What is Children & Families Social Care Direct?
If you wish to make a request for a Children and Families Social Work Service, please call Children & Families Social Care Direct (C&F SCD) on 0131 200 2327 - and not your local social work office.
This number will take you straight through to the C&F SCD Team who will record the details of your request or issue. Professional Advisors who are seconded Social Work Team Leaders will decide on a course of action.
Children at risk
Calls concerning children at risk should also be made through this number. If you are worried about a child, then please call 0131 200 2327. If a call is assessed to be a child protection matter, then we will immediately follow our child protection procedures.
- We are ready to take your call 08:30 - 17:00 Monday to Thursday, 08:30 - 15:40 Friday.
- Calls outwith these hours should be made to Emergency Social Work Services on 0800 731 6969.
Information for Professionals
Any professional referring for a new social work service or assessment from a Child and Family Centre, children's disability services, C&F OT, Prepare, or a Children's Practice Team is asked to submit their request in writing using the Service Request Form, found on the NHS Lothian Intranet (Health staff only) or the Orb (CEC staff only). Details on completing the form can be found in the Guidance Notes (PDF).
Once received, each form is reviewed by a team of trained Customer Care Advisors and Professional Advisors and you will receive an e-mail acknowledgement for your service request. The form is screened within one working day and you will either be asked for more information, or advised that the case does not meet required criteria or forwarded onto the appropriate team for allocating and you will receive a written response from the team within 5 working days.
However, if you have a concern about a child who you know already has an allocated worker, you should continue to contact them directly either by contacting reception in their Social Work Centre or directly on their work mobile phone.
