One minute guide: Children's Emergency Duty Team

What is the Children’s Emergency Duty Team

The Children’s Emergency Duty Team (EDT) is a small team of qualified, specially trained and experienced senior social workers who provide an emergency response outside of office hours on behalf of Children’s Social Work Service. Children’s EDT forms part of the Duty and Advice Team.

EDT work 365 days a year and will consider a response for any child or young person (up to the age of 18) who is at risk of significant harm. EDT starts as daytime services finish and continues through the evening, night and any Bank Holidays until daytime services resume. There is usually one social worker on shift overnight.

Where a response is needed for an adult, this is provided by Adult’s Emergency Duty Team.

Who can contact Children’s EDT

Only practitioners ringing in a professional capacity can contact Children’s EDT. Prior to making contact with EDT, practitioners should consider if it is an emergency situation.

If the concern can wait until the next day, Duty and Advice should be contacted during office hours between 9am until 5pm Monday to Thursday (until 4.30pm on Fridays) on 0113 376 0336.

Which concerns should be directed to EDT and which shouldn't

Practitioners should direct concerns to Children's EDT that cannot wait until the next working day for attention. These include:

  • when a child or young person is at immediate risk of harm
  • when a child protection enquiry is needed because of physical, sexual or emotional abuse or chronic neglect

Situations that can wait until the next day include:

  • where practitioners wish to discuss or refer non-urgent concerns
  • when a practitioner would like to pass on a message to an allocated social worker or other practitioner
  • issues related to Contact or Family Time arrangements
  • difficulties which are being safely addressed by family members

What practitioners should do when contacting EDT

When contacting Children’s EDT, practitioners should be prepared to share full and accurate information about the child and the family concerned.

This is in addition to providing factual information about the emergency, to ensure the team can advise or respond effectively.

Key contacts and more information

Practitioners should contact Children’s EDT on 0113 535 0600. Email: childrensedt@leeds.gov.uk.

Calls may not be answered immediately, as the team may be busy taking other calls. Messages can be left on voicemail and the team will respond to all messages as soon as possible.

Adult’s EDT, tel: 0113 378 0644. Email: edt.ss@leeds.gov.uk.

Duty and Advice for practitioners tel: 0113 376 0336 (select option 4).

Where a member of the public believes that a child or young person is in immediate danger or at risk of significant harm, they should ring 999 and ask for the police.

During office hours, members of the public should call Leeds City Council contact centre on: 0113 222 4403 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm).

Various other relevant one minute guides including: Duty and advice, Front door safeguarding hub, and Contact or family time.

Printable version

Child Friendly Leeds logo