How it Works
Statutory Support
Young people enter specialised care at Baca through established partnerships with local children’s social services teams in the East Midlands and Cambridgeshire. Baca's partnership with local authorities ensures ongoing support by working together to address critical aspects of the young person’s placement from arrival to moving to independence.
Days 1-2
Focus: Initial Age Assessment and Placement.
If the young person arrives during working hours a social worker will meet them (usually at a police station) to do an initial age assessment and based on this decide which placement option would be best. The young person would then either be brought to their new home by the social worker or a support worker would meet them at the police station and bring them back.
If the young person arrives in the evening or over the weekend, their placement is overseen by the Emergency Duty Team and the local authority placements team.
Weeks 1-2
Focus: Formal Age Assessment.
If required, age assessment meetings are arranged and hosted at the main office to finalise the young person's agreed age, which may require multiple sessions.
Months 1-4
Focus: Communication with Children’s Social Services Teams and LAC reviews.
Monthly reports, based on Every Child Matters categories and input from Baca College teachers and workshop leaders, are shared with the young person's social worker. Statutory meetings occur at regular intervals to create and update the Pathway Plan.
LAC Review Meetings with the social worker, support worker, and an independent review officer ensure the young person receives appropriate care and support. The first review, held 28 days after arrival at Baca, covers initial support, risk assessments, and the pathway plan. Subsequent reviews take place at 3-month intervals and then every 6 months.
To learn more about Every Child Matters, look here.
Semi-Independence
Focus: Statutory visits.
The support worker accompanies the young person to statutory meetings and LAC Reviews. Young people are encouraged to voice their views and wishes for the development and review of their independent living plan.
Move to Independence
Focus: Statutory visits, housing benefit and income support.
Ongoing statutory meetings continue to support the young person's transition to independent living.
Collaborating with social workers, assistance is provided in developing a move-on plan, identifying post-18 support and benefits, and assisting with the application process based on the young person's legal status.