ESWT statement of purpose

The Emergency Social Work Team (ESWT) provides support for social care safeguarding emergencies and crisis situations which occur outside of normal working hours and can't wait until the next working day. The service will: 

  • Respond to emergencies where immediate social care intervention is required to safeguard a vulnerable adult or child  

  • Provide crisis intervention where there are significant welfare concerns that can't wait until the next working day

  • Consider all statutory emergency referrals to Shropshire Council including referrals for assessment under the Mental Health Act 2007 

Hours of operation and contact telephone number

ESWT is operational to the public and partner agencies for out of hours social care crisis or emergencies only from:  

  • 5pm to 8:45am Monday to Friday and,  

  • 4pm Friday to 8:45am Monday.

This includes bank holidays.  

If you need to speak to the social worker outside normal office hours, please contact the ESWT on 0345 6789040 and select option 1.  

The service will take a strengths-based approach to referrals coming into it. It will carry out an initial screening of the concerns and facilitate a contingency plan in collaboration with the person being referred, their family and support network and other relevant agencies to ensure the safety of vulnerable children and adults in the community pending follow up by the daytime services.  This can be done through detailed telephone discussions, a more formal assessment or by offering advice and support.  This may include signposting to other agencies. 

Where considered appropriate to do so, the ESWT practitioner and/or other agencies may visit vulnerable children or adults either at home or other places of safety, for example hospitals and police stations, as part of the assessment and risk management process.   

ESWT staff will use their professional judgement and knowledge of local resources and policies to determine the most appropriate response to each referral. 

The team collaborates with other council teams, eg ASC community teams including the Mental Health Social Work Team, The AMHP & Redwoods teams, the Integrated Care Service, children's case management and assessment teams and Compass, the front door for children’s services. Outside the council our main partner agencies are West Mercia Police, Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals (SaTH), the Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust (MPFT) and private and third sector organisations. 

Your call will be answered by a dedicated, skilled and experienced ESWT team member who will assess your situation. Please be aware that child and vulnerable adult safeguarding and Mental Health Act assessments will be given the highest priority.  

A record of all referrals to the Emergency Social Work Service will be made and referred onto the relevant local office as appropriate. 

At busy times you may need to a leave a message, and the duty worker will try to call you back.  

Callers to the service should observe the service remit. Non-urgent enquiries and issues will be signposted to the appropriate agency.  

ESWT only deals with homelessness if the person concerned is under the age of 18.