Lewisham Threshold Document - Continuum of Need (2023-25)
This document sets out our approach to keeping children safe and protected, and underpins our local vision to provide the right support for children in Lewisham, at the earliest opportunity. This document is aligned to the London Safeguarding Children: Threshold Document: Continuum of Help and Support.
In Lewisham we know that the majority of children, young people and their families can be supported through a range of universal services. These services include education, early years, health, housing, and services provided by voluntary organisations. However, some children have more complex needs and may require access to specialist and/or targeted services to support them.
As safeguarding partners, the Lewisham Safeguarding Children Partnership is required to publish a local threshold document that sets out our criteria for providing effective help and support to children, young people, their parent/s families and carers. Our approach to promoting welfare, safeguarding and child protection is based on the London Continuum of Need, which outlines four levels of need. In Lewisham, we recognise, that levels of need are
not rigid and should be considered as a continuum with flexibility across all levels to ensure our children and young people receive the correct help at the earliest opportunity, and at the right level to help them meet their full potential.
This document provides a framework to support all professionals and agencies who work with children and young people, from or in the Borough of Lewisham, to identify when help or protection is needed through a graduated response from universal, early help, targeted early help or specialist and statutory services. Its purpose is to develop shared guidance and understanding that sets out the local partnership arrangements for the planning and
provisional of services.
The document should be read alongside statutory guidance and the framework for supporting children in need as outlined in the London Safeguarding Children: Threshold Document: Continuum of Help and Support. This was published and updated by the London Safeguarding Children Partnership in February 2023, and provides a Threshold - Continuum of Need Matrix to consider specific indicators.
NB. Agencies in the London Borough of Lewisham should also comply with additional LSCP local protocols and practice guidance that are published on the LSCP website.
Lewisham Threshold Document - Continuum of Need (2023-25)