1.30pm and 2.30pm.
At peak times when the Consultation Hub is busy, please kindly leave it a few minutes before you call back. Please do not set your phone to repeat dial or leave a message as these are not picked up. Please see the signposting below to other avenues of support when Consultation Hub is busy or closed. Do not phone 0300 123 4043 to ask for advice.
Before contacting the Consultation Hub please ensure that you have checked the Continuum of Need document to provide assistance to your assessment of the level of support the child and family might need and that you follow the HSCP procedures regarding parental consent to share information with us before the consultation. It will also support the consultation if you have spoken to the child in advance where possible.
If you feel that speaking to parents before the consultation will put the child at risk of harm, then please check level 4 of the continuum to consider if this is the more suitable pathway and therefore an urgent request for support may be required.
If you need to make a Child Protection Referral please either phone 0300 123 4043 if urgent or complete a Request for Support.
Do not phone the Consultation Hub:
- If the family already have support in place such as a Families First Assessment as we are unable to take those calls. Please phone the Key Worker direct to discuss your concerns and the Key Worker in turn will be able to contact the Supporting Families Practice Team for advice.
- If the family are open to one of our Children Services Teams (Assessment Teams, 0-25, JCPIT, IFST, SASH, Services for Young People) we are unable to complete a consultation. Please contact the allocated worker direct and if not available the team’s duty number. You are also able to call 0300 123 4043 to request a call back.
- To have concerns ‘noted or logged’ on a system. Internal School Systems should be used for these concerns.
- As a directory of services
Other avenues to support:
Early Help advice via:
Ask Sali (SEND Advice Line for Inclusion)
Education Hub – an informative and advisory service for Social Care and schools for pupils known to Children’s Services - education.hub@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Request for Support Form Early Help and Child Protection:
Hertfordshire County Council: Report concerns about a child or request support
Recording:
The call advisor will create a brief case note on the child’s EHM file with an overview of the concerns shared and recommended actions for auditing purposes. The DSL is expected to record a detailed overview of the consultation within the child’s safeguarding records on the school’s database alongside the recommended actions and subsequent outcomes. Where a referral or request for support is recommended, it is expected that the DSL completes the relevant form in full and of good quality to ensure the gateway can make a fully informed decision.
In line with HCC’s data protection policies, all consultations recorded on EHM will be subject to the usual data processing and can be made available to relevant parties through Subject Access Requests for information.