Hundreds receive support from Norfolk County Council's emergency team over Christmas period

Social workers in Norfolk had a busy Christmas and New Year supporting residents after receiving 441 calls coming in between 24 December and 1 January 2025. 112 of these were adult social care emergencies and 329 were children social care emergencies.

The council's Emergency Duty Team helps respond to out of hours social care emergencies and was available 24/7 over the holiday period. The team is a small, dedicated service intended to provide a service to both adults and children at risk of immediate harm or those with care needs that cannot safely wait until the next working day.

County council leader, Cllr Kay Mason Billig, stated: "During the Christmas period of 2024, our emergency duty team faced some challenging cases. They worked tirelessly to ensure that our services remained available for those who were vulnerable and in need of support.

"Social care is under immense pressure, both financially and operationally. The volume of calls received over the festive period highlights the ever-growing demand for our services."

Adult social care emergencies involved providing urgent care packages for people at home, especially those recently discharged from hospital or without alternative support due to a carer's illness. The team also handled Mental Health Act assessments for individuals with acute mental health issues and working with partners such as police, mental health trusts, and health professionals for timely interventions.

Children's social care emergencies included urgent safeguarding cases for children at risk due to neglect, domestic abuse, or family conflict. Staff worked with families, professionals, and resources like residential crisis outreach colleagues and police to implement safety plans and protect vulnerable children and young people.