Soft Market Test for an Emergency Duty Team service for children's social care

The Emergency Duty service operates when social services and other related services are closed. However, it is not a continuation of day services, but will be responsible for matters that cannot safely wait until the next working day.

The service responds to all social services emergencies regarding children and young people and carries out statutory duties on behalf of the council that arise outside of normal office hours. The service exists to provide an emergency responsive service for children and young people believed to be at risk of significant harm and from whom delay until the next working day would be detrimental to their welfare and safety.