About the Service:
The Regional Out of Hours Social Work Service provide an emergency social work response across Northern Ireland on an out of hour’s basis:
5pm to 9am weekdays
24 hours at weekends and bank holidays
This service covers all of Northern Ireland
Emergency Remit:
This is an emergency service to be used only when you need a social worker urgently, after hours.
The RESWS will provide services for the following groups:
Children and young people
Older people
People with mental health problems
People with learning difficulties
People with physical difficulties
Families and carers of all these groups
The service is also responsible for emergency homelessness for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) and emergency financial issues for the Social Security Agency outside normal working hours.
How to access the service
:
Wherever you live in Northern Ireland, Out of Hours Social Workers can be contacted through one central telephone number:
Tel:
0800 1979 995
Please read the referral criteria below before contacting this service.
Professionals can also use this number or can complete written alerts on known cases and email to: resws1@belfasttrust.hscni.net
Referral Criteria
Child Care Referral Criteria
RESWS will accept referrals where:
There are concerns that a child has suffered, or is likely to suffer significant harm
There are concerns in relation to children who are Looked After by a health and social care Trust or their carers including foster carers
There is suspected or confirmed abuse of a child
In cases where there is a serious and imminent risk of family breakdown both in the community, foster care or kinship placements
An appropriate adult is required for young people who are subject of a care order
There is a need for authorised professionals to make an enquiry to the Child Protection Register
Mental Health and Learning Disability
RESWS will accept referrals where:
Compulsory admission to hospital under the Mental Health (NI) Order 1986 is required; the Regional Emergency Social Work Service will provide an Approved Social Worker to undertake a joint assessment with the GP
Families and carers have serious and immediate concerns in relation to an adult’s safety
There are difficulties surrounding the care and safety of a person subject to Guardianship
Older People / Physical Disability
RESWS will accept referrals where:
Informal care arrangements have broken down and it is essential that immediate action is taken to secure the health and well being of a service user
Extensive attempts by the Domiciliary Services to locate a service user have proved unsuccessful, and there is a necessity to liaise with PSNI regarding further action required
There are concerns about the safety of a vulnerable adult
– Admission to Residential/Nursing Home is required