Social work support: Emergency Duty team
Our Emergency Duty team provides social work support at night, at weekends and on bank holidays.
We can help deal with crisis situations such as:
- problems with children and young people
- child protection issues
- older people who are at risk and need immediate help
- concerns about a person with a physical, sensory or learning disability
- support in coping with someone who has severe learning difficulties or mental health problems
- mental Health Act assessments
- acting as an appropriate adult for young people and vulnerable adults
- homelessness
Anyone can call us in an emergency situation that cannot safely wait until the next working day.
What we’ll do
When you call, an operator will answer the phone and take details of why you are phoning.
A qualified social worker will then call you back with help and guidance.
What happens next depends on the situation and action required. If the social worker thinks you need to speak to someone else, they will give you another telephone number or contact details. Sometimes they may give your details to another social work team who will contact you on the next working day.
How to get in touch
For help during normal office hours:
- Children’s safeguarding: 01793 464646
- Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 5.00pm
- Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm
- Adult safeguarding: 01793 445500
- Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 8.30am to 5.00pm
- Tuesday 8.30am to 4.00pm
- Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm
For help outside of normal office hours:
- For both children and adult safeguarding, call 01793 445500 and choose option 4 to reach the out-of-hours Emergency Duty Safeguarding team
- The out-of-hours team is available:
- Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 5.00pm to 8.30am
- Tuesday 4.00pm to 8.30am (adult) and 5.00pm to 8.30am (children)
- Friday 4.30pm to 8.30am the following working day
- 24 hours a day on bank holidays