Multi-Agency Locality Teams (MALTs)
MALTs provide a more effective, faster and local response to supporting children with additional needs.
The Children's Trust has agreed to deliver services through six localities; in each locality, it has established a team of co-located practitioners consisting of:
- the MALT coordinator (social worker);
- family support workers;
- an information sharing and assessment practice adviser;
- a primary mental health worker;
- a youth worker and
- the MALT support officer.
The weekly MALT meeting also includes:
- a Connexions personal adviser;
- an attendance officer;
- an education inclusion officer;
- a crime prevention worker and
- a health adviser.
The MALT:
- provides advice, support and guidance to any practitioner working with children and young people where there are concerns about their health, wellbeing and achievement;
- directs practitioners to support services available within the community, including evidence-based parenting programmes;
- strengthens links between services within the community;
- provides an initial response to all enquiries within two working days.
MALTs do not replace statutory child protection procedures and do not deal with cases that are already being met by statutory requirements.
The Children's Trust is committed to the Think Family and Every Child Matters agendas, both of which require agencies to work together and reform systems in order to:
- identify families with additional needs;
- provide support at the earliest opportunity;
- meet the full range of needs within each family they are supporting;
- strengthen the ability of family members to provide care and support to each other.
The Team alongside the Family approach is a coordinated way of supporting a child in which all agencies work and review progress together. Practitioners conduct a common assessment of the child's needs, a lead professional is then selected to coordinate the activity of the team.
Contact details for the MALT teams are below. Universal services should contact whichever MALT seems most appropriate, based on a child's school or home address.
Central Locality MALT Team
Support Officer: Steve Flack
Sydney Russell Comprehensive School, Parsloes Avenue, Dagenham, RM9 5QT
Phone: 020 8724 1682
Email: steve.flack@lbbd.gov.uk
North Locality MALT Team
Support Officer: Chris Mann
Warren Comprehensive School, Whalebone Lane North, Chadwell Heath, RM6 6SB
Phone: 020 8270 4025
Email: christopher.mann@lbbd.gov.uk
South West Locality MALT Team
Support Officer: Jackie Walsh
Barking Abbey School, Sandringham Road, Barking, IG11 9AG
Phone: 020 8227 5400
Email: jackie.walsh@lbbd.gov.uk
East Locality MALT Team
Support Officer: Diane Pierre
Eastbrook Comprehensive School, Dagenham Road, Dagenham, RM10 7UR
Phone: 020 8724 1789
Email: diane.pierre@lbbd.gov.uk
South East Locality MALT Team
Support Officer: Gladys Mann
Dagenham Park Church of England School, School Road, Dagenham, RM10 9QH
Phone: 020 8270 4049
Email: gladys.mann@lbbd.gov.uk
West Locality MALT Team
Support Officer: Rachel Palmer
Eastbury Comprehensive School, Hulse Avenue, Barking, IG11 9UW
Phone: 020 8724 1387
Email: rachel.palmer@lbbd.gov.uk