Transient Families

1. Introduction

1.1 Children who experience frequent changes of address and/or are placed in temporary accommodation can be subject to particularly transient lifestyles. They may lose contact with previous support networks and become disengaged from services, or not become known to services in the new area. When families move frequently, it is difficult for agencies to build a picture of risks and vulnerabilities and to monitor a child's welfare.

1.2 Children and families who move most frequently between Local Authorities may be:

  • Families experiencing problems with housing and homeless families
  • Asylum seekers and refugees
  • Gypsy and traveller families
  • Children In Our Care and care experienced
  • Children for whom there are safeguarding concerns
  • Children in the criminal justice system
  • Children in receipt of Welfare Orders
  • Families experiencing Domestic Abuse
  • Those families who move to the coastal area for the summer
  • Families that move within the private rented sector
  • Military families

1.3 There are several reasons families may live a transient lifestyle, some of which are beyond the family and child’s control, but professionals must consider the possibility this may be to prevent professionals from discovering abuse within the family. Whatever the reason, frequent moves may have a detrimental effect on children and young people, particularly in relation to feelings of social isolation and lack of educational consistency.

 

2. Identifying Children at Risk

2.1 Professionals in all agencies should be alert to the possibility that a child or family who has moved may not be in receipt of universal services or may have had previous involvement with services in another area. Several Tees Safeguarding Children Practice Learning Reviews have identified that a risk factor for children is them being missing from services. For further details please see:

2.2 Any professional who encounters a family should proactively engage with the family to link them into local services by (for example):

  • Seeking information about the child/family (full names of all children and adults who live with and/or care for the child, dates of birth, previous addresses, GP's name, if attending any school, etc.)
  • Providing information about relevant services
  • Following up to ensure that the family has managed to make contact and register with a local GP, school, and other relevant services to which the child is entitled
  • Engaging appropriately with relevant agencies regarding any concerns that emerge

2.3 The following circumstances associated with children and families moving across district authority boundaries are a cause for concern:

  • A child and family, or pregnant woman, not being registered with a GP and the 0-19 service
  • A child not having a school place or whose attendance is irregular and who isn't being electively home-educated
  • A child or family having no fixed abode (e.g. living temporarily with friends or relatives, possibly as a family unit or as part of a private fostering arrangement)
  • A child actively involved with Social Care
  • Several agencies holding information about the child and family, which is not co-ordinated and/or which has not followed the child or family, (i.e. information which is missing or has gaps)

 

3. Exploring Risk

3.1 Professional curiosity is an essential component of identifying and addressing any risk, including those associated with transient families. Never be frightened to ask the obvious question and share concerns with colleagues or your supervisor: a "fresh pair of eyes" looking at a case can help professionals and organisations to maintain good practice standards and develop a critical mindset.

3.2 Professionals should also be alert to the examples given below of possible abuse within the family and consider their approach accordingly (e.g. create opportunities for separate contact with individuals within the family):

  • The victim waits for their partner/parent to speak first
  • The victim glances at their partner/parent each time they speak, checking their reaction
  • The victim smooths over any conflict
  • Someone speaks for the victim most of the time
  • Someone sends clear signals to the victim, by eye/body movement, facial expression, or verbally, to warn them
  • Someone has a range of complaints about the victim, which they do not deny
  • A family evades appointments with supportive agencies or children are missing from education
  • Appointments are accepted but the child is often not present. 

 

4. Recording Risk

4.1 For agencies to maintain contact with children and families who move frequently, information needs to be accurate. Professionals should:

  • Ensure that all names used by the family are provided, and clarification is obtained about the correct spelling
  • Ensure that accurate dates and places of birth are obtained for all household members, wherever possible
  • Obtain the previous full addresses, any earlier addresses, and contact telephone numbers
  • Clarify relationships between the child and other household members, if possible, with documentary evidence (e.g. birth certificates, marriage certificates, Department for work and Pensions documentation, passport/visa)
  • Ask the child/family with which statutory or voluntary organisations they are in contact
  • Be vigilant about Identification
  • Clarify any cultural identifiers and if language is a barrier to communication

 

5. Addressing Risk

5.1 Professionals should:

  • Use your professional curiosity, whilst respecting the family's privacy and recording the information that is detailed above
  • Gather information from previously involved agencies to ensure the accuracy and depth of information shared by the family.
  • Make other relevant staff aware of the identified risks and the need for vigilance when working with the transient family
  • Ensure identified risks are documented clearly and accurately.
  • Escalate or seek supervision where required.
  • Ensure transfer procedures are followed and information is shared with forwarding agencies when the transient family is moving on (if a forwarding address is unknown and therefore a family/child has become missing, please refer to Children Who Go Missing - Tees Safeguarding Children Partnerships' Procedures (teescpp.org.uk) for guidance)
  • It is essential that all involved professionals undertake any necessary onward referrals to the appropriate receiving agencies to promote seamless transitions between localities
  • If language is a barrier to communication, ensure that all necessary steps are taken to address this and gather full and accurate information by use of professional interpreters at all times
  • (Professionals should triangulate when a child was last seen; both within the service the child has not been seen and with partner services)

Please note: It has been highlighted that a key risk with transient families is the loss of information in multiple transitions between areas/agencies. Knowing when and how to share information isn't always easy, but it's important to get it right. While families need to feel reassured that their confidentiality is respected there may be circumstances when you need to override this in consideration of risk to self and / or others.

For further details please see Tees Multi-Agency Information Sharing Protocol

5.2 Organisations should:

  • Include the risks that transient families can pose to children within the organisational safeguarding policy
  • Include information relating to transient families in safeguarding training packages.
  • Ensure internal organisational monitoring systems are in place that help identify families that have significant moves and pose a risk to children
  • Have robust agency transfer in and out processes that includes the transfer of information when families move out of the area of the service provider
  • Have robust mechanisms in place for professionals to discuss concerns with managers/supervisors
  • Have clear confidentiality guidance in agency policy and support available for professionals when they have queries about information sharing

5.3 Although all agencies can play a role in identifying transient families and subsequently the signals that may cause concern, it is acknowledged that some agencies will be more likely to identify transient families, those being Health professionals, Schools, Housing Authorities, Children's Services and Department for Work and Pensions. In addition, it is acknowledged that many of these agencies have their own procedures and practices in relation to transfers in and out of their service, either within or outside of the area. For information re individual organisations specific responsibilities and guidance please refer to the relevant website or your own internal policies.

 

6.1 Further Guidance