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Team Around the Child Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Team around the Child?
The Team around the Child (TAC) is the approach we are developing, to meet the Every Child Matters: change for children agenda to integrate services (systems, processes and delivery) and to improve outcomes for children and young people.
Why do we need a TAC?
It is proposed to establish the Team around the Child (TAC) to create preventative partnerships and provide services that support the needs of children and young people with additional needs.
How will it work?
The TAC would plan and deliver services in three strategic areas of Lambeth, according to the needs of the children and young people in those locations.
What are the key characteristics of the TAC?
- A range of professionals working together to meet the individual needs of a child / young person and their family
- A different team for each child/young person
- The activities of the TAC are coordinated by a Lead Professional
- TAC requires the involvement of more than two professionals
- The child’s development and learning programmes are integrated as far as possible
- There is a pro-active effort to ensure that each TAC is founded in effective relationships
Who will it benefit?
The TAC will enable provision of early intervention and preventative services for children, young people and their families. It will also aid better communication and understanding amongst practitioners and service providers.
Who will be involved in the Team around the Child?
The TAC brings together relevant professionals that would not normally work directly with each other, but work with children and young people. Suggested professionals that would work together in individual TACs could include the following functions:
Educational Psychologists, Attendance Officers, Speech & Language Therapists, Key workers, School Nurses, Health Visitors, Community Nurses, Child Development Advisers, Healthy Start Assistants and Co-ordinators, Area Co-ordinators from across the partnership, Family Support Workers, Behaviour Improvement Professionals, Community Midwifery, Community Dentistry, Youth Service Officers, Play Service Officers, PAYP Key workers, Social Workers, Connexions Pas, YOS Officers.
How does the Common Assessment Framework fit into TAC?
As the TAC is implemented it will be supported by a number of key enablers including the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) and the role of the lead professional. As the TAC is planned to be preventative, CAF will be used to assess need early and jointly and will be the requirement for referral to specialist services such as Statement of SEN, core assessment by social care and CAMHs.