FAQs

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You can find answers to some frequently asked questions on the sections below. Click on any question to reveal the answer:

 

 

Q1: What is the Detached and Outreach Team (DOT) for and who is it targeted at?

The team was set up to help Kensington and Chelsea tackle serious youth violence through a ‘whole system’ or ‘public health’ and theory of change model. 

 As one part of this wider system, the DOT deliver targeted and sessional street-based engagement (detached work) with children and young people. 

 DOT workers also encourage children and young people to engage and participate in activities offered within youth centres or community settings (outreach work).

 DOT’s work is aimed at children and young people who are at risk of the harm of crime - primarily aged 11-19 years, their parents/carers and the communities where they live. However, the team may also work with younger children or older young people (if they have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND)) on occasion where, for example, these needs make them more vulnerable to exploitation.

Q2: How and where will the DOT help tackle antisocial behaviour (ASB), crime and serious youth violence?

The team go to areas of concern, most often identified through the community safety partnership network.

Out on the streets, DOT workers build relationships with young people and deliver programmes and other activities to address concerns about violence and their safety.  This may include, for example, referrals to early intervention services and/or environmental walks with young people to identify and improve a visible presence and guardianship of vulnerable spaces.

DOT sessions also include meaningful discussions, programmes and activities which young people say they want or need and one to one assistance which opens up opportunities to them.

To help DOT workers build local relationships with communities, young people and stakeholders, they work in twos in the North and South of the borough but will also cover each other’s areas when needed.

Q3: What is the DOT structure and who manages it?

Elaine Weldon, YOT Service Manager holds senior management responsibility for the DOT.  A Deputy Team Manager, Jacqueline Scarparo, oversees the frontline team of four Detached and Outreach Workers, Amos Herman, Ayana Scarlett, Marika Lecointe and Yusuf Ibrahim.


Q4: What department does the DOT sit within?

The DOT is placed within Family Services alongside Early Help, the Youth Offending Team (YOT), Families Forward and the Targeted NEET (not in education, employment or training) services.

Q5: Where is the DOT based?

The DOT is based at Oxford Gardens, W10, as part of a range of services for young people and their families /carers including services for edge of care, NEET, youth offending, child sexual exploitation. However, their work is primarily delivered out and about in the borough.

You can request a copy of the DOT’s detached timetable by contacting [email protected].

 

Q6: What days/hours do the DOT work?

The DOT most often work Monday – Friday’s late afternoon and evenings or at times that young people or our partners say detached sessions are most needed - including weekends and school holidays.

Q7: How will the DOT keep themselves and the children and young people they work with safe?

The DOT works closely with the youth offending team and colleagues across community safety, safeguarding and early help, gangs and exploitation and the police to have an up-to-date knowledge of any risk issue.  DOT workers also have a daily pre-brief meeting and any risks or concerns that partners have shared are considered prior to their session which inform their risk assessment.

DOT workers do not ‘lone work’ on detached or outreach sessions and a DOT duty manager is always on call throughout.

The DOT work with young people in the areas they choose and feel most safe. In the event of an incident which is not appropriate for DOT workers to intervene, DOT workers will contact emergency services. DOT workers are trained in First Aid as and when required.

The DOT will share information with lead practitioners if a child or young person is open to a service. Upon request to DOT duty, DOT workers will attend professionals’ meetings and feedback relevant intel. The DOT is fully integrated with partnership working and, when relevant, want to be involved in joint plans.

 

Q8: Do young people have to work with the DOT if they are identified as at risk of crime or harm?

The DOT is a voluntary engagement service so children, young people and their families cannot be instructed to engage with DOT workers.

The relationship between young person and the DOT youth worker is entirely voluntary.

Q9: Can I refer a young person for DOT support?

The DOT offer includes a one-to-one mentoring offer for children and young people where there are concerns about the child or young person’s welfare in at least two or all of three main areas – risk of school exclusion, risk of criminal exploitation and going missing from home or school.  For a mentoring request or for an informal chat about a possible request contact [email protected].

Pathways to DOT services will be, most often, through community safety partnership arrangements which respond to individuals and areas which give rise to serious youth violence concerns.

However, the DOT may be able to help engage a child subject to a Child in Need, Child Protection or Early Help plan in street-based programmes or activities when, for example, the young person is known to be at risk of involvement in crime and live in an area where the DOT is deployed.

Q10: Do you work with parents/carers?

The DOT do not usually work directly with parents/carers. However, the workers will engage with parents/carers to hear about any worries they have for their child’s or other’s safety and also to help mediate between them if there is home conflict and arguments.

Q11: Will the DOT make referrals to other services and how will this be managed?

The DOT will, in the main*, only make referrals for early help or signpost to other services for support if consent is given by the young person.  If the child’s age or young person’s level of understanding or maturity means that they do not have the ability to make this decision, then their parents/carers will be asked for consent before the DOT worker makes the referral. 

*The DOT will engage with a young person who refuses consent to share their information when it is in the best interest of the young person and in tackling serious youth violence. The issue of gaining consent will not hinder an opportunity for a DOT worker to connect with a young person at risk of harm from others, for example during a ‘teachable moment’ after they have been arrested or harmed or to avert potential conflict with others.

DOT may find it necessary to make a child protection referral because concerns are identified which cannot be assessed without the involvement of statutory services.  In such cases, the DOT will make the referral without consent if it is not given by parents/carers.

The DOT however will always try to find a local solution to any identified worries, for example, through outreach by helping a young person access a youth centre or education/training or employment services.

Q12: I am worried about a child/young person I am working with; can DOT inform me if they see the child or young person whilst in the community?

Yes. If you’re concerned about a child or young person you’re working with, please contact the DOT duty manager via email. Please provide a brief explanation of your concerns and information to help the DOT identify the young person when out on the street.

As the DOT work primarily in the community, the team will be particularly useful in reporting sightings of young people that may be missing and/or at risk of the harm of crime.

Q13: Where does the DOT record their work and how do they know if a child they engage with is open to another service?

DOT workers complete a debrief document the next working day after each session. This document is only accessible to the DOT.

The DOT works closely with the teams mentioned in Q7. A manager from the DOT will frequently attend various meetings to get an understanding of vulnerable children and young people open to services.

Where a child or young person is open to a service, the DOT will inform the allocated worker of their involvement, share information and/or record an update on KCICS.

Q14: How do we get in contact with the DOT?

If you have any general enquiries, please send an email to the DOT team - [email protected]

For matters needing a management response, please send an email to the duty manager – [email protected] or [email protected]

Page last reviewed: 08/03/2024

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