What is the Children’s Emergency Duty Team?
The Children’s Emergency Duty Team (EDT) is a small team of qualified, specially
trained and experienced senior social workers who provide an emergency response
outside of office hours on behalf of Children’s Social Work Service. EDT work 365
days a year and will consider a response for any child or young person (up to the
age of 18) who is at risk of significant harm. EDT starts as daytime services finish
and continues through the evening, night and any Bank Holidays until daytime
services resume. There are usually two social workers on shift at any time.
Children’s EDT forms part of the Duty and Advice Team.
Where a response is needed for an adult, this is provided by Adult’s Emergency Duty
Team.
Who can contact Children’s EDT?
Only practitioners ringing in a professional capacity can contact Children’s EDT. Prior
to making contact with EDT, practitioners should consider if it is an emergency
situation.
If the concern can wait until the next day, Duty and Advice should be contacted
during office hours between 9am until 5pm Monday to Friday on tel: 0113 3760336.
What concerns should be directed to EDT and which shouldn't?
Practitioners should direct concerns to Children's EDT that cannot wait until the next
working day for attention and these include:
- When a child or young person is at immediate risk of harm;
- When a child protection enquiry is needed because of physical sexual and
emotional abuse or chronic neglect; and
- When a child or young person needs an immediate mental health assessment.
Situations that can wait until the next day include:
- Where practitioners wish to discuss or refer non-urgent concerns;
- When a practitioner would like to pass on a message to an allocated social
worker or other practitioner;
- Issues related to contact / Family Time arrangements; and
- Difficulties which are being safely addressed by family members.
What should practitioners do when contacting EDT?
When contacting Children’s EDT, practitioners should be prepared to share full and
accurate information about the child and the family concerned.
This is in addition to providing factual information about the emergency to ensure the
team can advise or respond effectively.
Key contacts and for more information
Practitioners should contact Children’s EDT on tel: 0113 5350600.
Calls may not be answered immediately as the team may be busy taking other
calls. Messages can be left on voicemail and the team will respond to all
messages left as soon as possible.
Email: childrensedt@leeds.gov.uk
Adult’s EDT can be contacted on tel: 0113 3780644
Email: edt.ss@leeds.gov.uk
Duty and Advice for practitioners can be contacted on tel: 0113 3760336
Where a member of the public believes that a child or young person is in
immediate danger or at risk of significant harm, they should ring 999 and ask for
the police.
During office hours, members of the public should contact Leeds City Council’s
Contact Centre on tel: 0113 222 4403 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm).
There are a number of other One Minute Guides including: Duty and Advice, Front
Door, and Contact / Family Time amongst many others.
Printable version
