Section 47 information

Why does Children’s Social Care need to be involved?

If North Tyneside Council Children’s Social Care is told by someone that a child may be suffering harm or may be at risk of suffering harm, the law says they must look into the matter to make sure that the child is safe. Anyone can contact Children’s Social Care if they are worried about a child.

Harm?

Harm means child abuse or neglect that affects a child’s safety, health, development or wellbeing. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by acting to cause harm or not acting to stop harm. It is often described in one of the following ways:

• Physical abuse;

• Emotional abuse;

• Sexual abuse;

• Neglect;

• Child Sexual Exploitation;

• Any combination of these.

Enquiries will also be made if a child is living with someone who has previously been involved in the abuse of another child

When information is received that a child may be at risk of serious harm a meeting is held between professionals, this is called a Strategy Discussion. The purpose is to share information, assess risk, and decide what action is needed to keep the child safe.

Strategy Discussion

A Strategy Discussion may be arranged when:

There are concerns that a child has been harmed or may be at risk of harm.
New information raises serious concerns about a child's safety.
Concerns involve abuse, neglect, domestic abuse, exploitation, or other significant safeguarding issues.
An adult who may pose a risk to children is involved in a child's life.

Who attends?

The Strategy Discussion has to be attended by:

Children's Social Care
Police
Health professionals (such as doctors, nurses or health visitors/ midwives)
Education

Other professionals who know your child or family may also be involved, including:

School or nursery staff
Early Help workers
Drug and Alcohol Services
Domestic Abuse Services
Other support services working with your family

Do Parents Attend?

Parents do not attend strategy meetings.
However, parents should be informed about the concerns, any decision that a strategy meeting is going to be held and any decisions made in the strategy meeting as soon as it is safe to do so.

What happens during the Strategy Discussion?

Professionals will:

Share and review relevant information.
Consider the child's safety and wellbeing.
Decide whether a Section 47 Child Protection Enquiry is needed.
Agree what support or protection is required.
Decide who will take specific actions and when these should happen.
Consider whether legal action or further investigation is necessary.

What happens after the Strategy Discussion?

The outcome may be that:

Further assessments or enquiries are needed. This could be a Section 47 Enquiry or a Single Assessment.
Services and support are offered.
No further Children’s Social Care action is needed, but other support services may be recommended.

Immediate Protection

If professionals believe a child is at immediate risk of serious harm, they must act quickly to keep them safe.

This may involve:

An urgent discussion between Children's Social Care, the Police and other professionals.
Seeing and speaking with the child as soon as possible.
Taking emergency action to protect the child if needed.
Considering the safety of other children who may also be at risk.

In some situations, a Court Order or Police powers may be used to remove a child from danger and ensure their immediate safety.

Our priority is to protect children from harm and make sure they are safe and supported.

Medical Assessment

Sometimes a medical assessment may be needed to:

Check a child's health and wellbeing
Assess injuries or concerns
Provide treatment or reassurance
Help professionals understand what support is needed

Professionals will work to ensure the child feels safe, supported and comfortable throughout the process and will consider the best way to meet their emotional needs.

What is a Single Assessment

A Single Assessment is an assessment by a social worker, working with other professionals and agencies involved with your family, that considers the strengths, worries and safety for your child. A Single Assessment takes up to 45 working days to complete. Within a Single Assessment the social worker will:

Talk to your child and listen to their views, wishes and feelings.
Meet with parents and carers to understand the family's circumstances.
Work with your family network (your friends and family) to agree the best support for you and your child, including developing a contingency plan for your child in case of further worries.
Gather information from professionals who know the child and family.
Assess the child's safety, wellbeing and needs.
Identify any risks, strengths and sources of support within the family

What is a Section 47 Enquiry?

A Section 47 enquiry ( can also be called a Child Protection Enquiry) takes place when professionals are worried that a child may be at risk of significant harm. A social worker will lead the enquiry but it is a multi-agency process. The social worker will work with other agencies, such as schools, health services and the police, to understand what is happening and decide what help, support or protection may be needed.

What happens during the Section 47 enquiry?

The social worker will:

Talk to your child and listen to their views, wishes and feelings.
Meet with parents and carers to understand the family's circumstances.
Gather information from professionals who know the child and family.
Assess the child's safety, wellbeing and needs.
Identify any risks, strengths and sources of support within the family.
Decide with other professionals what help or protection may be needed to keep the child safe.
Agree a Safety Plan with the child and family to ensure the child’s safety

Section 47 Enquiries take up to 15 working days to complete

Involving the child, parents and other significant family members

Involving the child

Usually, a social worker speaks with the child on their own providing a space for the child to share their thoughts, wishes, and feelings freely. Conversations will be appropriate to the child’s age and understanding. Other children living in the household may also be spoken to so that their safety and wellbeing can be considered.

Additional support can be arranged where needed, for example if your child:

Has a disability or additional needs.
Needs an interpreter.
Requires specialist emotional or communication support.

Involving parents and other significant family members

We understand that being involved in a Section 47 enquiry can be worrying. We will work with you and your family to understand what is happening and what support may help keep your child safe.

The social worker will:

Explain the purpose of the assessment and what it involves.
Listen to parents’ views and any concerns they have.
Keep you informed about what is happening whenever possible.
Work with you to identify support that may help your family
Tell you which other professionals are involved and may contact you

What do professionals consider?

Professionals will look at:

The child's safety and wellbeing.
Family strengths and support networks.
The needs of everyone caring for the child.
Any factors that may affect family life, such as health difficulties, domestic abuse, substance misuse or mental health concerns.
What support could help reduce risks and improve outcomes for the child.

What happens after the Section 47 enquiry?

Once the enquiry is complete, the social worker and other professionals will review all the information gathered and decide whether any further support or action is needed to keep your child safe and well. Your child's views and feelings will be considered as part of this decision-making process.

After the enquiry:

If Concerns Are Not Substantiated

If the enquiry finds that your child is not at risk of significant harm:

No Child Protection Conference will be needed.
Your family may still be offered support or services if additional help would be beneficial.
Professionals may work with you to identify ongoing support for your child and family.

If Concerns Are Substantiated

If professionals believe your child is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm:

An Initial Child Protection Conference will be arranged.
This meeting brings together family members and professionals to discuss concerns and decide what support and protection your child may need.
The conference will usually take place within 15 working days of the decision to start the Section 47 enquiry.
The Initial Child Protection Conference – also known as an ICPC – will be chaired by an Independent Reviewing Officer, also known as an IRO.

Your Rights

You have the right to:

Be treated with respect and fairness.
Ask questions and share your views.
Receive information about the process and what happens next.
Access an interpreter if needed.
Receive the reports for the Initial Child Protection Conference before the meeting. It is the responsibility of each agency to share their own report with you.
Seek legal advice and support from an advocate, friend or trusted person.

Keeping Children Safe

Your child's safety and wellbeing will always be our priority. In some circumstances, information may not be shared immediately if doing so could place a child at risk or affect a police investigation.

What Happens If I Don't Agree With the Outcome?

If you do not agree with the outcome of a Section 47 enquiry, it is important to share your views with the social worker and ask for an explanation of how the decision was reached. Your views should be listened to and recorded.

You can:

Ask questions about the information used to make the decision.
Explain why you disagree and provide any additional information you feel is important.
Request support from an advocate, solicitor, or trusted person.
Use the local authority's complaints procedure if you remain unhappy with how your case has been handled.

If an Initial Child Protection Conference is arranged, you will have the opportunity to attend, share your views, and contribute to discussions about your child and family