What the Therapeutic Social Work Team is and who it is for
The Therapeutic Social Work Team (TSWT) is Leeds Children’s Services’ innovative response to promote the emotional well-being of children and young people who are looked after, living in
kinship care, subject to child protection plans or subject to a
supervision order
External link.
The team works with children and young people up to the age of 18, or to 25 if the young person is a care leaver.
The TSWT does not work with children subject to Child in Need plans (unless children are placed with kinship carers and would otherwise be in care). Support for these children and young people should be sought within
local cluster services or directly from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (assuming their threshold is met) through the
Leeds MindMate Single Point of Access
External link.
The TSWT is staffed by experienced social workers many of whom hold additional therapeutic qualifications. The team also benefits from clinical psychology input.
Why children and young people are referred
Children and young people may be referred if their difficult early life experiences are significantly impacting on their emotional well-being.
This might include:
- severe abusive or neglectful experiences (physical, emotional or sexual harm)
- abandonment and loss
- parental substance or alcohol misuse
- domestic Violence and/or
- multiple placement breakdowns
The kind of symptomatic behaviour which might be routinely seen includes:
What they do
The team offers therapeutic interventions to help children, young people and their carers overcome the impact of abuse, trauma and/or neglect. The TSWT is a city wide service, located in their east Leeds base and easily accessible by public transport from the city centre, although much of their work takes place in the community. A range of services are offered including:
- direct therapeutic work with children, young people and their families and carers (including others in their network). This includes: play therapy, family therapy, art psychotherapy, attachment therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy
- fostering Surgery for all carers of Leeds children and Special Guardians (carers ring direct to make the appointment) to discuss any behavioural concerns they have
- life Story Clinic to support social workers undertaking life story work with children and young people (social worker rings direct to make the appointment). Life Story work is about helping looked after children understand their life experiences
- consultation to local authority Children’s Homes
- carer support/ therapeutic parenting work
- training and consultation to professionals, including social work practitioners and schools
How referrals are made
The child's social worker or personal advisor (for care leavers) is welcome to ring any member of the team for a brief discussion on whether the service is appropriate; if a more in depth discussion is required, they should book a social worker discussion slot by phoning the general number (please see box below).
A referral form needs to be completed (via Mosaic) with the informed and meaningful consent of the child, young person or family. The social worker must also seek agreement from their team manager who will approve the referral.
When a referral is received, a decision is made by the Therapeutic Social Work Team managers, alongside Therapeutic Social Workers. If the referral is agreed, it goes onto a list for allocation and a screening of therapeutic need is undertaken. This is a six week assessment process to explore what is required, from which a formulation or recommendation is developed. Following this, the referral is either closed or work begins. Where the referral is not accepted, this is explained and advice and information is offered about more relevant services.
Want to know more
Contact the team on 0113 378 1800 or
TherapeuticTeam@leeds.gov.uk for more information, and to discuss whether a child or young person you are working with could be eligible and could benefit from the support of TSWT.
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