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Summary
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It is not unusual for professionals in agencies to have concerns about children for all sorts of reasons. Most enquiries about children’s welfare are to do with ‘low-level’ concerns that can be dealt with through completing a Common Assessment/providing general family support. However whilst completing a Common Assessment or providing family support, ‘high level’ concerns may arise which suggest that a child may be suffering, or be at risk of suffering, ‘significant harm’. In particular there may be concerns about parents who are having difficulty in meeting their children’s needs because of domestic violence, substance misuse, mental illness and/or learning disability.
All staff members who have or become aware of concerns about the safety or welfare of a child or unborn baby should discuss any concerns they have with a senior colleague, a manager, or a named person defined by their agency policies and procedures as being responsible for safeguarding, to clarify their understanding of the child’s circumstances.
If there are still concerns about the safety or welfare of the child, further discussion may take place with staff in Children’s Social Care who will be able to advise on whether the concerns meet the threshold for child protection enquiries and what further information or actions may be required. Contacts for professional advice will be recorded on the relevant documentation and a response sent to the professional to confirm the advice given.
It is the person with the concerns who is responsible for taking appropriate action. If concerns remain after discussions, the child should always be referred to Children’s Social Care for the area in which the child is living at the time.
Checks with Children’s Social Care
Professionals within organisations who have concerns that a child may be at risk of significant harm must always check whether the child is the subject of a Child Protection Plan, and/or whether the family is known to Children’s Social Care.
If the child/family is known to Children’s Social Care, any concerns must be referred to the allocated social worker.
If the child is not an open case to Children’s Social Care and discussion establishes that the concerns about the child meet the threshold for Children’s Social Care’s intervention, a referral to Children’s Social Care must be made.
In general, the family’s agreement to the making of a referral should be sought but this should only be done where such discussion and agreement will not place a child at increased risk of significant harm. If there is real and immediate concern about a child suffering significant harm, then a referral to Children’s Social Care must be made immediately and the social worker will decide how and when the family will be consulted.
Ref:
Working Together 2010 Chapter 5 Para 5.13 – 5.15
What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused DCSF 2006
