Out of hours Emergency Duty Team (EDT) 01522 782333
The Emergency Social Work Service is also known as Emergency Social Care Services (ESCS).
What we do
During emergencies, we help:
- children and their families;
- people with mental health problems and disabilities;
- older people and vulnerable adults.
We are open when local daytime offices have closed, including:
- nights
- weekends
- public holidays.
We work with other emergency services including the health services and police.
What is an emergency?
An emergency is something that cannot safely wait until the next working day.
What happens when you call us?
Your call will be answered by a trained customer service advisor. They will take your details and discuss the reason for your call with you to find out how urgent it is. If necessary they will pass your details onto a social worker from the Emergency Duty Team. Alternatively they may signpost you to other agencies or refer your situation to one of the day service social care teams for followup at a later date.
People in high risk situations will always receive a priority service.
How can you contact us?
Please note: We are only available to deal with Social Work emergencies which happen when local daytime offices have closed.
We are open:
- Monday to Thursday - from 5pm to 8.45am the following morning.
- From 4.45pm on Friday through to 8.45am the following Monday morning.
- All day (24 hours) on Bank Holidays.
Further Support
Young People and Families
We are a contact point for children and young people at risk of immediate family breakdown. We work to prevent them going into public care.
We can help families find new ways of dealing with difficult situations.
Assessment and Support
We work with doctors to do emergency mental health assessments. We also give emergency telephone support and advice to carers and families dealing with mental health emergencies.
We are often able to guide people towards other help available.
We aim to help older people and other vulnerable adults stay in their homes and, where safe, not use residential or nursing care.
"Appropriate Adult" Service
We offer a 24-hour "Appropriate Adult" service to vulnerable adults held at police stations.
We will send someone to help the vulnerable adult if they:
- have been arrested and kept at the police station and need questioning.
The police will contact us if our services are needed.
The 'appropriate adult' service is part of the Lincolnshire Adult PACE scheme (LAPS).
Our work focuses on:
- Children in need of protection.
- People with mental health problems who may be at risk to themselves or others.
- Older people who are vulnerable and unable to cope alone in the community.
- People with a disability who need urgent access to services.
- Working with the police to help vulnerable adults and young people who offend.
- Families in emergencies.
