ICYMI: The New Online Request for Support (RFS) form
The new online Request for Support form (RFS) was launched on 29 November 2023. All requests for support by partner agencies to the Children’s Advice and Support Service (CASS) need to be made via this online form. Please note that there are mandatory fields that must be completed within the online form.
Agencies can attach relevant documents, screening tools or other assessments to the RFS Form before it is submitted. Once submitted the referrer receives an automated email response, attached will be their RFS form in a PDF format and any copies of attachments submitted.
The link to the online RFS form is found on the Birmingham Children’s Trust’s website.
You can also access the RFS form on the Birmingham Safeguarding Children Partnership’s Safeguarding Concerns webpage.
Please note: The Request for Support form is hosted on a separate website and is no longer hosted on the Trust website.
The new process was presented by Pauline Astin, CASS Operations Team Manager, at our January Practitioners’ Forum, which was attended by 78 practitioners from across Birmingham. If you’d like to sign up for future forums, email BSCP.practitionersforum@birminghamchildrenstrust.co.uk.
CASS Contact Details
Monday to Thursday 8.45am – 5.15pm and Friday 8.45am – 4.15pm
Phone 0121 303 1888 and select Option 2 then Option 2.
Emergency out of hours: 0121 675 4806
Webpages aimed at professionals and families which signpost helpful links to a range of support services for children and their families – early help support, financial support, schools/education, domestic abuse, housing, adult and child mental health and other support organisations – can be found on the Birmingham Children’s Trust website.
The Early Help webpages link to the Family Connect Form, meaning professionals supporting a family, or the family themselves, can complete this form to ask for help from their local Early Help Locality Hub.
How to access the webpages
- Click on the ‘REPORT A CONCERN OR REQUEST SUPPORT’ button on the top right of the Trust website.
- You’ll be taken to the ‘Worried about a child’ webpage
- You will then be able to select if you are a family/carer/relative OR a professional. Depending on which button you press, you will be taken to one of the pages below:
– Families/Carers/Relatives Homepage
– Professionals Homepage