There is clearly a tension between these two different roles and the dividing line is not always clear between ‘support’ – which must be something you agree to have – and ‘removal’ – which is usually something forced on parents against their will. If a decision is made that a Section 47 Enquiry is necessary, it will be led by a Children's Social Care team in parallel with the Police investigation - see Single Agency or Joint Enquiry/Investigation . If a child who is in hospital is suspected to have suffered, or is likely to suffer, serious harm, a Section 47 referral should be made to MASH and a strategy meeting arranged before the child is discharged from hospital. Serious case reviews (SCRs[13]) have highlighted that missed opportunities to record, understand the significance of and share information in a timely manner can have severe consequences for the safety and welfare of children. To ensure effective safeguarding arrangements: [14] Further ICO guidance on lawful bases to share information can be found at Appendix B. No – you do not need consent to share personal information. Local areas should have a comprehensive range of effective, evidence-based services in place to address assessed needs early. Whatever legislation the child is assessed under, the purpose of the assessment is always: Local authorities, with their partners, should develop and publish local protocols for assessment. The Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 contains a duty on specified authorities in England, Wales and Scotland to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism. Known transition points for the child should be planned for in advance. The medical assessment should be undertaken by an appropriate doctor with paediatric experience. Section 47 Enquiry Intervention Threshold. The analysis should inform the action to be taken which will have maximum impact on the child’s welfare and outcomes. These are: In addition, any relevant information gained during the interview can also be used to inform enquiries regarding significant harm under Section 47 of the Children Act 1989 and any subsequent actions to safeguard and promote the child’s welfare, and in some cases, the welfare of other children. The first review should be held within three months of the initial conference and further reviews at intervals of no more than six months for as long as the child remains subject of a child protection plan; Record decisions and actions agreed at core group meetings as well as the written views of those who were not able to attend and follow up those actions to ensure they take place. Effective early help relies upon local organisations and agencies working together to: Local authorities, under section 10 of the Children Act 2004[5], have a responsibility to promote inter-agency co-operation to improve the welfare of all children. The child requires immediate protection and urgent action is required; The child is in need and should be assessed under section 17 of the Children Act 1989; There is reasonable cause to suspect that the child is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm, and whether enquires must be made and the child assessed under section 47 of the Children Act 1989; Any services are required by the child and family and what type of services; Further specialist assessments are required to help the local authority to decide what further action to take; To see the child as soon as possible if the decision is taken that the referral requires further assessment. The local authority should act decisively to protect the child from abuse and neglect including initiating care proceedings where existing interventions are insufficient[26]. No – IT systems, such as the Child Protection Information Sharing project (CP-IS), can be useful for information sharing. Where a child becomes looked-after, as a result of being remanded to youth detention accommodation (YDA), the local authority must visit the child and assess the child’s needs before taking a decision. Provide any of a range of specialist assessments. It is not necessary to seek consent to share information for the purposes of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of a child provided that there is a lawful basis to process any personal information required. The Data Protection Act 2018 and General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) do not prevent the sharing of information for the purposes of keeping children safe. 4.6. The speed with which an assessment is carried out after a child’s case has been referred into local authority children’s social care should be determined by the needs of the individual child and the nature and level of any risk of harm they face. Outcome of Section 47 Enquiry and Single Assessment . Every assessment, including young carer, parent carer and non-parent carer assessments, should draw together relevant information gathered from the child and their family and from relevant practitioners including teachers and school staff, early years workers, health practitioners, the police and adult social care. Initiating Section 47 Enquiries; Purpose of Section 47 Enquiries; Conducting Section 47 Enquiries ; Outcomes of a Section 47 Enquiry; Recording Section 47 Enquiries ; Dispute Resolution; 1. Part 2 Section 47 Enquiries (Initial Investigation) and Core Assessment ; Part 3 Child Protection Conferences; Conflict Resolution; Private Fostering; Working with children and young people who display sexually harmful behaviour; Child Death Review Procedure ; Complaints Procedure; Investigating Complex (organised or multiple) Abuse; Supplementary guidance Introduction . The purpose of a medical assessment is to: A written report giving a summary of the examination findings and preliminary opinion must be provided at the time of the examination using the Preliminary Paediatric Opinion Form. The timeliness of an assessment is a critical element of the quality of that assessment and the outcomes for the child. The maximum timeframe for the assessment to conclude, such that it is possible to reach a decision on next steps, should be no longer than 45 working days from the point of referral. Possible Initial Child Protection Conference - may lead to the child being made the subject of a Child Protection Plan. Whenever there is reasonable cause to suspect that a child is suffering or is likely to suffer significant harm there should be a strategy discussion involving local authority children’s social care (including the residential or fostering service, if the child is looked-after), the police, health and other bodies such as the referring agency. Be involved in the assessment and provide further information about the child and family; Agree further action including what services would help the child and family and inform local authority children’s social care if any immediate action is required; Seek advice and guidance as required and in line with local practice guidance. As well as threats to the welfare of children from within their families, children may be vulnerable to abuse or exploitation from outside their families. The initial child protection conference should take place within 15 working days of a strategy discussion, or the strategy discussion at which section 47 enquiries were initiated if more than one has been held; Consider whether any practitioners with specialist knowledge should be invited to participate; Ensure that the child and their parents understand the purpose of the conference and who will attend; Help prepare the child if they are attending or making representations through a third party to the conference. [29] An assessment of the support needs of parent carers of disabled children may be required. A section 47 enquiry is what they do to decided whether or not your children are placed on the child protection register. A Section 47 Enquiry must always be commenced immediately following a Strategy Discussion/Meeting when: There is reasonable cause to suspect that a child is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm in the form of physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect; Following an EPO or the use of Police Powers of protection is initiated. 6. Clear procedures and processes for cases relating to: The abuse, neglect and exploitation of children; Children managed within the youth secure estate; All organisations and agencies should have arrangements in place that set out clearly the processes and the principles for sharing information. An emergency protection order is an order from the court that allows the child to be removed from home if the child is in imminent danger, and grants parental responsibility to the local authority. The local protocol for assessment should set out the process for challenge by children and families by publishing the complaints procedures[23]. Notify, as a minimum, all agency representatives who were invited to attend the initial child protection conference that led to the plan; Consider whether support services are still required and discuss with the child and family what might be needed, based on a re-assessment of the child’s needs. A. The social worker must consult with other agencies involved with the child and family to obtain a fuller picture of the circumstances of all children in the household, identifying parenting strengths and any risk factors. 4.8. Only appropriately trained professionals should attempt to make a diagnosis of a mental health problem, however school staff are well placed to observe children day-to-day and identify those whose behaviour suggests that they may be experiencing a mental health problem or be at risk of developing one. Local authorities should work with organisations and agencies to develop joined-up early help services based on a clear understanding of local needs. If concerns relate to an unborn child, consideration should be given as to whether to hold a child protection conference prior to the child’s birth. ... At the conclusion of the section 47 enquiry into allegations against prospective adopters, it is good practice for the LADO to call a further Strategy Meeting to conclude the investigation and agree final outcomes. If a practitioner has concerns about a child’s welfare and considers that they may be a child in need or that the child has suffered or is likely to suffer significant harm, then they should share the information with local authority children’s social care and/or the police. The local protocol should reflect where assessments for some children will require particular care. 3. See the Protocol for protecting children who move across local authority borders for more information. Whether to instigate a Section 47 Enquiry and agree if a single or joint agency enquiry is necessary; Who will interview the child if a Section 47 Enquiry is to be initiated; Who will interview the child if a Section 47 Enquiry is not required; Who needs to be informed of the child's return (locally and nationally). However,as Lady Hale said in Williams v Hackneyin 201… Practitioners should be proactive in sharing information as early as possible to help identify, assess and respond to risks or concerns about the safety and welfare of children, whether this is when problems are first emerging, or where a child is already known to local authority children’s social care (e.g. A local protocol should set out clear arrangements for how cases will be managed once a child is referred into local authority children’s social care and be consistent with the requirements of this statutory guidance. The Criminal Justice Joint Inspection “‘Examining Multi-Agency Responses to Children and Young People who Sexually Offend” highlighted that: 1. 4.8.10: A Child and Family Assessment is the means by which a Section 47 Enquiry is carried out. Assessments of children in such cases should consider the individual needs and vulnerabilities of each child. Such an assessment must consider whether it is appropriate or excessive for the young carer to provide care for the person in question, in light of the young carer’s needs and wishes. The Section 47 Enquiry/Social Work Assessment should be led by a qualified and experienced social worker from Children's Social Care Services, who will be responsible for its coordination and completion. they are being supported as a child in need or have a child protection plan).