This service is for when the offices are closed, such as at nights, weekends and Bank Holidays.
- Phone: (01422) 288000.
For more details, please see: Out of hours support.
Emergency Duty Team (EDT)
This team are there for any adult or child who has:
- a social care problem that is causing a serious risk;
- or a concern that cannot be left until the start of the next working day.
Our emergency switchboard operator will answer your call and ask you for your name and phone number. This is so a qualified and experienced social worker can call you back as soon as possible. Usually, only one EDT social worker is on duty, so there could be a delay in getting back to you.
The team
All EDT staff are Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHP) under the Mental Health Act.
They are experienced in investigating child protection concerns and dealing with vulnerable older people.
What the team does
They will respond to all new social care emergencies that happen outside our normal office hours. Staff will:
- Make an assessment (over the phone) of the immediate risk.
- Take any action needed to make sure a person or family is safe until the next working day.
This can be to:
- Assess under the Mental Health Act with possible detention in hospital.
- Investigate child protection and remove a child deemed to be at risk.
- Arrange foster care.
- Get more home care for older people or arranging residential care.
They provide an 'appropriate adult' service for young people and vulnerable adults detained in custody. For more about this, visit: National Appropriate Adult Network.
They are the first point of contact for homeless people who need an emergency place to stay out-of-hours.
For more details, please contact: Gateway to Care.